Ball State University students, faculty and staff now have the option of using credit or debit cards to purchase food from the Atrium, Noyer Retreat and Bookmark Caf+â-¬.-á
Dining Director Jon Lewis said those locations got new cash registers because the old systems were more than 10 years old and the maintenance to keep them functioning was not worth the cost. He said it was a bonus that the new registers accepted credit and debit cards.
"It's an additional service and is more flexible," he said. "We could have done credit and debit with the old system, but we would have needed a separate reader."-á
The Student Government Association, faculty and staff members approached Lewis last year asking about the possibility of accepting credit and debit and since the feature started on Wednesday, he said people have enjoyed it.-á
Lauren Williams, a senior English literature major, said she thought it was a good idea to have other options than cash or meal plans. She said she would be tempted to use her credit card to buy food when she did not have cash with her.-á
"I used to get benefits and money back from certain places each time I used my credit card, but I no longer get those benefits," she said. "I stopped using my card because of that, but if I have to use it I probably would."-á
Liz Poore, assistant director of operations for Dining, said the university gave dining services permission to try the use of credit and debit cards after the companies they were working with finished working on the program. She said the main reason the Atrium, Noyer Retreat and Bookmark Caf+â-¬ were chosen to pilot the program was because visitors, as well as students and employees, use the locations.
"This is a trial period with these three locations and we'll be able to monitor how many people use it on a daily basis and that may have some bearing on if we expand," Poore said.
Lewis said while other universities around the country have shown the use of credit and debit cards increase dining revenue, his motivation was to better serve customers who wanted more payment options.
"We're just happy to have this new form of payment and it'll go a long way to have happy customers," he said.
Using your card:To use your credit or debit card, you must show a driver's license or school ID.
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