February 21, 2007
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NEWS: HU Students Confused by Card MailingsHamline University, a small Methodist school in St. Paul, Minnesota, recently angered and confused undergraduate students by mailing them credit card applications. The mailings, which were pre-populated with the individual's name and personal information, bore the university seal as well as a signature from the signed by the CLA Alumni Association.
Vice President of Finance Doug Anderson defended the university's move in the face of student opposition to use of their personal information, stating that Hamline was far from the first school do to so, and confirming that Hamline authorized MBNA to send the mailers. Of course, soliciting students for cards branded with their school's name has several financial benefits for the university: mainly, the royalty paid by the bank to the university for the use of its name and seal on the plastic. Anderson stated that the cards are actually desired by current students and alumni, who enjoy the thrill of pride in having a credit card that indicates their alma mater. MBNA –now Bank of America, following a high-dollar acquisition deal- backed Anderson's sentiment. The bottom of each application had a statement claiming: "Bank of America, the issuer of this card, helps support the Hamline University with every account opened, and for every purchase made with the card-all at no additional cost."
The card applications also feature many potential uses for the plastic, tailored to a student's life – including bookstore purchases without large amounts of cash and electronic bill payments. Big deal, claim many students, and even some faculty. The overwhelming amount surveyed say that they will not apply for the cards, and resent having been solicited to, indicating that Hamline severely misread the wants and needs of their student body in this instance.