The UCard is your student’s official UMass Amherst picture identification card. Additionally, the UCard also functions as your student’s:

• Meal plan card
• Residential door (and in some cases, room) access card
• 5-College library card
• Athletic ticket card
• On-campus debit card (optional)
• Off-campus (Student Advantage) discount card (optional)

While tying all this functionality to a single card is both useful and convenient, it can also be somewhat confusing.

In an attempt to minimize this confusion, the UCard Office has put together a brief description of what to expect before, during, and after orientation regarding your student’s UCard.

• Pre-Orientation/Student Advantage Mailing
• During Summer Orientation
• Post-Orientation/Debit Account Mailing
• Prior to Arrival on Campus
• Arriving on Campus

Pre-Orientation/Student Advantage Mailing
Prior to your student’s orientation you should receive a mailing about the optional Student Advantage discount program, available at reduced cost to all incoming freshmen. Although the UCard Office strongly recommends that students and their families consider the benefits of this off-campus discount program, purchasing a Student Advantage membership is completely optional.

Last year was our 2nd year with this program, and over 19% of freshmen purchased memberships. The feedback we have received has been overwhelmingly positive, and we anticipate an even larger participation rate our 3rd year. This off-campus program is not tied in any way to the on-campus debit function described below. For more information about the Student Advantage Discount Program, please see the UCard web site.

During Summer Orientation
As part of your student’s summer orientation he/she will visit the UCard Office to have an official identification picture taken. At the same time the student will sign up for an on-campus UCard debit account.

This account is free of charge, and provided as a convenience by the school. There is no obligation to use the account, which is why we ask all students to fill out the application during the id process. If a student chooses never to use the account, that is fine, but at least they have it available should they choose to use it in the future.

The UCard debit program is highly valued on campus, and approximately 97% of freshmen participate in the program. Funds deposited to this account can be used at virtually every sales location on campus, including the University Store, Textbook Annex, dining facilities, retail outlets, vending machines, laundry machines, copiers, and public printers. For more information on the UCard debit account, please see the UCard web site.

As part of the checkout process at the end of orientation, your student will receive his/her UCard, copies of the debit account application and terms and conditions, and a card sleeve explaining proper care of the card.

If you purchased a Student Advantage membership, your student's membership information should be printed on the back of his/her UCard.

Post-Orientation/Debit Account Mailing
A few weeks after your student has completed orientation, you should receive a letter congratulating your student on completing orientation and signing up for a UCard debit account. So long as your student was at least 18 years at the time of his/her orientation, the student’s debit account will be open, and you will be able to make deposits whenever you would like. Included with the letter will be information on how to make deposits, and the recommended deposit amount(s) for a typical undergraduate student.

If your student was under 18 years of age at the time of orientation, a copy of his/her debit account will be included with the letter. This form must be signed by a parent or guardian and returned to the UCard Office (either by fax or mail) before a debit account can be opened for you student.

Prior to Arrival on Campus
To make things easier for you and your student in the fall, you should ensure that you’ve completed the following before your student arrives on campus.

• Purchased a student advantage membership, if so desired
• Returned the signed debit account application if your student was under 18 at orientation
• Deposited the appropriate amount of funds to your student’s UCard debit account

Arriving on Campus
Please ensure that your student has his/her UCard when he/she comes to campus! Otherwise, your student will have to purchase a replacement UCard at the UCard Office for $20.