Mcard FAQs

Incoming Ann Arbor new and transfer students will generally receive their first Mcard free during orientation or when they arrive to campus. Students will need to be matriculated and term activated. Please remember to bring picture identification (i.e., driver’s license, passport, etc.) with you. Your picture will be taken at this time, so be sure to wear appropriate clothing and smile. People with sunglasses, hats, caps, bandanas, etc. will be asked to remove them before taking their photo. Click here for additional info on obtaining a student Mcard. Freshmen Time-Saver Info

Freshmen and new transfer students, who live in a University residence hall are able to obtain one free dual card holder at the Mcard Center (while supplies last).

New Ann Arbor faculty and staff should receive their Mcard during new employee orientation. Occasionally there are circumstances that require the person to obtain their Mcard on their own. Please remember to bring picture identification (i.e., driver’s license, passport, etc.) with you. Your picture will be taken at this time, so be sure to wear appropriate clothing and smile. People with sunglasses, hats, caps, bandanas, etc. will be asked to remove them before taking their photo. If your employee affiliation is not in the ID Card database, you may be required to complete an Mcard Request and Change form or Health System Mcard Request and Change form for Health System faculty/staff. Unless there are other arrangements, your Mcard will be produced on the spot in generally a few minutes. Click here for additional info.

Current Ann Arbor campus registered students, faculty, staff, and others are able to obtain their Mcard by visiting any of the ID Issuing Stations on campus. Anyone associated with the Health System must visit the Key & ID Office in the Med Inn Building with a completed Health System Mcard Request and Change form. Non-students on campus will need to have their supervisor or department administration complete an Mcard Request and Change form for them prior to arriving to an ID Issuing Station.

Students, faculty, and staff seeking a replacement Mcard because of card expiration, damaged, etc. will need to bring their current Mcard to an ID Issuing Station to exchange for a new Mcard. Generally, there is no charge for the new Mcard if you turn in your old Mcard. Non-student Mcard holders who require a new Mcard due to ID data changes (i.e., change of department) must complete a Mcard Request and Change form. Please remember to bring picture identification (i.e., driver’s license, passport, etc.) with you. Your picture will be taken at this time, so be sure to wear appropriate clothing and smile. People with sunglasses, hats, caps, bandanas, etc. will be asked to remove them before taking their photo.

Faculty and staff who are required to wear their Mcards can obtain a badge holder at any ID Issuing Station.

The Dearborn and Flint campuses issue their own Mcards to their students, faculty, staff and others.

Expired Mcard - What do I do?

If you have an expired Mcard and are still affiliated with the University, take your expired Mcard to an ID Issuing Station for a free replacement. Expired Mcards are required to be turned in for a new valid Mcard. A replacement fee will be charged if the expired Mcard is not turned in at the time a new Mcard is produced.

At the time a new Mcard is produced, a new photo of the cardholder will be taken per University policy.

UMHS Expired Mcards

To replace an expired Mcard for a new U-M Health System Mcard, the Key & ID office will require your expired Mcard and a U-M Health System ID Card Change & Request form completed by your department.

What can I do with my Mcard?

Your Mcard is a multi-functional card, which provides access to University services and facilities and serves many purposes. On the Ann Arbor campus these include but are not limited to:

Not all University services are available to all cardholders. Please inquire with the service provider for qualifications and other information.

What if my Mcard does not work somewhere? Back to top

Depending on what your card will not do will depend on how the problem is corrected. Ann Arbor Mcard holders contact the Mcard Center 936-2273 for assistance.

Below are some of the most common problems, but not all, Ann Arbor cardholders experience along with instructions for a possible resolution. Please note that EXPIRED Mcards could also cause access problems - take expired Mcard to an ID Issuing Station for replacement.

Card will not work anywhere it is swiped (scratches on black stripe) - take Mcard to an ID Issuing Station

Cannot get into own residence hall - contact the Entrée Office 763-4632

Cannot get meals at residence hall - contact the Entrée Office 763-4632

Cannot spend Entrée Plus points at readers or merchants - contact the Entrée Office 763-4632

Cannot get into recreation buildings - contact the Central Campus Rec Bldg 763-3084

Cannot access campus computing sites (ITCS) - see ITCS Web page for instructions

Cannot access north campus Engineering buildings - e-mail coe-access@umich.edu with 16 digit card #, name, and location of access problem

Cannot access medical school buildings - e-mail Bonnie Brown bjbrown@umich.edu with 16 digit card #, name, and location of access problem

Card will not work as ATM/debit card (must be linked to TCF bank account prior to usage) - contact TCF Bank 800-823-2265

The Mcard is the official University of Michigan ID card. It not only identifies cardholders affiliated with the University, it also is the device that is used to gain access to many services across campus. Two separate services accessed with the black magnetic strip (see below) on the reverse of the Mcard are Entrée Plus and Mcard ATM/debit.

