Biometric Scanner Program FAQs

Q. What is the WVU Biometric Scanner Program?
A. WVU Dining Services and Information Technology Services (ITS) are collaborating on a new voluntary program that enables students, faculty and staff with dining plans on the Morgantown campus to use unique biometric data to quickly gain access to Hatfields in the Mountainlair.

After visiting an ITS Service Center (located in the Mountainlair and the basement of Bennett Tower) and completing the enrollment process, students, faculty and staff can gain access to Hatfields and charge meals to their account by placing their hand over a biometric scanner located at the turnstiles near the cashier counter. In time, additional scanners may be added to other Dining Services locations based on response to the program.  

Q. Who is eligible to participate in the program?
A. The Biometric Scanner Program currently is only available to students, faculty and staff with dining plans on the Morgantown campus.  

Q. Is participation in the program mandatory?
A. No. This program is offered as a convenience, and participation is completely voluntary.

Q. Why is WVU using biometric scanner technology?
A. WVU Dining Services and ITS are offering this program to enhance the overall dining experience for students, faculty and staff. The program is designed to help reduce lines and wait times at dining venues. Rather than swiping a card and waiting in line for cashiers, participants in the program can get in and out of dining locations much faster by using the scanners.

Q. What technology is behind the biometric scanners?
A. The scanners are powered by Morpho Wave by IDEMIA — the same a 3D fingerprint technology used to support the TSA Pre✓ ^® enrollment process. Users are positively identified with a simple wave of either their right or left hand in any direction. And the touchless technology mitigates any hygiene concerns.

Q. How do the biometric scanners work?
A. As part of the enrollment process for the program, participants will have their right and left hands scanned to capture biometric data points that will be used to create a unique identifying number for each individual. A fingerprint also will be captured as an additional personal identifier.

After completing the enrollment process, visit the biometric scanner located at the turnstiles near the Hatfields cashier counter. The scanner will find your number and communicate with CS Gold (the software behind mymountaineercard.wvu.edu) to bill the appropriate account.

Q. What else will be done with my biometric data?
A. Nothing. Your hand geometry and fingerprints are not stored in either WVU’s or IDEMIA’s system after the initial scan. Further, the unique number the initial scan generates cannot be reverse-engineered in any way to create fingerprints.

The University’s Information Privacy Policy requires that WVU only collect personally identifiable information for legitimate business and operational purposes. The policy also prohibits the selling, marketing or distribution of that information without specific authorization. Visit the ITS website for more on information technology policies and standards.

Q. What happens if the scanner isn’t working?
A. If the biometric scanner isn’t working, you still may use your Mountaineer Card.

Q. What happens if CS Gold isn’t working?
A. If CS Gold experiences any downtime, you still can use the biometric scanner, which will store your identifying number in an offline database.

Q. Do I still need my Mountaineer Card after enrolling in the Biometric Scanner Program?
A. Yes. You still will need your Mountaineer Card for other dining locations, additional card-related services (e.g., door, elevator, laundry and PRT access) and to use Mountie Bounty.

Q. Do other schools use this technology?
A. Yes. Several other colleges and universities have used this technology with great results.

Q. How do I enroll in the program?
A. To enroll in the program, visit mymountaineercard.wvu.edu and accept the terms and conditions for using the biometric scanners. Then visit an ITS Service Center (located in the Mountainlair and the basement of Bennett Tower) to complete the enrollment process.

After ensuring you have accepted the terms and conditions, a Service Center agent will scan your right and left hands to capture your unique hand geometry. The agent also will capture your fingerprint as an additional personal identifier. View this quick start guide for more information.

Q. Who do I contact with questions or for more information?
A. Contact the ITS Service Desk at 304-293-4444 or ITShelp@mail.wvu.edu with questions or for more information.