“In the Cougar Card office, we have the opportunity and privilege of welcoming new UH students and employees to our campus,” said Cassie Bruner, Ph.D., Cougar Card Services Director.

Access to almost anything a UH student or a faculty or staff member does on the main campus of the University of Houston is somehow touched by their official identification card: Cougar Card.  

“The Cougar Card is more than just an ID; it’s the key to UH life. Our team is constantly exploring new ways the Cougar Card can make campus culture even better,” said Daisy Del Fierro, Cougar Card Services Coordinator. 

Located in suite 151 of the Welcome Center, the Cougar Card office can be found between the New Era Thrifted shop and the UH Dining Services marketing office.

Website, emails transmit information on obtaining card, services 

Being issued a Cougar Card under a person’s preferred name is the first step for all active members of the UH family, whether as a student or a faculty/staff member. The Cougar Card office reaches out through emails and directs everyone to the website to accomplish this. Special attention is made to new students and residential students to put their campus experience on the right track. 

Obtaining a card is as easy as completing an online photo submission and making an appointment to pick the card up. An acceptance of a Cougar Card acknowledges an agreement to its terms and conditions. A digital version of the card is available once an approved photo is on file and can be set one up on the UH Go app.  

A list of services and fees for replacement cards, a guest card, and attendance device rentals is also available online. The office provides a method for users to get a temporary After-Hours Replacement Cougar Card and the address to the UH Police Department to pick it up. 

“Cougar Card Services has more to offer the campus than the Cougar Card, we have devices available for attendance tracking that can be rented out on an event basis or a yearly basis to departments or student groups/organizations wanting to gather data about who is attending events, email addresses for follow-up, and other fields of information for tracking data,” said Del Fierro.

“We also manage ShastaBUCKS. If any department wants to accept ShastaBUCKS as form of payment for their services, we make that happen!” 

How-to, when-to, where-to: Cards open many doors 

Both students and faculty/staff members can enjoy plenty of privileges with their Cougar Cards. Important resource information is printed on the back of Cougar Cards and available on the digital card for quick reference for someone experiencing thoughts of suicide, who has been a victim of sexual assault, who needs help while facing a crisis, or seeks assistance from the campus police. 

Other features that are offered through the Cougar Card include: 

• Cougar Card Connect — users can upload their photo, select or revise their meal plan, and manage campus account balances.  
• ShastaBUCKS — users can establish a UH debit account through preloaded funds that can be used on purchases at participating on-campus merchants and Grubhub off and on campus. 

A list of FAQ has been developed by the Cougar Card team as a quick reference to find the answers to what may spring up while using the card and/or ShastaBUCKS. Signs have been developed for departments to accept a physical card and/or a digital version. 

“Whether you’re using your meal plan, accessing buildings/parking garages, using ShastaBUCKS, or finding critical support in times of need, we’re here to make certain your Cougar Card opens every door, literally and figuratively,” said Del Fierro. 

CCO team takes a swipe at innovations 

It’s the responsibility of Cougar Card Services, with direction from the Cougar Card Advisory Committee, to ensure: 

• The issuance of cards and provide administration and service. 
• Users know how to use their card, and the privileges associated with it. 
• Its team looks for other opportunities to expand the card’s applications.  

During the summer of 2023, a partnership was made between the University and Grubhub to provide UH students and faculty/staff to receive free deliveries with a minimum order of $15 from local restaurants through Grubhub+. 

Students and faculty/staff can use ShastaBUCKS as an option to pay for their food rather than a debit or credit card. The Cougar Card Services team posted information for Grubhub+ on its website and provide information via tablings events and giveaways every semester to introduce the campus community to Grubhub+. 

“This year, we hosted five tabling events in the spring and four tabling events in the fall. We gave away more than $1,100 in GH gift cards and a set of Beats headphones to a lucky few who attended the tabling events,” said Del Fierro said. “We’re hoping to get more participation for our spring and fall 2025 events!”