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ID Card Policy

About the BuffCard

The BuffCard is the official Milligan University identification card whereby students, faculty, staff, and guests can be given many privileges and use services around campus. The BuffCard is issued to all currently enrolled students, faculty, staff, Wellness Center patrons, and affiliates of Milligan University.

As the official Milligan University identification card, your BuffCard functions as your meal plan card, your access card to campus facilities (such as the Wellness Center), and your library card, and your Spiritual Formation Program tracking card.

Eligibility

The BuffCard is available to enrolled students, faculty, staff, Wellness Center patrons, and affiliates.

Obtaining your BuffCard

Traditional or Local Commuter Students

Registered students are required to bring a valid, government-issued photo ID to the ID Office, located in the Office of Information Technology at the Kegley Computer Center in the Student Union Building (the SUB). Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Distance Learning Students or Non-Local Commuter Students

There are two ways for distance learning or non-local commuter students to obtain a BuffCard:

How your digital photo should be cropped for use on your BuffCard
  1. Distance Learning students may send a digital photo to be used as the image on the BuffCard. The image must meet the requirements for a US Passport photo as shown in the image at left. The background for the photo must be a solid light color. The preferred image formats are .jpg or .png. The digital image, your System ID, and your mailing address should be sent via email to the ID card office at helpdesk@milligan.edu. You must also mail a scanned copy of your driver’s license to the Milligan University IT Department. This is a federal requirement. To mail a copy of your driver’s license, please send it to:
    Milligan University
    Information Technology
    P.O. Box 500
    Milligan, TN 37682
    Upon receipt of the copy of your driver’s license and verification of distance learning or non-local commuter status, a BuffCard will be produced and sent to your mailing address.
  2. Non-local commuter students occasionally come on campus for events and activities. Stop by the ID Card Office during regular business hours and bring a valid, government-issued photo ID to the ID Card Office, located Office of Information Technology at the Kegley Computer Center in the Student Union Building (the SUB). We will create your BuffCard while you wait. Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Faculty and Staff

New faculty, adjunct faculty, or staff should bring a valid, government-issued photo ID to the ID Card Office during regular business hours to have their BuffCard created while they wait.

Out-of-State Employees

Adjunct faculty or staff members who live outside of the state can obtain their BuffCard in the same manner as Milligan University Distance Learning students do. Please follow the instructions listed in the section for Distance Learning Students. Upon receipt of the required items (your digital photo, your scanned driver’s license, your System ID, and your mailing address), we will create your BuffCard and mail it to you.

Wellness Center Patrons

Wellness Center patrons must have a BuffCard to gain access to the Wellness Center. It is mandatory that you attend a Wellness Center Orientation and sign the required waiver before you can use the facilities. When you join the Wellness Center, the director will send your information to the ID Card Office and let us know whether or not you have completed the orientation, signed the required waiver and paid your fees.

When you come to the ID Card Office to obtain your BuffCard, you will need to bring a valid, government-issued photo ID to verify your identity and the receipt from the Cashier’s Office indicating that you have paid the Wellness Center membership fees.

If you join the Wellness Center but are scheduled to attend the orientation and sign the required waiver on another date, you may still obtain your BuffCard while you are on campus. Please note that when you swipe your BuffCard to gain entry to the Wellness Center, your card will show that you should be denied entrance to the facility. Contact the Wellness Center Director immediately so you can attend the orientation and sign the required waiver.

Affiliates

Affiliate BuffCards are issued to visiting scholars, contractors, or other affiliates of Milligan University. In order to obtain an affiliate BuffCard, the sponsoring department will need to submit in writing a formal request to the ID Card Office, which should include the full name, address, phone number, and an expiration date for the BuffCard if it is for temporary use.

Care of your BuffCard

Treat your BuffCard as you would any bank-issued credit card, as it is a valuable possession. Your BuffCard has a magnetic stripe on the back of it, which can be damaged by heavy magnetic fields. Be careful with your BuffCard, keeping it away from any strong magnetic devices.

