Students at US colleges and universities will now be able to get rid of their plastic student IDs, as Apple revealed on Tuesday that it is expanding student ID support to more schools in the US and Canada.
Students will now be able to add their digital IDs to the Wallet app on their iPhone or Apple Watch to get around campus and even make purchases.
The tech giant is extending support to the University of New Brunswick, Sheridan College, Auburn University, Northern Arizona University, the University of Maine, and New Mexico State University.
Vice President of Apple Pay, Jennifer Bailey, believes digital IDs are “a secure and convenient way” to get around campus. “Students and faculty have embraced using their iPhone and Apple Watch as the best way to access buildings, purchase meals, and more,” she added.
Adopting a Mobile-First Approach
Digital IDs mean students no longer have to worry about misplacing their physical cards. Should students lose their iPhone or Apple Watch, they can use the Find My app to track and recover their devices, making concerns about card theft and replacement a thing of the past.
As universities have begun seeking alternatives to plastic cards, Apple believes a mobile-first approach will allow students to use these student IDs for any action that would have previously required a plastic ID card — both on and off campus.
This fall, the University of Alabama (UA) will issue these new IDs to their 38,000 students with eligible devices — making UA the first school to exclusively use mobile student IDs. Students can use them to access residence halls, libraries, recreation centers, and vending machines.
UA’s Action Card director, Jeanine Brooks, said students are “thrilled” with this feature. “Going contactless over the last year was an easy transition for us because of it,” she explained.
