The University of Oklahoma's Sooner ID Card is set for some aesthetic changes next year -- albeit on the back of the card -- with the addition of local and campus resource phone numbers.
Per a report from The Oklahoma Daily, the university's student government association is behind the research and promotion of the new initiative that would see five student resource numbers printed on the backs of all new IDs. The changes are set to take effect next semester for the 2016 Sooner Card.
Among the phone numbers to be printed on the new cards will be the Oklahoma University Police Department's non-emergency number, a SafeWalk number, university health services, university counseling services and 911.
The reasoning behind printing the resource numbers is so that students -- in particular freshman, transfer and international students -- will be more informed of both local and campus resources available to them. Even 911 is a resource that international students may not be aware of.
The initiative will not alter the design on the front of the card, though completely new card stock will need to be ordered for next semester. Printing the resource numbers on card backs does, however, coincide with another, unrelated design change. New card stock was already being ordered as a 125th anniversary logo currently on the front of the Sooner Card will be discontinued.
Changes to the Sooner Card will appear next semester upon the arrival of the new card stock. Students have the option to get a new Sooner Card for $20, but the student government association and university officials are contemplating a discounted rate for students who get the newly redesigned card.