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Campus eateries now accepting

credit cards

By Kirstie Hettinga
The Collegian

Students who don’t carry cash will no longer be forced off campus to eat. Earlier this month University Food Services introduced debit/credit machines that gives the Fresno State community the ability to pay with credit or debit cards as long as they have a VISA or MasterCard logo.

Director of University Food Services David Binkle said all venues, with the exception of the University Student Union Snack Bar, are accepting debit cards.

“The first week we had over 400 transactions, so it’s a service that was definitely needed,” Binkle said.

While the ability to use debit cards has not increased Food Services’ revenues dramatically, Binkle said he sees the possibility to increase some profits when people are more aware of the program.

“Over the first 30 days, a lot of it is education, to be able to make sure that the message is going out,” Binkle said.

Despite reaching out to the campus community through different mediums, not all students on campus are aware of their ability to pay with plastic.

Emily Koury, a junior biology major, said she was unaware of the new service and first asked if there was a transaction fee.

Binkle said there is no transaction fee for the cardholder.

Junior Brandon Williams said he knew about using debit or credit cards and thinks it will be easier for students.

While easier for students, it is not always a more efficient option for those who work to ring up purchases. Christina Montalvo, who works as a cashier in the food court said using debit/credit is “sometimes easier.”

While she said the number of people paying with debit/credit cards is increasing, Montalvo said the process was slow.

“It takes a while to go through,” she said.

The speed of processing is an issue Binkle and his staff has taken into consideration. Technology is also the current hold up for the setting up the snack bar to accept credit cards.

“We’re trying to make sure we get our phone lines set up,” Binkle said, “we’re trying to coordinate all of them through an Internet-based program to where the speed of the dial up is faster.”

Binkle said setting up the debit/credit card system was one of his first goals when he got to Fresno State. Binkle has been working for the University since mid July.

Since coming to campus, Binkle has also worked to increase the hours of operation for different venues on campus.

“We’re open now from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. somewhere on campus, throughout the week, with the exception of Friday night,” Binkle said.

Eventually, Binkle said he would like to see services offered 24/7 and anticipates that around the clock services could be available in the next 12 months.

Food Services is also working on opening new venues, such as Courtyard Express, which Binkle described as a mini convenience store in the on campus housing area.

“My goal is that students, faculty and staff see a new food service venue every year,” Binkle said. He also said different companies have expressed interest in setting up shop on campus.

One of Binkle’s overall goals has been to improve the quality and diversity of food options on campus.

“I really want to look at a healthy lifestyle on campus, and building healthy lifestyle changes, more fruits and vegetables, more natural, more organics,” Binkle said.

One other thing University Food Services is exploring is a “one-card process,” in which a student could use his or her ID card with library services and food plans. Though still under discussion, Binkle said one possibility would be to partner up with a bank so the card could also be used as a bankcard.

Binkle said many groups on campus were working on this possible project.

While the university continues to move forward with offering more services to students and faculty, not everyone is open to the new debit/credit card option.

Freshman music education and liberal studies major Allison Dye said she prefers to use cash for all of her transactions. Dye does not have a credit or debit card.

“It doesn’t really matter to me,” Dye said, “I am trying not to get one."

Read this story in our print edition on Friday, Oct. 27.

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