UA Receives ‘Models of Efficiency’ Honor for Action Card System

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Auxiliary Services and the Office of Information Technology have received a Models of Efficiency award from University Business magazine.

The award reflects the efforts of Jeanine Brooks, director of the Action Card program, her staff and the staff of UA’s Office of Information Technology, including Dana Mathewson, OIT team lead-business administration, and David McMillan, OIT team lead-development. The staff members created a system in 2010 that streamlines the process of issuing cards to incoming UA students.

Before the office’s innovation, students faced long lines to take photos and receive their Action Cards, which serve as IDs and carry students’ recorded information on enrollment, dining and other activities in a chip. The most recent process allows students to “log in remotely, enter relevant personal data and upload a photo they like.”

Instead of taking photos and issuing cards during an individual student’s orientation, card production now takes about a minute. Card production also can be spread over the entire summer rather than over the course of a couple of hours during orientation.

The Models of Efficiency program honors programs at universities that “yield outstanding information and ideals for replication.” The Action Card program was cited in the December 2014 edition of Models of Efficiency. The program’s sponsor is Higher One.

For details on the program and the award, contact Brooks at jbrooks@fa.ua.edu or 205/348-8690.