The J. Paul Melanson Award is NACCU’s highest honor, recognizing individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to the campus card industry and to the professionals who support it.

At ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ, Rauhe has spent decades guiding the growth of the Phoenix Card program, overseeing its development from an early implementation into a comprehensive system. What began as a functional tool has evolved under her leadership into a core part of the campus experience, supporting everything from accessing residence halls and campus facilities, dining and retail transactions, event participation, library services and more.

Her work has helped create a system that operates reliably and often behind the scenes, allowing students, faculty and staff to move through their day with ease. That consistency reflects both technical expertise and a steady, thoughtful approach to building systems that serve people well.

“Janet’s leadership is defined by a commitment to continuous learning and collaboration,” said Christopher Waters, associate vice president of Information Technology and chief information pfficer. “Through her engagement with colleagues across higher education and her active presence on campus, she brings forward ideas that strengthen and evolve the systems we rely on.”

Waters continued, “She doesn’t stand still; she listens, learns and adapts, always with a focus on serving our community well. This recognition reflects both her influence within the profession and the meaningful impact of her work at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ.”

Beyond ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ, Rauhe has contributed to the broader campus card community for nearly 30 years through NACCU. Her service has included committee work, mentoring, conference leadership and time on the Board of Directors, including a term as Board President.

Colleagues across the industry recognize her for her leadership, expertise, generosity, humility and commitment to supporting others. These qualities are consistent markers that shape both her work at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ and her impact nationwide.

Their topic, “Engaging Off-Campus Merchants Through Campus Card Systems,” described how ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ engages more than 50 community merchants through its Phoenix Card system.  Students utilize one card to gain access to their residence halls, enter dining halls, print and copy, purchase through vending, buy food at 12 on-campus restaurants, attend campus events, and pay for laundry. 

When ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ students leave campus, they can shop at a grocery store, pharmacies, or clothing boutiques; relax at a spa; get caffeinated at a coffee house or eat at a wide variety of restaurants by carrying only their Phoenix Card. 

Responses from Community Merchants regarding accepting the Phoenix Card:

“Overall, the Phoenix Cash program is very user-friendly and has a great deal of benefits considering the cost is very minimal.” — Rebecca Kinlaw, Lowe’s Foods

“Being a Phoenix Card merchant gives us access to the students in a more visible manner. Janet and her team offer the merchants opportunities to be front and center before the students, both at events, on the website, and in offering them coupons at certain times.” — Amy Nakhle, Smitty’s Homemade Ice Cream

“For The Oak House, this was a “no-brainer” because the vast majority of our clientele use Phoenix Cash regularly and they find it extremely convenient to do so in our location.  We would lose sales without it.”  — Phil Smith, The Oak House

“We accept Phoenix Cash because it allows us to stand out as a respected establishment to choose from.  It also puts us in a category of locations that students otherwise might not frequent because of their ability to spend money.” — Peter Ustach, Pandora’s Pies

Student responses about Community Merchants:

“Using Phoenix Cash off campus is great because it helps me consolidate everything in my wallet. The same card that swipes me into campus buildings also pays for my meal, if I’m not dining at an on-campus location.” – Olivia ’18

“I love using my Phoenix Card off-campus because it means I only have to carry one card around!” – Kate ‘18

“I love using my Phoenix Card off campus! Combining my Wells Fargo account with my Phoenix card is the best because I only have to carry one card with me.” – Maddy ‘18

For more information about the Phoenix Card go to

During their allotted time in the spotlight, each vendor offers various promotional deals when presented with a Phoenix Card at checkout.

Additionally, there are many new merchants this year, so make sure to re-familiarize yourself with the list of vendors. For a full list of vendors accepting Phoenix Cash, visit our website:

Hwy 55 is currently offering ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ students $1 off of any frozen custard when presented with a Phoenix Card at checkout. This promotion runs through Nov. 28 and has a limit of one frozen custard per person. Don’t miss out! 

Additionally, there are many new merchants this year, including Hwy 55 and Blend Juice, so make sure to re-familiarize yourself with the list of vendors. For a full list of vendors accepting Phoenix Cash, visit our website:

Starting next Monday, Mike’s Deli will be offering 10 percent off of the total purchase to students who present their Phoenix Card at checkout between Oct. 3 and Oct. 16 (this offer is not valid on deliveries). Don’t miss out on this great opportunity!

Incoming students received the new smart cards during orientation, while thousands of other undergraduate students have picked theirs up this week. Sophomores, juniors and seniors who haven’t yet turned in their old Phoenix Cards and collected a new one should do so Friday, Sept. 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Moseley Center just outside the mail center. Graduate students and university employees will receive emails in the coming weeks with instructions on how to claim their new cards. Everyone must turn in their old Phoenix Card to receive a new one.

New cardreaders have already been installed in the mail center, a step that has dramatically reduced wait times, according to Assistant Vice President for Administrative Services Chris Fulkerson. 

Over time, the new cardreaders will make entering dining halls, getting into buildings and checking out media from Belk Library faster and easier. The cards’ encrypted chips can also securely store a significant amount of data, Fulkerson says, so additional uses for the technology such as storing academic or medical records are being considered.

ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ was an early adopter to the previous generation of Phoenix Card technology, so Fulkerson says adminstrators waited until it was financially responsible to begin the upgrade process to the smart cards.

“It was time to start replacing some of the infrastructure,” he said. “So rather than invest more in the old infrastructure, we started making this switch.”

The updates to Phoenix Cards will not impact how merchants in the surrounding community use the cards.