Do not bend, scratch, or expose your BuffCard to excessive heat as this can damage the magnetic stripe and render your BuffCard unusable. If you would like to use a lanyard with your BuffCard, let us know when you request your card and we will punch a slot on the card for you.

NEVER give out your BuffCard for others to use. If another individual is caught using your BuffCard to obtain meals, use library resources, purchase campus-discounted software, or gain access to areas they have not been authorized to access, the BuffCard will be confiscated and deactivated immediately. The incident will be reported to the Dean of Students as a violation of Milligan University policy.

Replacing your BuffCard

Lost or Stolen BuffCard

If your BuffCard is lost or stolen, you should immediately report the lost or stolen card to the IT Helpdesk. It is important to report the lost or stolen card promptly to prevent unauthorized use of the card so we can deactivate the card as quickly as possible. Contact us in person at the Helpdesk during regular business hours or by phone at 423-461-8704. You may also report the lost or stolen card online by submitting a help desk ticket online.

The owner of the card is responsible for all usage of the card prior to proper notification to the ID Card Office. There is a fee charged for all replacement cards, and the amount of this fee is listed in the Academic Catalog for the current year. Please note that this fee is subject to change each year, so always refer to the current Academic Catalog to verify the amount of the replacement card fee.

On the next business day, come to the Milligan University Business Office to pay the replacement card fee. After you pay the fee to the University Cashier, bring a valid, government-issued photo ID card and the receipt from the University Cashier as proof of payment to the ID Card Office. Presenting the receipt from the University Cashier to the ID Card Office is mandatory. You will NOT be able to obtain your replacement BuffCard without the receipt.

If you are a non-local distance learning student or an out-of-state employee, you will need to call the Cashier’s office at 423-461-8700 to pay the replacement card fee after you report your lost or stolen card as described above. After paying the fee with the Cashier, mail a copy of the receipt from the Cashier, a copy of your valid, government-issued photo ID, and your mailing address to the ID Card Office. We will create your replacement BuffCard and mail it to you.

If you find your old card after you have been issued a new one, be aware that only the most recent BuffCard issued to you is activated. The old card should be cut up and discarded. Any previous cards are automatically deactivated and will not function with the card swipes on campus.

Lost Card Procedures for Milligan Students with Clinical ID Cards

Milligan students who are issued clinical ID cards must immediately notify their clinical instructor that the clinical ID card has been lost or stolen. You must also report the lost or stolen card online by submitting a help desk ticket online. in order to access, fill out, and submit the form.

On the next business day, come to the Milligan University Business Office to pay the replacement card fee. After you pay the fee to the University Cashier, bring a valid, government-issued photo ID card and the receipt from the University Cashier as proof of payment to the ID Card Office. Presenting the receipt from the University Cashier to the ID Card Office is mandatory. You will NOT be able to obtain your replacement BuffCard without the receipt.

Replacement Due to Name Change

If you are requesting replacement of your BuffCard due to a name change, you must contact the Registrar’s Office first to update your academic records. The ID Card Office will NOT issue you a BuffCard if the name you are requesting for the card does not match your Milligan University academic record. You must provide the Registrar’s Office with official documentation indicating your name change (a marriage certificate, a divorce decree, or court order). Once you have updated your academic records with the Registrar, the ID Card Office will then be able to create your BuffCard that reflects your new name. There is no charge for a replacement card due to a name change, but you must bring your current BuffCard to the ID Card Office to exchange it for your replacement BuffCard.

Deactivation

Your BuffCard will be de-activated if one of the following occurs:

  • If you cease to be an active, enrolled student of Milligan University because of graduation, withdrawal, suspension, or expulsion.
  • If you cease to be an employee of Milligan University for any reason.
  • If you, as a Wellness Center patron, complete your Wellness Center membership and do not renew your membership.
  • If you, as an affiliate or visitor, complete your stay at the University.
  • If you, as a contractor or vendor, have completed your contract on campus.
  • If you allow another individual to use your BuffCard to obtain meals, use library resources, purchase campus-discounted software, or gain access to areas they have not been authorized to access.
  • If for any reason the University deems it necessary to deactivate your BuffCard.