College to Abolish PIN Accounts. Adopt Debit System

Author: Nicolas Emery

The Executive Council of Middlebury College has decided to discontinue use of the current MiddCard charging system in favor of a debit system which will go into effect in the fall of 2004.
The basic difference between the current credit-based system and a debit account system lies in the funding of the account. Instead of paying a PIN bill which includes all the purchases and telephone calls made in a month's time, students will draw money out of an account that they have previously deposited funds into. Spending will be limited to the funds that are contained in the debit account.
According to Assistant Treasurer and Director of Business Services Thomas Corbin, the current MiddCard system has several problems which necessitate the transition to a debit system.
Currently, MiddCards are based on a "smart chip" which contains each student's account information on it. The company providing this technology is discontinuing production of the chip hardware.
Reliability of the MiddCards themselves has also proved to be problematic. The new ID cards issued under the debit system will feature magnetic stripe technology.
"I think the mag-stripe technology is more reliable than the current MiddCard chip technology," said McCullough General Manager Steve Reigle. "I can see lots of improvement regarding transaction speed at the cash registers. In addition, the failure rate of the card swipes should also be greatly reduced."
However, members of the Student Government Association (SGA) were not pleased to learn of the administration's decision regarding the transition to debit accounts.
According to SGA President Ginny Hunt '03, the SGA was informed of the decision Tuesday morning, and Student Co-chair of Community Council (SCCOCC) Ben LaBolt reports that the Community Council learned of the decision last Thursday. Both Hunt and LaBolt question why the student body was not a part of the decision to switch systems.
"Although this decision primarily affects student life," said Hunt, "no student input was solicited or considered."
According to Hunt and SGA President-elect Sam Rodriguez '04, the debit system issue was brought up by a student at the last town hall meeting. However, "President McCardell and members of the Executive Council adamantly reassured all present that the decision was not being made any time soon, dismissing any fears of a switch," said Hunt.
Rodriguez expressed his disappointment that "the administration did not take the opportunity to garner student input on that major issue. That said, it's not productive to focus on the mistakes of the past, it is only my place to discuss what we could conceivably achieve in the future."
Citing the administration's apparent unwillingness to back down on this issue, LaBolt stressed that "all changes and concerns we have about it will have to be considered within the debit system."
The SGA has several concerns regarding the debit accounts. "The most important thing is that some form of credit system will be maintained for purchasing books," said SCCOCC-elect Erin Sullivan '04.5.
Currently, students are able to buy books on their PIN bill regardless of whether they have paid their PIN bill. Hunt suggested that the debit system be extended to allow agreements with merchants in the town of Middlebury so that students could use their ID cards to purchase items there as well. Hunt and Rodriguez also suggested that there be a window of overspending to help students buy supplies or make emergency phone calls if the money in their account ran out.
Hunt concluded by saying that students should be allowed to have a limited ability to take money directly out of their debit account as a way to access the cash that they have deposited.
Corbin said that a working group will be established this summer to discuss and manage the details and implementation of the system. He asserted that a vendor for the new ID cards would likely be selected sometime in November of 2003.
Regarding the debit system, Emily Hruby '05 said, "I would probably put in a smaller amount of money and end up spending less [than I do with the current PIN bill system]," while Mike Olcott '04 worried that "There's no way to contest a charge...the money just gets taken and there's no way to look over your bill." These issues and others will be addressed by the working group this summer.
Rodriguez promised that "This will become a pet project of mine next year. I will want to capitalize on any good that students will be able to glean from this change.