Parents

What is the Cougar Card?

The Cougar Card is the official College of Charleston identification card issued to enrolled students. Many campus departments use the Cougar Card as a means to grant access to information and services.

• On-campus, photo identification
• Dining plan or dining dollars card
• Library card
• Campus recreation access card
• Admission to residence halls
• Personal debit card to access funds in a Cougar Cash account
• Pass to ride CARTA buses free of charge
  

How does the Cougar Cash Account work?

The Cougar Card becomes a personal debit card when a Cougar Cash Account is opened. The Cougar Cash Account allows the student to draw on pre-deposited funds to purchase products and services on campus. The Cougar Cash Account helps parents to:

• Budget. Deposit periodically to meet your son or daughter’s estimated expenses.
• Feel comfortable. Cougar Cash can only be used at on-campus locations: all dining service facilities, the College of Charleston Bookstore, Clyde’s Convenience Store, parking services, the copy center, library photocopiers and selected vending machines.
• Provide safety. Carrying the Cougar Card is safer than carrying cash, checks, ATM or other cards. The account number is not printed on the card.

How can I make a deposit?

Online – pay with a credit card or E-check using Cougar Trail.

A student may set up authorized users to view, pay their account and make Cougar Cash deposits from the E-Bill/My Account Screen of Cougar Trail. An automated message will be sent informing the authorized user that access has been granted to online billing information. A separate login ID and PIN/password will be issued to the authorized user in this message. The user will be required to change the password when logging in for the first time.

The authorized user will be able to:

• View the student’s billing statement
• Select meal plans
• Make Cougar Cash deposits
• Select a payment plan
• Make payments using a credit card or checking account.

Please note that deposits to Cougar Cash made via credit card are not subject to a convenience fee. The deposit will be available for the student to use within two hours.

By mail – with a check or money order to Treasurer’s Office, College of Charleston, 66 George St., Charleston, SC 29424. Please mark the item with the student’s name and Cougar Cash.

In Person – Treasurer’s Office, 170 Calhoun St. Monday - Friday, 8:30a.m. - 5:00p.m. Deposits may be made using cash, check, and money order, Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card or American Express. Funds will be active approximately two hours after the deposit is made.

In Person – Cougar Card Services, 162 Calhoun St., Monday - Friday, 8:30a.m. - 5:00p.m. Deposits may be made using cash, check, and money order, Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card or American Express. Funds will be active immediately.

Can I call for information regarding my son or daughter’s account or make deposits by phone?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 is designed to protect the confidentiality of the records that educational institutions maintain on their students and to give the students access to their records to assure the accuracy of their contents. Cougar Card Services is unable to share information regarding a student account with anyone other than the student.

Deposits to Cougar Cash are not accepted over the telephone or by fax. Original signatures of the checking account owner or credit card holder are required to process these transactions.

What if I still have questions regarding the Cougar Card?

Please contact Cougar Card Services. Monday – Friday, 8:30a.m. – 5:00p.m. (843) 953-1100 or email cougarcard@cofc.edu.