Your BuzzCard is the official ID at Georgia Tech, and is your key to navigating campus! Find answers to common questions about getting, using, and managing your BuzzCard, including access, payments, replacements, and more.
Obtaining a BuzzCard
For new students: Students must be assigned a GTID by the registrar before a BuzzCard can be issued. Once you receive your GTID, visit the Photo Submission Portal to begin the process of activating your digital BuzzCard.
For new faculty, staff, or affiliates: An authorized department administrator or campus sponsor must submit a GTID request on your behalf. A BuzzCard can be enabled only after your PSF has been approved.
You may look up your gtID by using the designated gtID look-up tool.
To successfully look up your gtID, you must provide the following information:
- Your last name
- Your first name
- Your birth date
To obtain a BuzzCard, you may present one of the following forms of identification:
- State-issued driver’s license or identification card
- Passport
- US Permanent Resident Card
- US military identification
- US Department of State identification card
- US Territory identification card
- Please reference the Students – BuzzCard (gatech.edu) for full instructions. All Online Student BuzzCards will be labeled “Student-O”.
- To receive a BuzzCard in the mail, please make a non-refundable deposit of $20 (US-Based) or $30 (International) to your BuzzCard eAccount Web Portal. For online students who want to obtain a BuzzCard in-person, please visit the BuzzCard Center during business hours.
- Upload an image of yourself that follows the appropriate criteria and an image of your government-issued photo ID to the BuzzCard eAccounts portal.
- For US-Based request, please submit a contact form to Swarm Support (select Online Masters Program on the ‘type of request’ drop down, include the mailing address in your request). For international requests please submit a survey.
- ·After your request has been processed, the fee will be deducted from your eAccounts Web Portal and your BuzzCard will be shipped to you.
BuzzCard Security
You can deactivate your BuzzCard by logging into the BuzzCard eAccount web portal, navigating to Card Services, and then selecting the option to deactivate your card.
No, you are not required to take a new photo, but you have the option if the previous photo is outdated.
Yes, you can reactivate your BuzzCard by logging into the BuzzCard eAccount web portal, navigating to Card Services, and then selecting the option to reactivate your lost card.
If your physical BuzzCard has been lost or stolen, you should deactivate your card in the BuzzCard eAccount web portal and enable your digital BuzzCard.
If you’re eligible for a physical BuzzCard, please visit Swarm Support to request a replacement for a fee.
Students who require access to their residence hall may visit their Area Office during business hours or contact RA on duty after-hours.
Please refer to the BuzzCard Terms & Conditions to learn more about replacing your card and addressing unauthorized purchases.
Account management transactions on BuzzCardNET take place on a secure server utilizing the same widely proven techniques used by established online banking institutions.
- These techniques include the Secured Socket Layer (SSL) protocol and Digital Certificate Authentication via VeriSign.
BuzzCard credit card transactions via the web are PCI compliant.
BuzzCard Account Management
You can easily add funds, check your balances, and transactions through the BuzzCard eAccounts portal, or by downloading the BuzzCard eAccounts mobile app.
You can view your BuzzCard account transactions in the Account Transactions section of the BuzzCard eAccount portal.
No, these are all separate stored-value accounts and the funds are neither transferable nor interchangeable.
The Bonus Dining Dollar account is accessed automatically at time of purchase only after the main Dining Dollar account is depleted.
For more information on Dining Dollars, see Dining FAQs.
Dining Dollars are sales-tax exempt funds that are pre-loaded onto a student’s account for use at any Tech Dining location on campus. Students who purchase Dining Dollars in bulk receive a bonus of 10%, which will become active after all Dining Dollars have been used.
BuzzCard Funds never expire and are usable at over 200 locations on campus, including vending machines, select Tech Square merchants, and all Campus Dining locations.
For more information on Dining Dollars and Bonus Dining Dollars, see Dining FAQs.
The Bursar’s Office does not accept BuzzCard deposits.
Students and guests can make deposits through BuzzCard eAccounts.
No, the Bursar’s Office does not accept the BuzzCard for any form of payment.
Money deposited to your BuzzCard account cannot be transferred to the Bursar’s Office and will be refunded only upon graduation or leaving the Institute.
BuzzCard Deposits may be made via the through the BuzzCard eAccounts portal.