Entrée Plus is an extension to the Entrée meal plan. Money (cash or checks) is deposited into a debit account with the Entrée Office. Money can also be applied via Entrée's Web site and billed to the Student Account. Cardholders then can spend this money by swiping their Mcards at residence hall copier machines, laundry facilities, cafeterias, snack bars, convenience stores, and vending machines (and some campus vending machines as well). Entrée Plus can also be used at Wendy's^®, Subway^®, Villa Pizza^®, Mrs. Field's^®, and other restaurants in the Michigan Union, Michigan League, Palmer Commons, Pierpont Commons, and University Hospital cafeteria. Using Entrée Plus through the Mcard almost eliminates the need for cash on campus.

Mcard ATM/Debit Card access is possible when the Mcard is linked to a TCF^® Bank account opened in Michigan. If this is done, the Mcard can be used to withdraw money from the TCF Bank account at 15 TCF Express Teller^® ATMs on campus and over 700,000 PLUS^® ATMs world wide. The Mcard can also be used to make debit card purchases at hundreds of thousands of INTERLINK^® debit retailers across the nation. A 4-digit PIN (Personal Identification Number) is used when making transactions at ATMs and debit merchants.

The TCF^® Check Card (pictured below) is a separate card from the Mcard and is issued by TCF Bank when a University student, faculty, staff or other member opens a TCF Bank account. The TCF Check Card is an ATM/Debit card with a Visa^® logo that can be used around the world anywhere Visa^® debit cards are accepted, although it is not a credit card. The purchase amount is directly debited from a TCF Bank account. Using the TCF Check Card at stores, the cardholder signs receipts authorizing the purchase but uses a 4-digit PIN at ATMs. This card can also be used in any of the over 700,000 PLUS^® ATMs worldwide.

TCF Bank does not charge annual fees or fees for debit card transactions when using the Mcard or TCF Check Card. The operator of a terminal may charge a fee for non-Visa^®system transactions. Either card used in a non-TCF Express Teller^® ATM may incur a charge from the owner of that ATM as well as a $2.00 ATM fee from TCF Bank. Both the Mcard and the TCF Check Card can be linked to a TCF Bank checking account and even a savings account as well. Student and Faculty/Staff TCF Check Cards provide CashRewards. In addition, Faculty/Staff TCF Miles Plus Check Cards also earn Points towards airline tickets or online merchandise.

A University agreement with Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) allows all students, faculty, and staff with yellow Mcards to ride any fixed schedule bus route simply by showing their valid (non-expired) Mcard.

The new program is called Mride. The five-year agreement between the University and AATA will allow free rides any time and any day to destinations throughout Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Pittsfield Township. The agreement does not cover rides to such events as the Ann Arbor Art Fair or home Michigan football games. For additional information click here.

If you have an expired Mcard, a replacement Mcard can be issued for free when the expired card is turned in to an ID Issuing Station.

Blue colored Mcards were created to help distinguish members of the University community (not including the Health System) from faculty, staff, and students. These cards include:

Anyone mentioned above who currently has a yellow Mcard will not be re-issued a new yellow Mcard. When the current Mcard expires, the cardholder would obtain a new blue Mcard.

Student/faculty/staff name changes are not processed at an ID Issuing Station. If a cardholder has a name change due marriage, divorce, legal name change, or it is simply misspelled...

Students - all name changes are first processed through the Registrar's Office.

Faculty/Staff - all name changes are first processed through the Human Resources Department.

These offices require proof of name change such as marriage certificate, legal documents, etc.

After the name change is processed through the appropriate office, the data will be transferred to the ID Card database generally in about 30 minutes. Once the name change has appeared in the ID Card database, the cardholder can turn in their current Mcard for a new corrected Mcard.

Non-student/faculty/staff name changes can be processed at an ID Issuing Station with appropriate documentation (marriage certificate, divorce decree, new driver's license, or other legal documents). A corrected Mcard may require a card fee.

Preferred Names are available to be printed on Mcards. Cardholders first select an appropriate preferred name through Wolverine Access. Cardholders lacking access to Wolverine Access can seek additional information here. Dearborn and Flint students can go to their respective campus ID Issuing Stations to select an appropriate preferred name and have it printed on their Mcards. Generally, visitors, contractors, Rec Sports sponsored users, and others who cannot have access to Wolverine Access are unable to participate in the preferred name feature at this time.

For additional information regarding preferred names and the Mcard Preferred Name Policy please click here.

What if I do not like my photo on my Mcard?

If you do not like your photo on your Mcard, you may obtain a new photo and Mcard at an ID Issuing Station for a cost of $20. Under certain circumstances, cardholders who have had major physical facial or head changes can turn in their old card for an updated Mcard. Cardholders who change hair style or hair color, grow facial hair or remove it, begin to wear glasses or contacts, have minor plastic surgery, etc. do not qualify as having a major physical change and a $20 replacement would apply. Final discretion is determined by the ID Issuing Station.

Generally students, faculty, and staff, who turn in their Mcards because it is expired or damaged from normal use; who have changed departments; or who have a name changes can request to have a new photo taken for the new Mcards.

Can I Have More Than One Mcard at a Time?

