Purdue launches Purdue Mobile ID for students, allowing them to get around campus with just a simple tap of their mobile device

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University West Lafayette ID Card Operations/Support, in partnership with Student Life and Purdue Information Technology, has launched the new Purdue Mobile ID. Purdue students can now add their ID to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet and use their iPhone, Apple Watch or Android devices to conveniently and securely access campus buildings, purchase meals and more.

“With Purdue Mobile ID, students can access designated spaces and services with a simple tap of their smartphone or smartwatch,” said Ian Hyatt, Purdue vice president of information technology and chief information officer. “As we continually look for ways that technology can enhance the Purdue experience, we are excited to offer students the convenience they expect while maintaining security.”

Through Purdue Mobile ID, students can simply hold their device near a reader to access residence halls and campus buildings, make transactions using BoilerExpress, use their meal plans and even pay for laundry. The new Purdue Mobile ID for students is enabled for smartphones via Transact Mobile Credentials.

“Using a Purdue Mobile ID makes life so much easier,” said Ohinoiyi Momoh, an undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts. “It’s a lot more convenient to keep on my mobile device and makes it extremely easy to get into dining courts and my residence hall. I think students will appreciate having a Purdue Mobile ID.”

Current students will still be able to keep and use physical ID cards as well as their Purdue Mobile ID. In addition to the new Purdue Mobile ID, graduate students may still need physical cards because some academic buildings, labs and other facilities may still require the physical Purdue ID card for access in the short term.

Beginning this summer, all incoming undergraduate Purdue students will move to the Purdue Mobile ID and not be issued a physical ID card. This is part of the university’s Mobile First strategy, which seeks to eliminate the need for hard-copy ID cards for Purdue’s 50,000 students on the West Lafayette campus over the next few years.

The move from physical cards to Purdue Mobile ID on iPhone, Apple Watch or Android devices allows for transactions that are safe, convenient and secure, and helps students avoid handing their ID cards to someone else. Purdue can also issue school IDs remotely without the need for students to request a mobile Purdue ID in person, eliminating the need to print and mail physical cards and creating a safer, more cost-effective and more environmentally friendly process.

“We’re thrilled to build on our on-campus experience and roll out Purdue Mobile ID to our students,” said Loribeth Hettinger, senior associate bursar of ID Card Operations/Support. “This will greatly simplify some of our bottlenecks by streamlining our ID card distribution processes to our incoming freshmen while also meeting student expectations – and even save them the time and resources they end up spending when losing a physical card.”

The Purdue Mobile ID effort is being launched specifically for the student population on the West Lafayette campus; faculty and staff will continue to use physical IDs and are not participating in the Purdue Mobile ID program.

“We know that Purdue students have high expectations for their technology solutions, and mobile credentialing naturally fits in this space,” said Beth McCuskey, vice provost for Purdue Student Life. “We are excited to launch Purdue Mobile ID as a new way to enhance the student experience.”

Purdue has been laying the groundwork to launch Transact Mobile Credentials since 2013, first by updating campus infrastructure for door readers and point-of-sale devices to be mobile-ready. Purdue is installing contactless and tap-to-pay technology using the Transact system through a phased approach across campus.

Departmental mobile device readers and support

Department heads who have special-use cases for the Purdue ID and want to ensure their ID use cases and technology supports Purdue Mobile ID can reach out to ID Card Operations/Support for options and support. Hettinger and her team are working with faculty, staff and student organizations on special-use cases – from attendance tracking to door entry, for example – to ensure a smooth experience for the unit as well as students. There are various technology solutions to fit each need, and options are available to rent equipment for special events as needed. For more information, go here. 

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last five years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/.

About Transact

Transact is the leader in innovative payment and mobile credential solutions for a connected campus. Its highly configurable, mobile-centric campus technology ecosystem simplifies the student experience across the full spectrum of student life and streamlines transactions for administrators, faculty and staff. Transact offerings include integrated solutions for tuition, room and board, and commerce. Transact also provides solutions for multipurpose campus IDs and stored value. With a long-standing reputation in the education community, Transact proudly serves more than 12 million students across 1,750-plus client institutions with one connected experience. Transact solutions facilitate $45 billion in payments annually and have enabled more than 120 million contactless mobile wallet transactions and $200 million in mobile orders in less than three years. For more information, visit www.transactcampus.com.

Writer: Phillip Fiorini, pfiorini@purdue.edu, 765-430-6189

Media Contacts:

Purdue: Tim Doty, doty2@purdue.edu 

Transact: Sandra Correa, scorrea@impactpartners.llc, 917-319-8472