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Students, faculty and staff on the University of New Brunswick’s Fredericton campus will benefit from the use of mobile credentials on iPhone, Apple Watch and Android phones this year – making UNB the first Canadian institution to implement Transact’s mobile campus ID solution. 

Mobile credentials will enhance door access and contactless payment capabilities by putting IDs on the smartphones of students, faculty and staff. The adoption of the technology supports UNB’s values of innovation, environmental sustainability, and engagement.

Those with a mobile UCard can use their smartphone to complete any action previously needing a printed UCard. Students simply place their device near a reader to enter residences, computer labs and fitness centers, buy lunch, make purchases at campus stores, pay for laundry, or borrow a library book.

The mobile UCard allows transactions to be safe, convenient and highly secure, and helps students avoid touching readers or handing their ID cards to someone else. UNB can issue mobile UCards remotely without the need to see students in-person or print physical cards, creating a safer, more cost-effective, and more environmentally friendly process.

“UNB is a leader in deploying technology that is convenient and easy to use,” says Terry Nikkel, associate vice-president, Information Technology Services at UNB. “Our students are really going to like the mobile UCard for its flexibility and usefulness, and we are pleased to offer this service on the most popular mobile wallet platforms.”

At UNB, mobile UCards are protected by multi-factor authentication to ensure only the student can access their account, even if someone else has gotten their password.

“I use my mobile UCard all the time – like other faculty, staff and students, I am never without my phone. UNB is very pleased to be the first university in Canada to deploy it,” says Nikkel.

To set up the mobile UCard, UNB Fredericton students, faculty and staff simply download the eAccounts app, authenticate with their university credentials, and then add their UCard to their Apple Wallet on their iPhone and Apple Watch or Google Pay on Android phones. 

“Our mission is to inspire and educate people, become problem solvers and leaders in the world, undertake research that addresses societal and scientific challenges, and engage with our partners to build a more just, sustainable and inclusive world,” says Karen Cunningham, vice-president administration and finance at UNB. “Transact’s technology solutions directly support our mission while modernizing our transaction processing and making our community environment simpler.”

“When UNB says its students are more than just a number, they mean it,” says Doug Parrish, regional vice-president, Transact. “As an institution focused on entrepreneurship, innovation and research, UNB is engaged and relevant. This technology will be a positive change for the entire UNB community. 

For more information, visit www.unb.ca/ucard and www.TransactCampus.com. 

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About University of New Brunswick

The University of New Brunswick is Canada's oldest English-language university. Founded in 1785, the multi-campus institution has a rich history and a dynamic focus on innovation, experiential learning and entrepreneurship. UNB has more than 10,500 students from nearly 100 countries while several thousand more take UNB courses online and at partner institutions around the world. Find out more information on UNB programs by visiting: www.unb.ca.

About Transact

Transact is the leader in innovative payment solutions for a connected campus. Its highly configurable, mobile-centric campus technology ecosystem simplifies the student experience across the full spectrum of student life. Transact’s offerings include integrated solutions for tuition and other student expense payments, multi-purpose campus IDs, and campus commerce. With a long-standing reputation of serving the higher education community, Transact proudly assists millions of students each year with its innovative products and solutions. For more information, visit www.transactcampus.com.

Media contacts

Kelsey Pye
Communications Officer
University of New Brunswick
k.pye@unb.ca

Martha Holler
Acting CMO
Transact Campus Inc.   
martha.holler@transactcampus.com

Photo: UNB Fredericton campus. Credit: Joy Cummings/UNB.