What is the Cougar Card?
The Cougar Card is the official UH (University of Houston) identification and access card. It is important to carry and safeguard your Cougar Card as it is the preferred method to transact on campus. The Cougar Card is used to access academic and administrative buildings, computer labs, Campus Recreation & Wellness Center, on- and off-campus residential housing, MD Anderson Library, as well as athletic and special events. Meal plans, Cougar Cash, and ShastaBUCKS can also be used with the Cougar Card. For more information on where you can use your Cougar Card, click here.What is the digital Cougar Card?
The digital Cougar Card is available in the UH Go app. It can be used to access the approved gated parking location and for meal plan, Cougar Cash and ShastaBUCKS transactions. In addition, it can be used at CASA for testing verification. You can deposit money into your Cougar Cash or ShastaBUCKS account and view your transactions and remaining balances by selecting the Account Info icon located on the top of your digital Cougar Card.
Do I have to submit a photo?
Yes, all students, faculty and staff must submit a photo through Cougar Card Connect in AccessUH to receive a Cougar Card. Once you receive an email confirming the approval of your photo submission, you will have to schedule an appointment or join the virtual queue for same day service through the CougarQ for pick up. CougarQ is available in AccessUH.
How will I know if my online photo is acceptable?
Photo requirements can be found here. Please review these prior to submitting your photo. Once you have submitted your photo, please allow 2-3 business days for your photo to be reviewed. You will receive an email indicating whether your photo was approved. If your photo was not approved, the email will explain why your photo was denied, and you will have the opportunity to upload a new photo. You can also see your approved photo through AccessUH by clicking the Cougar Card Connect icon.
What do I do if I lose my Cougar Card?
Immediately deactivate your Cougar Card by selecting the “Deactivate Card” option in the Cougar Card section of the UH Go mobile app or log on to AccessUH and select the Cougar Card icon. Select Account Management, then click Lost/Stolen Card followed by Deactivate then click Confirm.
All Cougar Card deactivations are final. Cougar Cards cannot be reactivated once the deactivation has been completed. Once your card has been deactivated, you can pick up your replacement card by scheduling an appointment or joining the virtual queue for same day service through the CougarQ icon in AccessUH. The $20.00 replacement fee must be paid in the office before a replacement card can be issued. We accept credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and ShastaBUCKS. The Cougar Card Office does not accept cash payments.
I just submitted my online photo. How can I get my Cougar Card?
Please allow 2-3 business days for your photo to be reviewed. Once you receive your approval email you will be able to schedule an appointment or join the virtual queue for same day service to pick up your Cougar Card.
How do I replace a damage or worn Cougar Card?
Cards no longer working due to damage from normal wear and tear are considered damaged or worn. You may exchange the damaged or worn card for a new card free of charge. However, you must bring in your damaged or worn card when picking up the new card. If the card is damaged due to neglect or intentionally placing holes in the card, the cardholder will be charged the current replacement cost. You can schedule an appointment through the CougarQ in AccessUH or join the virtual queue for same day service to pick up your card.
Do I have to pay for replacing my lost Cougar Card?
Yes, there is a $20.00 fee that will need to be paid in the Cougar Card Office before a replacement card can be issued. Once your card has been deactivated you can schedule an appointment through the CougarQ in AccessUH or join the virtual queue for same day service to pick up your card. We accept credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and ShastaBUCKS. The Cougar Card Office does not accept cash payments.
What forms of payment can I use at the Cougar Card Office?
The Cougar Card Office does not accept cash. We accept all major credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and ShastaBUCKS.How do I update my Cougar Card if my name or classification has changed?
Our office cannot change your name or classification. The name and classification that appears on your Cougar Card will be the information in your myUH Self Service account located in AccessUH. If you need to change your name or update your preferred name, please update your information in myUH Self Service before scheduling an appointment to pick up your card.
Can I have someone pick up my Cougar Card?
