To provide better service and convenience for students, faculty and staff, Bear Down Gymnasium's Campus Identification Center and the All Aboard Office will be combining services to one location.

The ID Center, located in Bear Down, and the All Aboard Office, in the Memorial Student Union's lower level, will be combining Nov. 18 into a Card Office, said Boyd Beckwith, program director for operations of Arizona Student Unions. He said both would be located at the All Aboard Office's location.

Beckwith said this is the first step to creating a "one card" system that students, faculty and staff can use for all campus services.

"Before, we used to have to send students to several places for them to get the desired services on their card," Beckwith said. "Having one card center will benefit the users because all the hours will be the same."

Currently, departments have different hours of operation, which Beckwith said has frustrated students because not all the services can be performed at the same time.

This concept has been around for a long time, but Beckwith said funding has kept the idea from developing. He said funding is available through University of Arizona Financial Services.

Beckwith said the combination will benefit students most because all the identification departments will be at one location. He said others will also benefit because of shared resources and a staff trained in multiple skills.

Bill Hanemann, senior office specialist for the Registrar's Office, said the ID Center's staff has mixed feelings about moving.

"We will be leaving a huge room with a lot of space and be moving to a small office with limited space," Hanemann said. "It is sort of a mixed blessing."

Beckwith said cross-training employees could minimize the numbers of card office staff members. He said the intent is to have students working instead of full-time staff.

Hanemann said the combination will also make the jobs of card office employees easier due to the cross-training.

"It will keep everyone busy and they will get better r­sum­ experience," he said.

Beckwith said, "By using students, we will be increasing services and lowering costs, and we believe that (students) are qualified enough to handle the job."

Hanemann said with 27 different campus identification centers, it is sensible to bring all the centers to one place.

"I cannot think of anyone that would be opposed to this idea, because it will benefit everyone," Beckwith said.

The current All Aboard Office is set up with three counters. Two counters will be used for identification card services and All Aboard, and the other will be for the ID Center's use, such as taking photos, Beckwith said. The third counter will also be use d for All Aboard, if needed.

Another advantage of the combination is that reporting lost or stolen cards will be easier, Beckwith said.

Hanemann said he does not know what the Campus Identification Center's space at Bear Down will be used for.

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