Editor’s note (5:49 p.m., Aug. 21, 2018): This story has been updated to clarify that Apple Wallet functionality is not yet active.

Throughout summer, the Action Card office retooled the University’s Action Card and modified how it serves the student body by increasing student ID security, adding the ability to function with the Apple Wallet app and implementing near-field communication (NFC) technology as well as a change in design.

SGA President Price McGiffert, a senior majoring in civil engineering, said The University of Alabama is one of a few campuses testing a new level of Action Card accessibility by using Apple Wallet.

“The University of Alabama is proud to work with Apple to bring the ability for students, faculty and staff to add their UA Action Card functions to Wallet on iPhone and Apple Watch,” said Cresandra Smothers, interim director of the Division of Strategic Communications.

Although the Apple Wallet functionality is not yet active, Courtney Gilley, communication specialist for ACT Card Services, said the office is looking forward to rolling out full Action Card on Apple Wallet functionality in the fall.

While the newest freshman class will be the first to receive the new ACT Cards, all current students have the option to upgrade their old cards for free. To obtain a new ACT Card, current students are required to visit the Action Card office (located inside the Transit Hub) during regular business hours.

“We don’t want people to feel pressured to get the card,” said Jeanine Brooks, director of Action Cards Services. “The vast majority of students who need the card are incoming freshman. Otherwise it is optional.”

One of the several upgrades of the new ACT Card is the addition of CARD TAP technology, which will allow students to tap the card – as opposed to swiping it – to gain access to a building or purchase a meal on campus. Over the summer, all ACT Card readers on campus were updated to CARD TAP, including Bama Dining, Network Printing, the SUPEstore, Dining Dollars and Bama Cash off-campus merchants.

In an increased effort to protect student ID security, the new card will feature a distinctive 16-digit number aimed to reduce fraud for students. Students will use their 16-digit number as opposed to their CWID for prepaid orders where Dining Dollars or Bama Cash are used to complete the transaction.

“For example, when ordering Domino’s pizza, you will have to have the unique 16-digit number, instead of the CWID number,” said Gilley.

In addition to having a new design featuring the Quad, Denny Chimes and Big Al, the new card gives students access to buildings after their hours of operation as well as labs, residence halls and classrooms on campus. The University’s ACT Card from years prior will not be able to provide students access to necessary buildings.

Josh Britt, SGA Director of Media Relations and a sophomore majoring in economics and public relations, said the SGA advocated for the addition of features such as the area code of Tuscaloosa and the phone number of the University’s Counseling Center on the back of the card.

“We really pushed for the Counseling Center’s number on the back,” Britt said. “We take mental health awareness and the mental health of the student body very seriously.”

Britt said an uptick in out-of-state students has led to an increasing number of students not knowing the local area code.

“We are over half out-of-state,” Britt said. “Incoming freshman from different states have no idea what the area code is in Tuscaloosa.”

Students who decide not to update their action card will still use their CWID in areas where the newly issued 16-digit number is used. The new card will not be needed for Greek house or Student Recreation Center access.