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The Office of Information Technology is rolling out new contactless VandalCards using technology named DESFire. This article details the cards' new features, how to distinguish them from normal Vandal Cards, how they can be used, as well as who will be receiving these cards and at what point during our multi-phase rollout.
Contactless cards are smart cards that utilize a technology called DESFire for easy door access without having to worry about wear and tear. Additionally, they feature a magnetic stripe to ensure backwards compatibility with existing infrastructure. This type of technology is similar to other technologies known as 'Tap' or 'Proximety', which wirelessly connect to the device and provide creidental information to identify the user.
Contactless cards feature an updated VandalCard design which is distinctive from older designs. To help reduce replacement costs of these cards, affiliation information is not printed directly on the card. They do not need to be replaced if your title or other affiliation changes.
The magnetic stripe works the same as existing cards using a three track magnetic stripe. However, as they are a type of smart card, they can be used with compatible card readers by tapping them against the reader. Note that those readers are currently in the process of being rolled out and are not present on the majority of buildings.
We will be rolling out the cards as needed during the Spring 2026 semester. We will work with Public Safety & Security to identify folks affected by the new locks and contact individuals who will be issued the first round of contactless cards.