Flex
Flex is dollar for dollar money on your CUID.
Uses
Add money to your Flex account using SSOL or at the Hartley Hospitality Desk. You can use Flex to buy stuff at most on-campus dining locations, vending machines, residence hall laundry machines, and the Columbia Bookstore. You should try to use tax-free Dining Dollars at dining locations because Flex transactions are taxable. However, Flex is fantastic for purchasing your books since additions to Flex on SSOL will show up on your Columbia Bill, and therefore most likely be paid by your parents. Flex is also an alternative to cash or credit cards if you don't have one.
FlexLife
At least since 1996, a year after Yale introduced a similar program for its students[1], Columbia students have been pushing for the ability to use Flex dollars at local businesses, especially restaurants. In 2003, Student Affairs even included a FlexLife poll in the Enrolled Students Survey, with a question asking which locations students most desired to have flex at. Wayne Ting (C '06) made FlexLife a central part of his 2004 CCSC election platform, despite the fact that he was aware that FlexLife would not be coming to campus for years.
This program has not been implemented largely because the CUID system uses the owner's Social Security number in its barcode and magnetic strip, a fact that was announced in the fall of 2004. This could allow malicious hackers to exploit any weaknesses in the system to harvest SSNs. As of 2004, Columbia was the only Ivy League University still using SSNs with it's ID cards. [2]
While security is the primary concern, others observers have suggested that the University had been reluctant to consider the program in the past as it would simply undercut sales by on-campus operators such as Dining Services.
With the ID replacement project underway, a FlexLife program may be possible as early as 2008.
