Communications

AC Card + U-Pass merge to become one card!

The new AC Card + U-PassAlgonquin College, The University of Ottawa, Carleton University, and the City of Ottawa have been working together for the past two years to eliminate the blue U-Pass card and merge it onto each institution’s student card. This means that all AC Cards and U-Passes are being replaced!

What’s changing?

  • The new AC Card + U-Pass will function as both an AC Card and U-Pass, eliminating the need for U-Pass eligible students to be issued two cards!
  • No more renewals! The AC Card + U-Pass will automatically be enabled each term a student is U-Pass eligible.
  • Appointments are no longer needed to pick up an AC Card + U-Pass!

All existing functions of the AC Card and U-Pass will continue to work as before, with the exception of length of time students need to hold their new card on the OC Transpo fare reader in order for it to validate, which is now about 4 seconds. This is impacting all post-secondary schools in Ottawa and OC Transpo is working on a fix for future terms. In the meantime, students are asked to hold their card in place on the fare terminals until they see a green approval message (or about 4 seconds).

Getting a new AC Card + U-Pass

The process for new students to get an AC Card remains unchanged. Students will need to upload their photo to our AC Photo portal https://acphoto.algonquincollege.com/ to begin the process.

Returning students who picked up their new AC Card + U-Pass in Fall 2024 will have their U-Pass automatically renewed each term they are U-Pass-eligible!

Returning full-time Ottawa Campus students, who did not pick up the new AC Card + U-Pass in Fall 2024 will need to have a new AC Card printed. These students are asked to visit the AC Card and U-Pass Service Centre to get their new card, at no additional cost. The AC Card and U-Pass Service Centre is open weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Marketplace Food Court, starting Jan. 2. Returning students are asked to bring their current AC Card, as we will need to collect it when we issue the new AC Card + U-Pass.

Returning students do not need to upload a new photo, as we will use their existing photo still on file. Students will no longer need to book appointments to pick up their cards, service will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

This project will not impact employee cards, or any students who are not U-Pass eligible (including those in Perth, Pembroke, part-time, and online students).

You will see increased messaging, signage, and staffing to help communicate and deploy this improvement. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss impacts in your area, please contact the Manager of Card Services at: Roch.Lafond@algonquincollege.com.  

Printer fleet renewal – installations currently underway

The Print Services Team, alongside our ITS Department, and our new printer fleet vendor, Ricoh, are currently replacing Konica Minolta and Lexmark printers with new Ricoh devices at each of our Algonquin College Campus locations.

This new Ricoh printer fleet will include a mix of models for colour and black printing, multi-function and single function printing, scan to email, copying, standard letter and legal-size paper, tabloid paper, and in select locations, stapling and 3-hole punching.

Demand for on-campus printing remains over 60% lower than it was pre-pandemic, and as a result, the total number and type of fleet printers on Campus is being aligned with the current and projected campus printer fleet volumes. This means that not all printers will be replaced during this process. In areas where printers are being removed and not replaced, details on where to find the next-closest printer will be posted, which are often only a short distance away on the same floor in the same building. Departments that will have printers removed will be contacted directly by the Print Services team to discuss potential impacts.

The removal of the old, and installation of our new, printers is currently underway and will conclude at the end of August.

For the latest updates, please visit our Printer Fleet Renewal project website. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss impacts in your area, please contact Michael Heaslip, Manager, Print Services – heaslim@algonquincollege.com.

Printer fleet renewal takes place July and August

Printer Fleet Renewal Project - Spring/Summer 2024

During the Spring 2024 Term, the Print Services Team, alongside our ITS Department, and our new printer fleet vendor, Ricoh, will collaborate to replace Konica Minolta and Lexmark printers with new Ricoh devices at each of our Algonquin College Campus locations.

This new Ricoh printer fleet will include a mix of models for colour and black printing, multi-function and single function printing, scan to email, copying, standard letter and legal-size paper, tabloid paper, and in select locations, stapling and 3-hole punching.

Demand for on-campus printing remains over 60% lower than it was pre-pandemic, and as a result, the total number and type of fleet printers on Campus is being aligned with the current and projected campus printer fleet volumes. This means that not all printers will be replaced during this process. In areas where printers are being removed and not replaced, details on where to find the next-closest printer will be posted, which are often only a short distance away on the same floor in the same building. Departments that will have printers removed will be contacted directly by the Print Services team to discuss potential impacts.

The removal of the old, and installation of our new, printers will take place in July and August during the Spring 2024 term.

For the latest updates, please visit our Printer Fleet Renewal project website. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss impacts in your area, please contact Michael Heaslip, Manager, Print Services – heaslim@algonquincollege.com.

Campus Services 2023-24 Annual Report now available

The 2023-24 Campus Services Annual Report has been released, sharing highlights and results from the past year across all our services. The results in this Annual Report reflect our ongoing commitment to customer experience, continuous improvement, and innovation in Campus Services. The aim of making life easier and more enjoyable for all learners drives our efforts to ensure that services are fast and convenient.

Read, and share, the 2023-24 Campus Services Annual Report.

Friends & Family Shopping experience a great success – Thank you AC!

Friends and Family shopping experience main graphicOn Thursday, Nov. 23, more than 1,200 shoppers filled the Campus Store for a day of merriment! Guests enjoyed holiday music, free hot chocolate, discounts on great AC gear, gifts, and chocolates, and food samples from Merrickville Cookies, Templeton’s Toffees, B’s Hot Sauces, Mi Casa freeze-dried candy, Gourmet du Village, and more.

When speaking with attendees, highlights of the day were the variety of samples, learning about The Story Time student project, and of course the 25% off AC gear!

The holiday photo booth out front of the store, featuring the one-and-only “Wolf”, was very popular with over 100 photos taken over the course of the event. Check out all the action from this event on our Instagram account (@ACcampusservices).

Thank you to all who attended the Friends & Family event, and shopped online, to make this year’s event a huge success!