Only four years ago, students carried bags of quarters to the laundry room in order to use the washing and drying machines. The student identification card was only used for entering buildings.

A pilot program to expand the number of locations that accept the Washington University Campus Card as a method of payment is currently in the works.

Currently, the Campus Card system allows student IDs to be used for a multitude of purposes, including laundry, vending machine, food and campus bookstore purchases.

Dining Services is collaborating with local merchants to introduce Campus Card to a few local eateries by the end of spring break. At this stage, interested establishments include Kayak’s and Bobo Noodle House. No binding agreements have been made yet, however.

Because both Kayak’s and Bobo are located at 276 N. Skinker Blvd., a University-owned building directly across from the Danforth Campus, these establishments are logical places to start the program.

Paul Schimmele, assistant to the director of operations for Dining Services, spoke at a recent Student Union Senate meeting to gain students’ perspectives on the process. Schimmele and Dining Services will continue to work with Student Union and other student groups to incorporate student perspectives.

Kevin Reddi, general manager of Kayak’s, hopes to increase the accessibility of Kayak’s to the student body with the program.

“I want to make our services available to the students that cannot make it over here with regular cash, Kevin Reddi, general manager of Kayak’s Coffee, said. “I want our café to be available to the entire student body.”

Kayak’s will have to pay for the hardware that is required to scan the cards as well as a service charge to the University.

The owners of Kayak’s hope that an increase in popularity among Washington University students will offset the costs of the new technology. Kayak’s and Bobo will maintain their regular prices.

While the University would receive a percentage of sales made using Campus Card, this cost should be offset by an increase in the number of customers and purchases.

Students are looking forward to the expansion of the Campus Card.

“I don’t know if I would necessarily go there more, but it would definitely be nice to have a Wash. U. debit card type thing that works at off-campus places,” sophomore Vivek Gupta said.

Reddi believes that if the program takes off, the University will not have a problem operating it.

Schimmele plans to eventually create an office that is dedicated to the Campus Card program. At this office, students would be able to fix any problem that arises with Campus Card at a single and centralized place, rather than going to the Office of Residential Life or the Office of Student Records.

If all goes as planned, the money that the University earns from this program will go toward expanding it further.

“We will be seeking student opinions, and if we feel the pilot is successful and we expand this, we want to know where students would like to go,” Schimmele said. “What are our priorities, what makes sense? It is largely driven by a desire by undergraduates; it also serves graduates, faculty and staff. We will speak to them as well.”