NiSCA Provides a Seamless Solution for The University of Arizona
The University of Arizona’s Students, Staff, Faculty and Associates are truly enjoying the benefit of a campus-wide, one-card solution. The CatCard is the one card that does it all. Having worked with NiSCA, the CatCard Office staff is now able to provide more security and quality to supplement the CatCard’s current capabilities
The CatCard is used for payment of meals, printing, copying, parking, bookstore purchases and laundry. The CatCard is also used for access to computer labs, the library, the recreation center and for admission into tests. An added advantage is that the CatCard can be linked to the CatCard’s Banking Partner, Wells Fargo, and be used as an ATM/Debit card with a pin pad.
With all the functionality, the CatCard is the one and only tool that affiliates must use for services. Enhancing its security and durability were of paramount importance to the cardholders. NiSCA provided the total solution by means of “The Magic Wand”.
You may ask, what is “The Magic Wand”? The answer: a New Credential Instant Issuance System.
The New Credential Instant Issuance Systems were deployed in the spring of 2006 and have already produced over 18,000 cards. The success of the CatCard was secured through the careful selection of vendors, including the printing and lamination equipment. “It took us six months to evaluate the solution providers. We looked at 14 providers and had 6 printer demonstrations,” – says Diane Tatterfield, the Assistant Director of CatCard Services. Diane added “we had a mixed team of front end users and Information Technology experts to make our perfect selection. We selected the NiSCA printers for the printing quality and flexibility. It was important for us to be able to upgrade components as needed, upgrade with contact and contactless smartchip encoding, and with lamination applications at any point after the purchase of a printer. The system development is still in progress and will allow us to increase durability and add more overt and covert security features to the card.”
The CatCard Services team is convinced it found the best solution. With 100,000 MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure), NiSCA printers were flawlessly producing 600-700 cards on mass carding days which are 5 weeks in duration. Moreover, the driver security feature, which allows for recording time, day and printer’s authentication directly on the card, added visual security, simplified the internal record matching process, and will allow ease in troubleshooting should it ever be required.
The University of Arizona continues to stay on the leading edge in card technology, equipment and offerings. Diane Tatterfield said “since selecting Team NiSCA, we have continued to receive outstanding and timely support and training. We are very very pleased with our selection in Team NiSCA and the NiSCA printers”. Team NiSCA is honored to have been a part of this project.