To assign someone to pick up your card you will need to e-mail the Cougar Card Office at cougarcard@uh.edu. Once your assigned Proxy takes possession of your Cougar Card, the Cougar Card Office will not be liable for loss or damage. Be sure to verify that you have submitted a photo online, it has been approved, and that all your personal information is correct by logging into AccessUH, then click myUH Self Service and review Personal Details. You will also need to set an appointment or join the virtual line for the person picking up as we do not accept walk-ins.
Will you mail my Cougar Card?
To avoid delays receiving your card, we recommend that you pick up your Cougar Card from the Cougar Card Office directly. However, if you wish to have your physical card mailed to you, you will need to contact the Cougar Card Office at cougarcard@uh.edu.
Before making your request, verify that all your personal information is correct, including your mailing address, by logging into AccessUH then click MyUH Self Service and review Personal Details and Addresses.
Once your Cougar Card has been mailed, the Cougar Card Office is not liable for any lost or undelivered cards. You will need to pay a $20.00 replacement fee for a new card to be issued if your card is not received at the destination address.
I would like to change the picture on my Cougar Card, can I have a new card printed?
Yes, you can change the photo on your Cougar Card. However, please note that the is a $20.00 fee for replacing the card with the updated photo. The fee must be paid in-person at the Cougar Card Office prior to issuing your new card. We accept credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and ShastaBUCKS.
If you have recently changed your legal name, please contact the Cougar Card Office for requests to update your Cougar Card.
How do I get an Alumni Card?
Alumni cards must be obtained through the University of Houston Alumni Association. The Cougar Card Office does not manage or issue Alumni cards. For questions regarding Alumni cards, please visit the Alumni Association website at houstonalumni.com/alumnicard or visit the UH Alumni Association at 3204 Cullen Blvd, Houston, TX 77204. You can also email at alumni@uh.edu or call 713-743-9550.How long does it take for my replacement Cougar Card to start working?
For meal plans, Cougar Cash, ShastaBUCKS, and parking your card will work immediately. For building access, you will need to wait 30-60 minutes for your access to transfer to your new card.What do I do if it’s been over an hour and my access has not transferred?
For residential students, if access is not active after 60 minutes, you may need to contact the front desk to re-encode access.
For faculty and staff, if you have problems with building access, contact your supervisor or the building coordinator to get your access reassigned.
How do I get a Retiree Card?
Once you receive your letter of retirement from HR, schedule an appointment or join the virtual queue for same-day service through the CougarQ portal in AccessUH. You will need to bring your letter of retirement with you for confirmation.
If you would like to update your photo you will need to upload your the new photo through the Cougar Card Connect portal in AccessUH before visiting our office.
Please note the Cougar Card Office is unable to issue a retiree card until the retirement effective date.
How do I get a contractor (Special Program) card?
Special Program is a classification that applies to university-affiliated contractors, consultants, and non-degree seeking students. Before beginning the request the cardholder should have an active Person-of-Interest (POI) and must have been issued a PSID. The UH Sponsor will need to process the POI through their department business office.
Once the cardholder has been issued a PSID, they can follow these steps to get their Special Program Cougar Card:
1. Submit your Cougar Card photo.a. If the cardholder has been provided with AccessUH credentials they will be able to submit their photo through AccessUH in the Cougar Card Connect portal.b. If the cardholder does not have AccessUH credentials, the cardholder must email their photo to cougarcard@uh.edu. Please include the cardholers first name, last name and PSID in the body of the email. Please do not include a photo of the cardholders' government ID in any email correspondence.Be sure to review the photo requirements before submitting the photo.2. Once you have received an email confirmation from the Cougar Card Office that the photo has been uploaded, the cardholder will be able to set an appointment to pick up your card.a. If the cardholder has AccessUH credentials, they can make an appointment or join the virtual line through the CougarQ portal in AccessUH.b. If the cardholder does not have AccessUH credentials, they join through CougarQ Guest.
