Frequently Asked Questions about the Gold Card & Gold Card Plus
What is a Gold Card?
A Gold Card is your Colorado College identification card. It communicates by the magnetic stripe on the back of the card to computers that access your dormitory door, meals, flex, and money if you have funded an account.
Do I have to get a Gold Card?
YES. All faculty, staff, and students must carry a Gold Card at all times and be prepared to show it to any college official who may ask to see it. It is the only way to access your dormitory, and the only way to utilize your meal plan.
Do I have to put money into a Gold Card Plus Account?
Funding a Gold Card is an easy way to make transactions, as it will act as a debit card around campus. You do not need to make a deposit to 'activate' your Gold Card Plus Account. A Gold Card Plus Account is automatically created for you when you are issued your card, and maintains a zero balance until you make a deposit.
If I don’t put any money on my Gold Card, how do I do laundry?
All laundry facilities and photo copiers on campus still accept coins.
Can I get cash from my Gold Card?
The Gold Card is not an ATM and can only be used for goods and services on campus.
Can I get a refund from my Gold Card?
You may request a refund at the end of each semester. The balance on your Gold Card will be transferred to your student account. Any bills owed to Colorado College will first be deducted and then a check will be mailed to you.
What’s
the difference between the Gold Card Plus Account
and my Student Account?
The Gold Card Plus Account is your debit account used to purchase goods and services on campus. The Student Account is where tuition, room, board, etc. are billed. Do NOT make a deposit into your Gold Card Plus Account with the intention of paying any part of your Student Account bill. Meal Plans are charged to your Student Account.
Can I fund a Gold Card Plus Account with a credit card?
YES. Visa or Master Card.
Can I fund a Gold Card Plus Account with a debit card?
YES. Visa or Master Card debit transactions are processed like credit card transactions.
Can I pay my Student Account with a credit card?
NO.
I lost my card, what do I do?
Visit the Gold Card Office (during business hours) or notify Security (after business hours) immediately. The card will be deactivated so that no one can use it.
How do I replace my card?
Visit the Gold Card Office during business hours to have a new card printed.
My card was stolen, what do I do?
Visit the Gold Card Office (during business hours) or notify Security (after business hours) immediately. The card will be deactivated so that no one else can use it.
My card broke, now what?
Bring the pieces to the Gold Card Office and have a new card printed at no charge!
My card isn't working – I can’t swipe into door or meals.
Visit the Gold Card Office and let the experts determine and fix the problem.
Can I have access to another Residence Hall?
Not unless you have been given explicit permission to access that building by Residential Life, in which case this change must be made by an authorized representative of Residential Life. The Residential Life offices can be located on the ground floor of Bemis Hall. The Gold Card Office does not have the authority to grant residence hall access.
Frequently Asked Questions about Meal Plans
Do I have to be on a meal plan?
YES. Colorado College is a residential college and requires all students living on campus (with the exception of those students living in Antero, Blanca, JLK, Diente, and Edith Gaylord) to be on a meal plan.
Can I pay for my meal plan with a credit card?
NO. Student Accounts maintains bills for tuition, room, board, etc. and they do not accept credit cards as a form of payment.
Should I send my meal plan payment to the Gold Card Office?
PLEASE, NO. All payments for meal plans must be sent to Student Accounts. The Gold Card Office makes an effort to identify checks intended to pay for meal plans, and forward these to student accounts, but it is best if you send your payments directly to Student Accounts.
Can I change my meal plan?
You may upgrade your meal plan at anytime by filling out a meal plan change request form and delivering it to us at the Gold Card Office. If you wish to downgrade your meal plan, you may only do this during the first two weeks of the semester.
Why do I have fewer Dining Dollars than I expected after I upgraded my meal plan?
It is important to understand that Dining Dollars on higher priced plans are discounted compared to Dining Dollars on less expensive plans. For example, a Dining Dollar on the Freedom Gold plan costs approximately $2.46, whereas a Dining Dollar on the Freedom Platinum Plan costs approximately $2.15. This means that every Dining Dollar spent on the Freedom Gold plan is $0.31 that is not available after an upgrade to the Freedom Platinum plan. Put another way, you would pay for the Dining Dollars you used on the Freedom Gold plan at the Freedom Gold Dining Dollar Rate, and any value left over would be converted to Dining Dollars at the Freedom Platinum rate, plus the difference in total Dining Dollars between the two plans at the Freedom Platinum rate. Phew!
If I don’t use all my meals this week will they carry over to next week?
NO. Meals reset each Saturday at 2:30 a.m. Use it or lose it.
Where can I use meals?
Meals must be used at Rastall Dining Hall only.
What are Dining Dollars (DD)?
The Dining Dollar is the dining currency used at all dining locations on the Colorado College campus.
Can I use Dining Dollars at Rastall?
YES. If you are on any of the four freedom plans, or are out of meals for the week, you can use Dining Dollars to get into Rastall. For the 2007-2008 school year, breakfast will cost 2.30DD, lunch will cost 3.00DD and dinner will cost 3.88DD
Can I spend Dining Dollars in the Bookstore?
NO. Although the Bookstore does carry food, they do not accept Dining Dollars as a form of payment. However, they will accept Gold Card Plus funds even online!
Can I buy more Dining Dollars?
NO. Dining Dollars are only available in the set increments of meal plans. You can upgrade to a larger meal plan (see above) but you cannot purchase Dining Dollars on their own.
Will Dining Dollars carry over into next semester?
NO. Your Meal Plan balance is reset at the end of each semester. Use them or lose them.
What is a commuter plan?
Commuter plans are only available if you live off campus or in one of the on campus apartment complexes (Antero, Blanca, JLK, El Diente, or Edith Gaylord). The currency of the commuter plan is "flex points" and not Dining Dollars. For further explanation of the commuter plan options, please contact the Gold Card Office directly.
I am taking a leave of absence for one or more blocks. How does this affect my meal plan?
You must request a leave of absence (LOA) from the Dean of Students Office. They will then notify the Gold Card Office. Please check with the Dean's Office for deadlines. All LOA's must be requested and approved prior to absence. Refunds are given on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed.
I will be going abroad. How does this affect my meal plan?
You must request a leave of absence (LOA) to study abroad from the Dean of Students
Office. They will then notify the Gold Card Office. Please check with the Dean's
Office for deadlines.
All LOA's for study abroad must be requested and approved prior to absence.
Refunds are given on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed.
I have special dietary needs. Who do I talk to?
Contact the Campus Dining Office at 719-389-6631 before the semester begins.