PennCash ups usability on campus

Although PennCash recently crossed the 10,000 purchases mark several months ahead of its projected schedule, not all students are aware the PennCard debit system's possible uses. PennCash has expanded from copy machine and computer lab printer use to vending machines and food vendors. Last fall, PennCash added several retail locations across campus to its system -- including Au Bon Pain in Huntsman Hall and Subway in 1920 Commons -- as well as a number of vending machines across campus. And just recently, La Petite Creperie, the Annenberg Center box office and the Levy Tennis Pavilion were also added to the list. College junior and Undergraduate Assembly Secretary Kirsten Grubbs said she has worked with the PennCard officials to help expand the program and make people aware of its uses. "Most people equate PennCash with the machines in the library, but there are so many other uses," Grubbs said. Many students confuse PennCash with some of the other payment options available through the PennCard, such as Dining Dollars and bursar bill, but according to PennCash Manager Suzanne Bellan, the programs actually have separate purposes. "Dining Dollars can only be used at official dining locations on campus.... They come with your meal plan or as a supplement," Bellan explained. Meanwhile, the bursar bill, managed by Student Financial Services, is "really intended for the big ticket purchases that would go on the bill for your tuition. It's not meant for every time you make an 8-cent copy." PennCash, on other hand, is intended for just such purposes. "The advantage of PennCash is that it's flexible," Bellan said. "You can have as much or as little on the account as you like, it doesn't expire... and staff and faculty can use it." Students can add to their PennCash accounts using either "Value Transfer Stations" at various locations across campus or by using a credit card online. Parents can also add value -- or students can also charge their PennCash to their bursar bills -- a feature Grubbs says many students are unaware of. "It's sort of a pain to put it on there to begin with," College sophomore Anne McGuire said. "But once it's on there, especially in the computer lab, it's a lot nicer than having to fish around for a nickel or whatever." PennCard officials said they purposely did not promote the new changes until they were certain the new system would be able to meet an increased user demand. Yet, despite PennCash's low profile, officials said that its recent expansions have coincided with a surge in usage. "Things like vending machines are doing a lot more than we'd anticipated, but the existing locations are definitely up," Bellan said. "We see it up across the board." While students and administrators have discussed finding ways to bring different vendors around campus into more flexible PennCard payment, Business Services officials say the PennCash system is intended primarily to increase convenience -- not necessarily business for the University. "Our goal... has been this 'many services, just one card' feature," Business Services spokeswoman Amy Johnson said. "PennCash is a built-in feature of the PennCard, so our focus has been offering a service that is a resource to the community and adding convenience, making sure transactions are both quick and easy."