Terry Wynn (center) and the Razorback Card Office team prepare thousands of Razorback ID cards each year. "Simply put, the Razorback ID is the student's key to campus," Wynn said.
(Anne-Elise Tidwell)
For thousands of new students arriving on campus this semester, one of their first stops will be the Razorback Card Office.
Located on the second floor of the Arkansas Union, the Card Office is where students obtain their Razorback ID card - a simple rite of passage that signals the start of their college experience.
Though small in size, the Card Office plays a big role on campus, connecting students, faculty and staff to the services, spaces and resources they rely on every day.
"The Razorback Card Office is like the nervous system of campus," Assistant Director Terry Wynn said. "We are often one of the first points of contact that helps people feel like they are part of the university community."
This semester, the Razorback ID card experience is becoming faster and more connected. Students can now submit ID photos online before they arrive on campus, speeding up card pickup. And new Near Field Communication (NFC) technology is allowing cardholders to tap rather than swipe at compatible locations, creating a faster, more secure experience.
The upgrades support the university's long-term vision for mobile credentials, which will eventually allow students and staff to use smartphones or smartwatches anywhere Razorback IDs are accepted. "We envision a future built around a 'one card, one solution' philosophy," Wynn said.
While new technology is making the Razorback ID faster and more versatile, its role in connecting students to campus life remains unchanged. Students rely on their cards to access recreation programs, grab meals with friends, check out library materials and make purchases with Razorbuck$ — a debit account linked to their ID card — both on and off campus.
Over the summer, the Card Office spent months preparing for the start of the fall semester. That preparation was substantial: the office readied for more than 7,000 incoming freshmen attending New Student Orientation this summer and printed more than 12,000 ID cards over the past year.
As one of the university's smaller-staffed offices, preparation is essential. Staff coordinate with campus partners months before each semester, so they can communicate ID requirements to incoming students and ensure every new Razorback is welcomed efficiently.
For Wynn, the card's value is not measured by the technology it contains or the number of cards issued each year, but by the connections it creates across campus. Whether helping a first-year student move into a residence hall, access a meal plan or find their place in the university community, the Razorback ID is designed to increase access and connection for students.
"Simply put, the Razorback ID is the student's key to campus," Wynn said.