Client Success Story - Colorado College
Colorado College was established in 1874, two years before Colorado became a state. In 1871, General William Jackson Palmer, founder of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, laid out the city of Colorado Springs along his new line from Denver. Envisioning a model city, he reserved land and contributed funds for a college, which was staffed by a small faculty with roots in traditional liberal arts scholarship. That tradition of balancing teaching and scholarship continues today. From the beginning, Colorado College has been a coeducational institution; there were twenty-five students in the first class—thirteen men and twelve women.
Today Colorado College is a private, four-year liberal arts and sciences college that enrolls 1,950 students. Colorado College is located in downtown Colorado Springs, near the base of the 14,110-foot Pikes Peak and about an hour from Denver. Consistently ranked in the top tier of national colleges and universities by US News & World Report, Colorado College is the only college of its kind in the Rocky Mountain region. It’s also one of only a handful of prestigious liberal arts and sciences colleges located in a metropolitan area.
Campus Card System
Colorado College installed the CBORD® Odyssey PCS™ campus-wide card system in July 2002 to offer the campus community the ease and confidentiality of a one-card system. Not simply an ID, the Colorado College Gold Card is the key to many campus services, including photo identification, improved security, controlled residence hall access, cashless transactions, library access, and sports/activity tickets, as well as many vending services on campus such as laundry, copiers, and snack machines.
Value, convenience, safety, and service are the primary concerns in the Gold Card Office. As a one-card campus, Colorado College can manage its students' assets with greater ease and accountability. The magnetic swipe stripe on the back of the Gold Card ensures fewer keying errors, controls access into residence halls, speeds entry into the dining hall, and (combined with a Gold Card Plus Account) provides cashless transactions for all campus services.
When funded, the Gold Card acts as a debit card on campus; however, this card does not have an interest rate or the potential for students to get in over their heads financially. Each purchase is automatically deducted from the account balance, so students do not have to worry about carrying cash throughout the day.
All transactions occur online and in real time through the Odyssey PCS campus card system. The Gold Card Office has a record of each transaction, location where purchase occurred, and type of tender used (i.e., meals, flex points, dining dollars, or Gold Card). Statements of the Gold Card account are available to students upon request.
CBORD Configuration
Colorado College's Odyssey PCS system includes MICROS 3700 Eclipses, MICROS 3700 Ultras, Lyrics, a scanner, a ValuePort, DataCard ID Works, debit vending, Nebraska Bookstore Interface, laundry controllers, Encores, and copier interfaces.
Colorado College Campus Card Applications
The Gold Card's versatility makes it convenient for students and the Colorado College community alike. Easily carried in a wallet, the Gold Card plays an integral part in the campus community by providing the following services.
Dining—Food Service by Sodexo
When more than 1,000 students access Rastall Dining Hall
each day, speedy entry becomes a priority. Students simply
present their Gold Card at Rastall Dining Hall to use meals,
flex points, dining dollars, or their Gold Card Plus Account.
Other venues simply deduct appropriate tender from the card.
Residence Hall Access
All of the campus residence halls are equipped with a door
access security system. While a few of these doors are still
activated by punching a number on a keypad, the majority
operate by an e-lock system similar to those used by hotels.
Swiping the Gold Card through the door lock will open the
residence hall only to students and faculty or staff who are
authorized to gain entry to that specific location.
Bookstore and Library Access
Students can fund a Gold Card Plus Account and purchase
textbooks, class rings, insignia clothing, gifts, and stationery
from the Colorado College Bookstore in person or online! The
Gold Card is the key to checking out books, periodicals, videos,
and equipment at the Tutt Library.
Sports/Activity Tickets
Access into athletic and theatrical events is just a card swipe
away. Often on-campus activities are free or tickets are steeply
discounted when purchased with a Gold Card. All students must
have their Gold Card with them to use the facilities in the El
Pomar Sports Center, which includes the Carle Weight Room and
Fitness Center, Honnen Ice Rink, and Schlessman Pool.
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
Colorado College's institutional membership provides all
students free admission to the center, as well as library
privileges and 10% off museum gift shop purchases when a
Gold Card is presented.
Vending & Specialty Purchases
Students can process transactions for items such as stamps,
film processing, and check cashing with the Gold Card as well.
By presenting the card at the time of purchase, students never
again worry about carrying cash. Laundry, copiers, soda, and
snack machine access are as easy as inserting the Gold Card into
the vending machine; the purchase is automatically deducted
from the student's Gold Card Plus Account.
Online Deposits
Students can make deposits to their Gold Card Account in
person or via fax, phone, mail, or online.
