At Stevens, student IDs, referred to as “DuckCards” have evolved over time. In Spring 2023, mobile DuckCards were introduced, and students, faculty, and staff who received physical DuckCards had the option to register a mobile phone DuckCard. This changed with the incoming Class of 2027, who were not issued physical cards as the mobile version was phased in as the default option. Until recently, mobile cards and physical cards could be used simultaneously for those who have both. The administration terminated the ability to use both physical and mobile cards on October 1. Students, faculty, and staff needed to choose between using a physical card or a mobile card going forward.
For many years now, universities across the country have been using new technology, such as RFID scanners, to digitize cards. Using RFID scanners to allow entrance into buildings, subtract meal swipes, and a host of other uses has streamlined many processes on the back end of administering a large school. With the proliferation of smartphones and the continued digitization of life, institutions like Stevens have been able to offer mobile IDs that are part of a student’s digital wallet.
When asked why students must now choose between a physical and mobile card, the DuckCard Office cited several reasons.
Firstly, having both physical and mobile DuckCards in use makes it “difficult to integrate both types of cards seamlessly.” Secondly, there are security issues with each student having two pieces of identification. “Physical cards can be lost, stolen, or shared with others, while mobile cards may be vulnerable to hacking if not adequately protected.” Finally, everyone using the same system will streamline “production, maintenance, and support” as well as promote “a unified approach with enhanced features and security.”
Although not specifically mentioned by the office, there are a few well-known—among students—issues with the physical cards and having access to both. During the 2023-24 school year, after mobile DuckCards were introduced, those living in the UCC Residential Towers would commonly give their physical cards to friends who did not live in the towers to avoid checking them in and wasting time. This created a security issue, enabling people to enter the residential towers and even specific units without record. These security concerns would grow in severity as the university installs RFID readers in first-year dorms.
Students aren’t entirely for the initiative, as many upperclassmen said they enjoyed having access to both physical and mobile DuckCards. However, the DuckCard Office stressed that mobile cards have equivalent functionality to their physical counterparts, including the ability to redeem student discounts. For example, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Hoboken eatery Toast x Bowl have both readily offered their discounts when shown the mobile cards.
Although student concerns regarding the extent and timing of the initiative, the Office stresses that the measure has been made in the best interest of student security and convenience, noting that “overall, the Stevens community has accepted and adopted mobile DuckCard.”