According to the University's Standard Practice Guide 601.13, each member of the University is allowed only one identification card, the Mcard, at a time. Cardholders are not allowed to have multiple valid Mcards, except in the case of the possession of an Alumni Mcard. Cardholders cannot reproduce any part of their Mcard for purposes of having/wearing proper identification.

Cardholders who are students and employed at the University have the option to receive an Mcard with the department/organization name on the obverse and the word "Student" above the magnetic stripe on the reverse. Faculty/staff who have multiple appointments must choose the most pertinent department name to print on the obverse of the Mcard. A second department name cannot be printed on the Mcard. If a cardholder has an affiliation change (i.e., staff changes departments), the cardholder must turn in their Mcard to obtain an updated card with their new affiliation.

Expired Mcards are not valid forms of University identification. An expired Mcard can be taken to an ID Issuing Station for a free replacement if there is still an active affiliation in the ID Card database.

All Mcards are property of the University and must be returned to an ID Issuing Station or cardholder's supervisor when cardholder's affiliation with the University has ended.

No, lending Mcards for any purpose is not permitted as per University SPG 601.13. Should an Mcard be given to someone else for use and the Mcard becomes lost, it is the original cardholder's responsibility to pay for the replacement of the card. There have been cases were borrowed Mcards were used for fraud and the original cardholders were held responsible. It's just not a good idea no matter how trivial it may seem.

How can I get copies of Mcard photos for photo class rosters and seating charts?

Currently, the ability to obtain student Mcard photos for class rosters is available for the Ann Arbor campus instructors and support staff in Teaching Support in Wolverine Access. The usage of student Mcard photos are governed by the Standard Practice Guide 601.13. It is possible this functionality will be be expanded to the Dearborn and Flint Campuses in the future.

Looking for Mcard photos for a department photo roster, Facebook or other use not listed above? See the Photo Roster page

The University of Michigan Athletic Department requires that all students with student season football tickets show their Mcards for entry into Michigan Stadium. It is highly recommended that students who have lost their Mcards obtain a replacement Monday - Friday during normal business hours at an ID issuing station prior to the game. There are no ID stations open on game day Saturdays!

For additional information regarding the student ticket policy and procedures, see the U of M Athletics' Web site.

What is TCF^®?

TCF^® is a trademarked acronym that identifies TCF^® National Bank. TCF Bank is a national bank with over 450 branch offices and 1,450 ATMs in Michigan, Arizona, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Colorado. TCF Bank has a large presence in Ann Arbor with 5 convenient branches and 27 ATMs. TCF Bank has 3 branches in the campus area and 16 ATMs in University buildings (Map)

Is TCF Bank the only bank affiliated with the Mcard?

Yes. Due to the technological requirements of the program, there is only one bank affiliated with the Mcard. The University of Michigan selected TCF^® Bank through a competitive bid process for its Totally Free Mcard Checking and the convenient services that they offer to the University community.

Do I need a local bank account?

It is highly recommended that people that come to the University from out of state obtain a local bank account. ATM machine surcharges can get expensive if one doesn't have a local bank. And, while most merchants accept out of state checks with proper identification, some do not. Most people from out of town find it more convenient and cost effective to maintain a local checking or savings account to manage their money.

It is also recommended that direct deposit of wages from a job and/or financial aid be established with the local bank account. Direct deposit provides the safety of an electronic deposit without the worries of a paper check lost in the mail and no hassles of waiting in a bank teller line.

Do residence halls cash checks for student?

No. For safety and security, residence halls do not cash checks. It is recommended that students, faculty, and staff use a local bank for check cashing services.

How can I make my Mcard an ATM/debit card?

The Mcard can be made an ATM/debit card only by linking it to a TCF^® Bank checking opened at a TCF branch in Michigan. A TCF savings account can be linked as well. Stop by any local TCF branch or the Mcard Center to have this link completed. At this time, you will be able to choose your own 4-digit PIN (Personal Identification Number) to use at ATMs and when making debit purchases. The Mcard should be ready for use as an ATM/Debit card in about two business days.

How do I deposit money into my TCF® Bank account?

Where can I get more Mcard information? Back to top

Mcard Center
Room 100 Student Activities Building
Map
Hours: Monday - Friday 8 AM - 5 PM
(734) 93-Mcard (936-2273)
mcard@umich.edu

Mailing address:
Mcard Center
100 Student Activities Building
515 E. Jefferson St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1316

When will I get my Mcard?

Expired Mcard - What do I do?

What can I do with my Mcard?

What if my Mcard does not work somewhere? Back to top

What if I do not like my photo on my Mcard?

Can I Have More Than One Mcard at a Time?

How can I get copies of Mcard photos for photo class rosters and seating charts?

What is TCF^®?

Is TCF Bank the only bank affiliated with the Mcard?

Do I need a local bank account?

Do residence halls cash checks for student?

How can I make my Mcard an ATM/debit card?

How do I deposit money into my TCF® Bank account?

Where can I get more Mcard information? Back to top