Students faced problems paying for books with debit dollars and entering their residence halls when the GWorld card periodically stopped processing transactions this weekend.
Services added to the “one card” GWorld system have caused the AT&T software to hiccup as the onslaught of returning students placed heavy processing loads on the technology and its operators, GWorld officials said.
“The volume the system has seen, it has been taxing the system more than it ever has been taxed before,” said Michelle Neyers, GWorld program manager.
The return of students to campus has put too many technical and administrative pressures on the card, Neyers said. The processing overload also was a result of the services being provided to about 500 Mount Vernon campus students this fall, she said.
This week, the debit dollars feature was extended to the GW Bookstore. Students can use the points – separate from the meal plan or meal points – to pay for purchases at the bookstore.
But the system crashed for 10 minutes two or three times Saturday and about seven times Sunday, halting all functions processed through the main computer in the GWorld office, said Steve Hersey, GWorld marketing coordinator.
Bookstore transactions were stalled and at times processed twice because of the glitches, Hersey said. About 20 students made a second trip to the bookstore to buy books they laid away until the system was functional. Several others used other methods of payment to purchase books.
Residence hall card readers shut students out during the system failure.
Other services, such as Gelman Library photocopiers, washers and dryers and off-campus eateries also were stalled.
Deposits into debit accounts and other GWorld-related services also led to the system slow-down, GWorld officials said.
But Hersey said, “Ninety-eight percent of the transactions were working.
“We are busting our butts to take care of it,” he said.
Neyers admitted, however, that the additional services and increased number of students using the card puts a burden on the six full-time and three part-time staffers in the GWorld office.
“A couple of more (employees) would have helped,” she said. “This system was in place quicker than I would have liked to have done it.”
Neyers said she understands the frustration students feel when the glitches occur.
“It’s frustrating on both ends,” she said. “I hope (students) understand there are people that want this system to work as quickly as possible.”
Despite the processing overload, GW still plans to add other services to the one card system.
Five off-campus eateries currently are on the system: Hunan Peking, the Burro, Capitol Grounds, SteakAround and DJ’s Fast Break. Domino’s Pizza, The Little Cafe, Quick Pita, World Gourmet and The Washington Post are being added to the list of debit-dollar vendors, Hersey said.
