Case studies
Sheridan College and Emory University streamline campus ID operations with TouchNet and HID FARGO Connect
On today’s college campuses, a student ID card does a lot more than just open doors. It helps them pay for meals, access services and move through campus life with ease. Behind that seamless experience is a card office team working to keep things running smoothly.
At Sheridan College and Emory University, those teams needed a better way to issue cards quickly and accurately across multiple campus locations. By combining TouchNet’s OneCard Campus VIP platform with HID’s FARGO Connect (HFC) card printing solution, both institutions simplified their card production, reduced manual work and made campus ID services more accessible and efficient.
At a glance
Sheridan College
Public college in Ontario, Canada
3 campuses in Brampton, Mississauga and Oakville
26,000+ students
Emory University
Private research institution in Georgia
2 campuses in Atlanta and Oxford
16,000+ students
TouchNet solutions used:
Sheridan: OneCard VIP, Apple Student ID
Emory: OneCard
Integrated with:
HID FARGO Connect
Too many manual steps made card issuance harder than it needed to be
Even a routine task like printing an ID can become complicated when the systems behind it aren’t built to work together.
That was the case at Sheridan, where Kevin Halligan, senior campus service administrator, oversees the college’s OneCard system.
Before moving to HFC, Sheridan relied on desktop printing software that required extensive manual setup.
“Each card had to be manually linked to its corresponding account record. While this process was largely accurate, it was inherently susceptible to human error.”
- Kevin Halligan, Senior Campus Service Administrator, Sheridan College
A more connected approach to card printing
Sheridan adopted HFC as part of a planned printer fleet upgrade. Rather than switching everything over at once, the team rolled out the new printers while continuing to run its legacy software.
This approach gave the team time to get comfortable with the hardware and test the new workflow as the TouchNet integration continued to improve the experience and deliver more functionality. Over time, new releases addressed early limitations and helped create a system that better matched Sheridan’s needs.
HID helped support the rollout with documentation and technical guidance, and as the integration evolved, collaboration across teams improved.
“Since going live, the integration between TouchNet and HFC has delivered a positive overall experience.”
— Kevin
The result was a more connected card issuance process with stronger visibility into printer status and performance. Today, Sheridan operates two printers at each of its three campuses, all connected through a single management console.
Making card services easier to access
At Emory University, the need was a little different. For Kim Pfeffer, who leads the strategy, budgeting and reporting operations behind Emory’s campus ID program, the focus wasn’t just on efficiency but also convenience.
“My main priority in managing EmoryCard is to make our services as accessible, streamlined and efficient as possible.”
- Kim Pfeffer, Director of EmoryCard, Emory University
Before adopting the combined TouchNet and HFC solution, printing a card often meant asking someone to come to a specific office during set hours. That could be inconvenient for students and especially difficult for employees working different shifts or at different locations.
With HFC integrated into the EmoryCard program, cards can now be printed where they are needed most. Students can pick up cards at the centrally located student center, and employees can receive new or replacement cards at locations that best fit their schedules. During busy times like orientation and move-in, the team no longer has to pack up and relocate its operation just to meet demand.
“The experience has improved significantly for our students and Campus Services employees who can now have cards printed for them where they are.”
-- Kim
Greater flexibility for teams, better service for campus
For both institutions, the biggest benefit has been a smoother, more flexible way to manage card production and better support students and staff across campus.
At Emory, the ability to send print jobs to different locations has been especially valuable. “The one feature with the greatest impact is the ability to print cards to whichever printer from wherever our team is located,” said Kim.
That capability has helped open the door to more flexible staffing, better support during breaks and holidays and faster service for the people who need a card without delay.
At Sheridan, automation and improved reliability have helped reduce manual effort and streamline day-to-day operations. As Kevin noted, “The web-based printing workflow has simplified operations, and the ability to monitor device status and performance through HFC has improved visibility and operational efficiency.”
Supporting campus operations with the right partnership
Campus card programs may operate behind the scenes, but they play an important role in the daily campus experience.
For Sheridan College and Emory University, the combination of TouchNet and HFC has helped modernize card issuance, improve access and create a more efficient experience for the teams managing it all.
Kim concluded, “I would absolutely recommend the combined TouchNet and FARGO Connect solution. It’s been a huge help in making our operations more efficient and cutting wait times at our office.”
Learn more about TouchNet OneCard Campus ID:
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