The New and Improved WatCard

Your Key-card to Campus Life

Your WatCard is extremely powerful and valuable; for many students, it supplies food, travel and identification. The University of Waterloo implemented the WatCard program in 1993, and more than 250,000 student cards have been printed since. Students can now use their WatCard at more than 40 different locations [1].

Other examples of ways that you can use your WatCard include:Example of Mr. Goose WatCard

  • Traveling on Grand River Transit busses in the Waterloo Region,
  • Purchasing food at Food Services locations across campus,
  • Identification for exams and access to student residences,
  • And printing using the UPrint printer stations throughout the UW campus [1].

To learn more about what the WatCard can do for you, please watch the informational video on YouTube provided by the University of Waterloo.

The University of Waterloo released the new WatCard back in August 2017, which every student on campus should have upgraded his or her ID to the newest WatCard type. Why is that? Why was a new card necessary? There are a multitude of reasons why this was a well-needed change to campus infrastructure.

1. Security ImprovementsSecurity improvements on WatCard

Within the new cards, there is a watermark hidden under an embedded foil. This watermark can only be seen when tilted at the correct angle and reduces possibilities of there being fake cards used across campus [2].

If you believe that you have lost or have your WatCard stolen, deactivate your card as soon as possible because all transactions made with the card, are your responsibility. You can deactivate you card online, at any Food Services cash register, or at the Turnkey desk in the Student Life Centre (SLC) [2].

If you find a lost WatCard, you should return the card to the WatCard office or a trusted campus partner (ex. UW Police, libraries, food services location, etc.).

Tap functionality on WatCard2. Tap Functionality

Many debit and credit cards come equipped with tap functionality that bypasses the hassle of inputting pins and/or choosing accounts; this same functionality now comes standard on all WatCards. It is not only how you can pay with Flex Dollars on your WatCard, but also how you use the tap-to-ride functionality on the Grand River Transit (GRT) busses –this feature is the UPass [3].

You are UPass eligible if:

  • You are a full-time student (taking three or more on-campus courses per term),
  • You are on a CO-OP work term,
  • Or you are between two full-time study terms [3].

Since September 26th, 2018, GRT has stopped accepting old WatCards for ridership [3], which means that if you want to ride a GRT bus, you must have a valid WatCard. Owners of expired WatCards will be required to pay.

3. Other Small Additions

To provide further assistance to the authenticity of the card, the University of Waterloo has digital captured and printed the owner’s signature to the back of the card. Furthermore, the barcode that the library generally scans is now relocated to the back of the card [4].

The WatCard is also now your gym pass, and using the card at the Physical Activities Complex (PAC) or the Columbia Icefield (CIF) building, will allow you to use the facilities, sign up for courses, borrow equipment, and use the towel services [5].

The upgrade to the new card from the old WatCard is free and thus no payment is required in the transition. However, if you have received the new card and lose it or damage it, the replacement cost is $30.00 [5].The introduction of contact‐less, smart‐chip technology will allow us to transition from the older, magnetic stripe that has been used on the card since its introduction in 1993.

The introduction of contact‐less, smart‐chip technology will allow us to transition from the older, magnetic stripe that has been used on the card since its introduction in 1993. The magnetic stripe is not going away immediately as magnetic stripe equipment is still in wide‐spread use across campus. As new equipment comes online, and as older equipment is upgraded and replaced, the contactless technology will be in place across campus. — WatCard Office

 

Wilfred Laurier University (WLU) also has a card-based system implemented on their campus. However, instead of a WatCard, WLU provide students with an OneCard. The OneCard operates in a very similar fashion to the WatCard: functions like a debit card, meal card, library card, gym card, residence-access card, and as a UPass [6].

Furthermore, the OneCard also received a sizeable upgrade in September 2017, much like the upgrade that the WatCard experienced, where it received a new barcode and a built-in chip to allow for tap functionality [7].

Conclusion

If you have any questions or concerns about the changes to the WatCard, please contact the WatCard office. You can find the WatCard office in the lower level of the Student Life Centre inside the Campus Tech shop, or you can contact the office by email at WatCard@uwaterloo.ca, or by phone at 519-888-4567, ext. 32751.

Reference

[1] University of Waterloo. (2017, July 06). About WatCard. Retrieved October 12, 2018, from https://uwaterloo.ca/watcard/about

[2] Riehl, A. (2017, October 18). What’s up with the new WatCard? Retrieved October 12, 2018, from http://uwimprint.ca/article/whats-up-with-the-new-watcard/

[3] FEDS. (2018, September 18). UPass and You: FAQ. Retrieved October 12, 2018, from https://feds.ca/news-updates/upass-and-you-faq

[4] University of Waterloo. (2017, August 09). WatCard ‐ New design, new technology. Retrieved October 12, 2018, from https://uwaterloo.ca/watcard/news/watcard-new-design-new-technology

[5] University of Waterloo. (2018, February 21). Frequently asked questions. Retrieved October 12, 2018, from https://uwaterloo.ca/watcard/frequently-asked-questions

[6] Wilfred Laurier University. OneCard. Retrieved October 12, 2018, from https://students.wlu.ca/registration-and-finances/onecard/index.html

[7] Watts, J. (2017, September 13). Laurier OneCards get revamped for more efficient transit and building access. Retrieved October 12, 2018, from https://thecord.ca/laurier-onecards-get-revamped-for-more-efficient-transit-and-building-access/