Client Success Story - Medical College of Georgia and Augusta State University

Although MCG did not necessarily have a need for multisite software, it recognized an opportunity to offset the cost of upgrading to CS Gold® by hosting ASU's card system. There was no better time to implement the plan than when Augusta State decided it needed a system. Because the schools were close in proximity, it was a natural partnership.

"By helping Augusta State, we were able to move to the latest technology," says Lisa Wheatley, Campus Debit Card Coordinator, MCG. "They gained a system, and we offset the cost of the upgrade. It was a win-win situation."

Even though there is a formal agreement defining the partnership between MCG and ASU, the working relationship proved to be better than imagined.

"MCG has a lot of experience and has assisted whenever we've had questions," says Mark Brown, ASU JagCard Coordinator.

Wheatley also reported a positive relationship with ASU. "The ASU staff is very knowledgeable, and combined with the training received at the CS Gold class in New York, they make a very capable team. If a system issue arises, we contact Augusta State immediately, and vice versa. The servers and system are very stable, and we expect continued success."

According to Wheatley, the biggest reward for using multisite software is the ability to learn about other system options, such as door access and the benefits of expansion. "We are looking to incorporate off-campus merchants into the system, and because of the partnership with Augusta State, we have a much broader customer base to offer merchants," says Wheatley.

ASU did not hesitate to partner with MCG. It looked at various card systems but needed a cost-effective solution as well as the ability to keep its students completely separate from MCG's students, not just with limited card usability, but from an accounting perspective, as well. CS Gold Multi-site provided these capabilities.

For ASU, the partnership with MCG was a logical choice. At the time, there was a strong emphasis on working more closely with other institutions in the University System of Georgia, and because MCG was the only other system school in Augusta, it was a good choice. It took about a year for ASU to get to an operational stage before it began talking to MCG about starting a relationship.

ASU students have embraced the ASU JagCard. "They seem to love the convenience brought about by having the ability to swipe their cards in vending machines, photocopiers, and food service locations," says Brown. "The fact that we are using MCG's system is completely transparent to the students and staff in our business office, and to other sales locations on campus."

Users of the system are also impressed with the speed of the transactions. Brown says even though ASU has different procedures for various activities, CS Gold has been flexible enough to allow it to operate independently of MCG.

ASU has plans to expand its system with door access and laundry readers in its first university-owned housing facility. ASU will also install access control on the doors of its new student center once the building construction is complete.

Overall, both schools have enjoyed a strong partnership, not only with each other, but with the provider, CBORD®. This allows them to bring new technology to card holders sooner. "Multi-site has allowed Augusta State to provide convenient and efficient services to its customers and yet be flexible enough to operate independently of MCG," says Brown. "ASU has had a very rewarding experience with CS Gold and MCG."

About CS Gold Multi-site

CS Gold Multi-site is transforming the way higher education institutions are using the CS Gold card system. It allows institutions of all sizes to experience a unified card system despite cost, structure, personnel, or location through the use of host servers, which eliminate the need for server platforms and software. The software reduces personnel requirements and up-front hardware and software costs, provides a shared knowledge base of system resources, improves functionality across campuses, and offers a distributed hierarchy for user/ campus access and administration.

Service History

The Medical College of Georgia has been a CBORD customer since 1994. It progressed from the Series/5 system to the Gen6 and now uses CS Gold to provide a stored value program. Augusta State University has been a customer since August 2004, when it purchased a variety of readers and terminals to run a pilot card system for its faculty, staff, and students. ASU and MCG went live with CS Gold's Multi-site software solution in January 2005.