By SHANNON WELLS
Pitt’s new Mobile Credential Project is expected to provide a “transformative” opportunity to switch from traditional plastic Panther Card identifications to smartphone-based advanced mobile credentials.
The Mobile Panther ID is intended to integrate student, faculty and staff identification, campus access and other services into a seamless, digital wallet-stored mobile application, enhancing convenience, security and sustainability for those around the Oakland campus.
“By leveraging cutting-edge technology, users will be able to access campus buildings, make purchases and utilize University resources directly from their smartphones, reducing the need for physical cards and minimizing environmental impact,” according to an announcement from Pitt’s Business, Hospitality and Auxiliary Services. “This shift not only modernizes campus operations, but also aligns with our commitment to innovation and eco-friendly practices.
“Through extensive testing and user feedback, as well as a phased rollout, we aim to ensure a smooth transition and deliver an efficient, user-friendly experience for our University community.”
Students, staff and faculty in Oakland can continue using their plastic Panther Card or try the Mobile Panther ID. Using an iPhone, Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy, Samsung Galaxy Watch and other eligible Android phones, the new ID accommodates everything the traditional Panther Card does, from accessing buildings, dining halls and campus recreation facilities to checking out books at Hillman Library.
Those who own smartwatches will be able to “tap in” to use the mobile credential.
Minimal set up is required to use the Mobile Panther ID, and most users can begin using it on their phone in minutes (see operating system links at bottom). An approved photo is required, but if you already have an ID in the Pitt system, it will use that photo. To upload a photo, follow instructions on the Panther Central website.
Some of the credentials’ proposed benefits include:
Modernization: An effort to “meet students where they live — on their phones. Plus, they don’t lose their phones as much as they lose their Panther Cards,” Barsotti noted.
Convenience: Enabling users to access campus buildings, make purchases and utilize University services directly from their smartphones, eliminating the need to carry and manage physical cards.
Enhanced security: Mobile credentials offer improved security features, such as biometric authentication and remote deactivation, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and card misuse.
Sustainability: Transitioning to mobile credentials significantly reduces plastic waste and the environmental impact associated with producing and disposing of physical cards, supporting the University’s sustainability goals.
Integration and innovation: Mobile credentials can be seamlessly integrated with other campus technologies and services, fostering a more interconnected and innovative campus environment that supports ongoing technological advancements.
Easy activation by following the Mobile Credential Guide’s set-up instructions. Mobile technology also enables Panther Central and cardholders to create and receive credentials without being present in the same location, eliminating the need to visit Panther Central.
Safe and Secure: Mobile credentials are more difficult to duplicate or share. Mobile credentials can be more secure than key fobs or access cards because they use advanced encryption and multi-factor authentication, such as facial recognition, biometrics or passcodes.
Sustainable: The elimination of printing plastic cards aligns with the University’s sustainability goals.
During this initial phase, Panther Cards can be used as backup if your Mobile Panther ID doesn’t work. Once the mobile credential is working as intended, users are required to choose either the mobile Panther ID or keep their plastic card.
Further instructions will be shared later this summer.
Those who choose the mobile option also must use the PRT Ready2Ride app to ride the bus, T, or incline and will no longer be able to tap your card to ride. Students, staff or faculty who eventually choose to go fully mobile may keep their Panther Card as a souvenir, but it will be deactivated and not work on campus readers, locks or PRT vehicles.
For answers to the most frequently asked questions, review the Mobile Panther ID Guide.
Contact Panther Central for additional questions.
To set up your digital devices, click on the links below for your operating system.
Shannon O. Wells is a writer for the University Times. Reach him at shannonw@pitt.edu.
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