Faculty & Staff may also use payroll deduction to deposit BuzzCard funds through OneUSG Connect.
Account holders may check their card balance online in BuzzCard eAccounts. You can check your balance, obtain monthly statements, view account activity for the last thirty days, and suspend your card if it is lost or stolen.
Laundry is free for all residents in the halls. Residents no longer need to tap their BuzzCard to activate the washers or dryers. Simply select your cycle on the machine and click start.
You may make deposits to your BuzzCard through the BuzzCard eAccount portal. Funds added through this method will be available immediately.
Registered students may also add more funds to their BuzzCard account through the Georgia Tech meal plan app only during meal plan sign-up periods.
Faculty and staff may schedule pre-tax recurring BuzzCard deposits through OneUSG Connect. For a one-time BuzzCard deposit, visit the eAccounts portal.
You can submit a vending machine refund request via the Vending Refund form. Please select BuzzCard, then select Vending Refund Request Form from the Type of Request drop-down list
Georgia Tech Community Customers: All vending refunds will be issued to your BuzzCard Funds account within 3-5 business days.
Visitor / Guest Customers: All vending refunds will be issued to a Guest BuzzCard in the form of BuzzCard Funds, which can be used at any campus retailer, including the Barnes & Noble Bookstore.
Once this form is submitted, visit Swarm Support located at The Pavilion – Georgia Tech, 410 4th Street NW, Building #216, Atlanta, GA, 30331, at your convenience to receive your Guest BuzzCard.
BuzzCard Malfunctions
Access Control updates card information each evening so that door access privileges can be updated.
Problems with door access should be addressed by submitting a ticket through Service Now. You will need to be logged in with your Georgia Tech account.
If your BuzzCard is no longer functioning, you will need to visit Swarm Support at the Pavilion or give us a call.
To receive a free replacement, you will need to turn in your non-functioning BuzzCard.
Cards that are still functioning via the magnetic strip or the proximity chip might not be assigned access. Please submit a help request.
Please see Section 5 of the BuzzCard Terms & Conditions about replacing damaged BuzzCards.
Protect your BuzzCard: Wireless phone chargers can damage the contactless chip in your BuzzCard. If you keep your BuzzCard in your phone case, remove it before charging your phone wirelessly.
Georgia Tech Housing and Residence Life controls access to all campus residence halls. Access is assigned during move-in once a student has checked-in through My Housing.
If your digital BuzzCard is functioning at the readers, but access is denied, please visit your Area Office for any housing access concerns.
If the readers do not detect your credential, please visit Swarm Support for help troubleshooting.
If your BuzzCard does not open a parking gate, first determine whether the gate detected your card:
- The gate does not detect your BuzzCard: If this is a recently purchased parking permit, it may take up to 2 hours for your access to become active. If your permit has been active for more than 2 hours and the gate still does not detect your BuzzCard, visit Swarm Support for assistance or a replacement.
Important: The gate reader will only work when you are in your vehicle. It will not work if you are approaching the gate on foot. - The gate detects your BuzzCard but does not open: If you have tapped or swiped your BuzzCard multiple times, the system may temporarily disable your card for 2 minutes. Wait 2 minutes for your card to be re-enabled. Then, tap or swipe your BuzzCard once and wait. The gate may take a few moments to open; it does not always open immediately.
If you continue to have trouble accessing the parking gate, contact Georgia Tech Parking and Transportation at 404-385-7275, Monday through Friday during normal business hours.
The pay to park machines are owned and operated by Parking and Transportation. There is a setting in the machine that limits each type of payment.
Only Parking and Transportation can reset the meter for the lot. Contact Parking and Transportation at 404-385-7275.
A replacement BuzzCard requires an account number change.
This account number change will automatically be communicated overnight and your BuzzCard will be functional by the following morning at 6:00 a.m.
Please note: Swarm Support does not control academic door access/entry.
All questions related to door access/entry should be directed to the Building Access Manager.
Meal Plans
You can sign up for a Georgia Tech meal plan HERE.
Meal plan swipes are only accepted at Georgia Tech Dining Halls.
Dining Dollars, Faculty/Staff Dining Funds, and BuzzCard Funds are accepted at select retail locations in Tech Square.
