Wiscard
Your Key to Campus Life

Wiscard Replacement Project

Project Overview

UW-Madison last updated the Wiscard in 2008. The current credential includes technologies (proximity, magnetic stripe, and barcode) that are no longer secure and allow the credential to easily be cloned. 

This project will replace the current Wiscard with a new mobile credential, or the option to select a new physical card. The new credential will feature near field communications in place of proximity. 

Key Objectives

  • Increase Security: Leverage the new NFC technology to reduce any misuse, fraud, or security risk of Wiscards. 
  • Facilitate Innovation: Adopt new digital technologies on campus for everyday functions. 
  • Promote Sustainability: Reduce the environmental impact of plastic ID cards. 
  • Enhance Campus Experience: Streamline access to buildings, events, and other campus services.  

Why Mobile Credentials Matter to You: 

  • Students: A more convenient and secure way to manage access to campus resources and services using a smartphone. 
  • Faculty & Staff: Easier access to campus facilities and streamlined processes for buildings, events, and other campus services. 
  • Campus Operations: Reduced administrative burden in card production, replacement, and maintenance. 
  • Security: Improved security with advanced encryption and centralized control over access and data management. 

Where are we now: 

Transact Campus has been awarded as the mobile credential provider, and the project officially kicked off in December 2024. As of June 2024, the UWPD team has successfully updated all door access points to support the new credentials. The project team is currently focused on preparing the new mobile credential for testing with various campus service areas. Over the past year, a comprehensive outreach effort was conducted to identify and document key campus services, which will be contacted individually once testing begins. 

Project Milestones: 

  • Prepare Wiscard Mobile Credential – In progress
  • Prepare New Wiscard Physical Credential – Planning
  • Campus Service Readiness (Use Cases) – In progress
  • Marketing/Communications Campaign Readiness – In progress
  • Mobile Credential Pilot (Beta)
  • Marketing/Communications Pilot Adjustments
  • Readiness Checklist
  • Target SOAR 2025 – Incoming Freshman (*note-only if all campus services are prepared to accept the new credentials)
  • Remaining card holders – phased approach over an 18-to-24-month period.

Stakeholder Roles & Responsibilities 

  • Student Affairs/Faculty Support: Provide feedback on usability and student/faculty needs to ensure the system is user-friendly. 
  • IT & Security: Oversee the technical development, data feed, service readiness, and ensuring the security and scalability of the mobile credential’s platform. 
  • Campus Facilities/Operations: Collaborate on integrating mobile credentials with existing campus services and building access points that have not already been identified by UWPD. 
  • Communications & Outreach: Help spread awareness about the project and ensure all stakeholders are informed of updates. 

What’s Next? 

  • Campus service areas will be contacted individually once the test credentials and new readers are prepared. The project team will work with your area to provide support when updating your services to accommodate the new credential. If you are not sure if you are one of those campus service areas, please contact Jim Wysocky, Ryan Hawbaker, and Robert Merrill. 

Questions or Feedback? 

Please contact Jim Wysocky (Wiscard Director), Ryan Hawbaker (Project Manager), and Robert Merrill (Business Analyst/Use Case Lead). 

FAQ’s 

  • What is the implementation date of the mobile credential?

    The current target for the initial roll out of mobile credentials is only for in coming Freshman for SOAR in June 2025. However, if any one of the campus services are not ready this will be pushed back to a later date. 

  • When will faculty, staff, and the remaining students be issued the new credential?

    The timeline for the deployment of the new credentials is still being worked out and is dependent on the readiness of departments to accept the new credentials. It is expected it will take 18-24 months to completely replace all existing campus IDs. 

  • What about Wiscard Users who aren’t comfortable with using a mobile credential or don’t have a smartphone?

    There will continue to be a physical ID card available as an alternative.  

  • A campus service I manage currently uses the prox/mag stripe/barcode function, but I am not sure if I am on the list for a service upgrade to accept the new credentials. What do I do?

    If you manage a service and aren’t sure if you are on the list, please contact Jim Wysocky (Wiscard Director), Ryan Hawbaker (Project Manager), and Robert Merrill (Business Analyst/Use Case Lead). 

  • What phone can I use for the new mobile credential?

    The new mobile credential can be stored in any Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or Samsung Wallet supported device.