For the 2026-27 academic year, ETSU is introducing Mobile Buc ID. The change allows students to access campus amenities with their phones or other devices such as Apple Watches.
Mobile IDs serve the same purpose as physical ID cards. The ID is stored in a digital wallet on an electronic device. Mobile IDs are one step the university is taking to adapt to an evolving, more technology-driven student body. ETSU hopes the change will provide students and faculty with a safer and more convenient option than physical IDs.
Mobile IDs have many advantages for users. Brad Davis, director of ID services, said a student’s ID in their virtual wallet is “protected by the security features of your phone.”
“A lost or stolen phone can be reported, and the credential quickly deactivated,” Davis said.
Electronic devices also have tracking and alert systems that help prevent loss or theft, unlike a standard physical ID.
Students maintain the option to use a physical card, but Mobile IDs are recommended for a “technology-forward campus experience,” Davis said. Through testing and phased rollout, ID services have worked hard to make the transition as seamless as possible for those who choose to switch.
Students and staff can find more information concerning Mobile IDs at etsu.edu/students/idservices/mobilebucidinfo.php.
