If you're in the market for card supplies or badge accessories for your ID program, head on over to the AlphaCard online store, where we recently expanded our already-impressive catalog. Our new product offerings include everything from custom badge reels and pre-printed lanyards, to heavy-duty badge holders and eco-friendly accessories.

First-year students at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh are quickly learning that their new student ID cards are much more valuable than the plastic they're printed on. Like many colleges and universities, Carnegie Mellon has found a way to expand its photo ID program, allowing students to use their cards for a wide range of functions and applications. Some of those convenient uses include keyless access to dormitories, debit card functionality, and the cards even serve as bus passes.

The new school year is brining changes to dining services at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Once confined to the on-campus dining halls, students can now use the revamped program to eat at popular restaurants off-campus with a simple swipe of their student ID cards. The Rensselaer Advantage Dollar works like a debit account, allowing students to add money to their student IDs and use them at the off-campus eateries.

When we speak with new customers who are in the market for a photo ID system, one of the first issues we like to address is the choice between single-sided and dual-sided ID card printers. Single-sided printers cost less, but it's possible that your ID card program will require a dual-sided printer. How do you know which solution is best for your needs? Let's take a look at some key factors that should clear things up for you.

Washington State is moving towards a new ID card system to verify eligibility for Medicaid. The Department of Social and Health Services announced that they are switching to as system of plastic ID cards for Medicaid clients similar to those used by private health insurance companies. The free cards will be mailed to Medicaid clients starting in November. Along with the new cards come a computer payer system called ProviderOne will be launched, which will reimburse doctors, clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes for medical assistance services.

The University of Kentucky has come up with a clever new rewards system that's integrated into its student ID program. Starting this fall, when students use their university ID cards, they'll be eligible to win prizes such as season basketball tickets, or a semester's worth of free books. The aim of the Student Government initiative, dubbed TallyCats, is to encourage more campus involvement from students. And it's a pretty cool idea. Students earn points when they swipe their ID cards upon entering certain campus events. The more points you earn, the better your chances for scoring bigtime swag.

At next week's ASIS International Conference in Anaheim, HID Global will announce the launch of the Genuine HID Technology trademark and product line. With Genuine HID, customers benefit from a line of trusted security solutions that include a lifetime warranty.

Jones County Junior College (JCJC) has expanded its student ID program to include a bevy of convenient functions and uses going into the new school year. The school uses the OneCard system which provides students with debit card functionality. Now students and their parent can go online to deposit funds into an account that can be used to make purchases at the college bookstore, cafeteria, and other campus locations. There are also plans to expand the program to off campus businesses such as local restaurants, gas stations and grocery stores.

Zebra's ZXP Series 8 ID card printer is on display at the ASIS International conference in Anaheim. The Zebra ZXP Series 8 is the company's new foray into the world of retransfer card printing. Retransfer (or high-definition) printing is an innovative process where the elements of your card design, such as images and text, are printed on the reverse side of a special film which is then fused to the card surface. The process results in photo-quality cards with true over-the-edge printing.

This week Evolis announced the arrival of its new Quantum printer designed for high-volume dual-sided ID card personalization. The latest version of the Evolis Quantum is an extremely flexible machine that can adapt to meet varying card-printing needs. The printer has a modular design that speeds up card personalization by printing and encoding at the same time. It's ideal for large card programs and applications such as IDs and membership cards, student IDs, transportation passes, payment cards, and employee badges.

To increase security on the campus of San Jose State University, 27 buildings are having their exterior doors refitted for use with an electronic access control system. The automated system uses electronic key cards, rather than traditional metal keys, to allow students and other registered users to access buildings after hours and during weekends. These smart card student IDs use RFID technology to broadcast information to a special receiver near the door.