3. There is a $20.00 fee for all Special Program Cougar Cards.a. The fee can be paid by the cardholder at the time of pick up. The Cougar Card Office only accepts credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and ShastaBUCKS as forms of payment.b. If the fee is to be paid by a UH department, the UH Sponsor must initiate the process by completing the Special Programs Cougar Card Request Form before the cardholder can schedule their appointment. The UH department will receive an invoice that must be completed and returned to the Cougar Card Office for payment.4. The cardholder must bring a government issued ID at the time of pickup to confirm their identity if their photo was emailed. They will also need to complete the Cougar Card Terms and Conditions in office.a. If the cardholder was able to submit their photo through the Cougar Card Connect portal, this step will be bipassed since it's completed during the photo submission process.I live on campus and my card is not working, what can I do?
If your Cougar Card has suddenly stopped working for your residence hall or room, the first thing you should do is contact the front desk at your residence hall. They will need to check that your access is still active and that the reader is functional. The Cougar Card Office does not assign or remove building or room access.
If your card is still not working, you can schedule an appointment or join the virtual line through AccessUH in the CougarQ portal. Select the damaged card option when prompted. You must bring your damaged card with you to the office. Once you arrive at the office, we will check the smart chip and magnetic stripe on your card for any issues. If either function has stopped working due to normal wear and tear, we will issue a new Cougar Card.
If your card has stopped working on the weekend or after office hours, your residence hall will be able to provide you with a temporary card or you can also visit UHPD and be issued a temporary card. The temporary cards can be assigned building and room access and will also be linked to your meal plan and parking permit. Both of these options are temporary, you will still need to set an appointment to visit the Cougar Card Office the next business day to have your card checked and reissued.
Remember, you may also use your digital card located in the UHGo app for meal plan, parking garage entry (Welcome Center Garage excluded) and ShastaBUCKS and Cougar Cash transactions.
ShastaBUCKS FAQ
What are ShastaBUCKS?
ShastaBUCKS is a University of Houston debit account. This account functions just like a traditional debit card; it can be used at participating on-campus locations and Grubhub. This account is placed on all Cougar Cards but only becomes active when money is deposited.How do I add money to ShastaBUCKS account?
You can conveniently add ShastaBucks on the UH Go app by tapping the "Cougar Card" icon, tapping on "Account Info", and then on "Add Cash" option.
You can also make a deposit online in AccessUH by clicking Cougar Card Connect.
ShastaBUCKS cannot be transferred to Cougar Cash.
Where can I use my ShastaBUCKS?
You can use your ShastaBUCKS at all participating campus convenience stores, dining halls and the RAD, participating restaurants and the Student Center South and Market stores, McAlister's, beverage and snack vending machines, campus printing labs, food trucks and the campus bookstore. We recently added Grubhub on- and off-campus, Eric's restaurant and the ATC to the list of merchants and we continue to work on expanding the use of ShastaBUCKS!What are campus printing accounts?
Campus printing accounts are assigned to all actively enrolled students each semester for our general campus computing labs with a declining balance. Each lab’s allocation expires at the end of each semester. Active faculty and staff receive a printing allocation to be used at MD Anderson Library each semester.If I replace my Cougar Card, what happens to my account balances?
All of your account balances are transferred to your new Cougar Card.What should I do if my Cougar Card is lost or stolen?
If your card is lost or stolen, be sure to deactivate your card as soon as possible to prevent unauthorized use of your ShastaBUCKS.How can I tell what my current balances are?
You may go to AccessUH, and click Cougar Card Connect then click Account Management, followed by Balances and Transactions to view account balances and recent transactions.
You may also check your current balances through our UH Go app. Once you have signed in, tap on the Cougar Card icon then tap “Account Info” followed by tapping on “Balances.”
Is there an expiration date on ShastaBUCKS account?
Yes, ShastaBUCKS expires after one year of no activity.