Date Passed: 1st April
Speaker: Ben Argo
1. This motion was passed in a similar format in the 2010 AGM. The policy has since lapsed.
2. Wessex Connect introduced smart card technology onto the Wessex Red bus network in September 2009 and since then students in University-managed accommodation are issued with smart cards.
3. UWE Operations & Security and Accommodation Services upgraded their access card system to use proximity readers instead of swipe access in 2011.
4. UWESU membership cards are no longer distributed for free to returning students via mail drops, the cost to students for these cards are £4; up from £3 in 2010.
5. The cost of replacing a University issued ID card (‘UWE Card’) is £5.
6. The cost of replacing a Wessex Red bus pass is £5 – up from £1 in 2010; and there are frequent administrative delays in replacement.
7. At any one time students need to carry three cards with them in order to travel to University, use library services, to obtain discounts locally or to even prove they are members of the Union; students using accommodation access cards need to carry four cards.
8. The total cost for replacing all three cards is £14. The cost of replacing all three cards in 2010 was £9.
9. Many universities have integrated University ID cards with their Union membership cards and with public transport smart cards.
10. The UWE Card is sophisticated enough to perform multiple functions. UWE is preparing to allow students to use the UWE Card to purchase food and drinks in retail outlets and campus coffee shops.
1. The vast majority of students travelling to the University by public transport use the Wessex Red bus services.
2. Linking smartcard technology to University ID Cards reduces the amount of natural resources being consumed for the production of plastic.
3. Multiple smartcards in a student’s wallet can conflict with each other and negate the built-in function that otherwise allows the student to leave the card in the wallet.
4. UWESU no longer require membership cards to show which sports or societies students are members of and are now primarily for the function of discounts.
5. At a time when the University is looking to reduce costs, significant savings can be made by removing duplicate cards.
6. The cost for a student to replace one Student Card would be significantly less than four cards.
7. More students would be persuaded to use the Wessex Red bus services if they have already been issued with a smart card (offering them 16% off fares) if this was included in the default UWE Card.
1. To lobby the University to complete the integration of student cards into a single smart card for a variety of University services including Wessex Red bus passes.
2. To investigate the feasibility of integrating UWESU membership cards with Student ID cards.
3. To ensure continuing student representation on the existing University working group.
4. To report in each issue of the Western Eye the current progress of the project, pending editorial approval.
5. To investigate the feasibility of incorporating all campus students and students with a need to access further areas or facilities due to responsibilities and/ or disabilities.
6. To lobby university to ensure no functionality is lost in the merger of cards.