WHAT IS A CAROLINACARD?
It is your permanent USC ID card plus a flexible-spending declining balance card. Each time you make a purchase, the amount of the purchase is deducted from your account balance.
 

• Carolina Cash is used for ALL dining and non-dining purchases.

RETURN TO TOP

DOES MY MEAL PLAN OR CAROLINA CASH NEED TO BE ACTIVATED?

Opening Day - First 30 days of Classes:

Meal Plans and Carolina Cash that have been paid for will be ready to use within the hour.

After the first 30 days of Classes:

Meal Plans and Carolina Cash that have been paid for by 5pm on any weekday will be available by 8pm of the same day. Payments made between Friday at 5pm though Monday at 5pm, will be  posted the next day by 8pm.

IMPORTANT: If you have NOT paid for your Meal Plan, you will NOT be able to access your meals.

RETURN TO TOP

HOW CAN MONEY BE DEPOSITED ON THE CAROLINACARD?
The first opportunity to request Carolina Cash is on the student Housing application that all incoming students receive with their initial University acceptance.

Money can also be requested when paying your bill on VIP. As part of the fee payment process you will be prompted to add money to your Carolina Cash account.

After each semesters initial fee payment period, you may add money to your card via VIP or at the CarolinaCard office located in the Russell House. Additions may also be made at any Automatic Deposit Machine (ADM).  These are located in the Russell House next to the Bookstore, the Business Library on the second floor of the BA building, and also on the main level of the Thomas Cooper Library. 

Parents may make deposits on behalf of their son or daughter through the CarolinaCard office (803.777.1708). Credit card deposits can be taken by phone. Online deposits will require knowing the students VIP login information and PIN.

All money added to your CarolinaCard rolls over from one year to the next. Best yet, any funds put on your card through means other than the initial fee-payment process are available immediately!

Please Click Here for more information about making deposits.

IS THERE A PIN REQUIRED AND IF SO, WHAT IS IT?
No.

HOW CAN I CHECK MY ACCOUNT BALANCE?
Information on your account can be obtained at the CarolinaCard office in the Russell House. In addition, your Carolina Cash information can be viewed at any ADM (Automatic Deposit Machine).
You may also check your account on-line thru VIP. 

Due to federal regulations, we cannot give account balances out over the phone nor can we give this information out to anyone except the cardholder unless we have written request from the cardholder to do so.

CAN I GET CASH FROM MY CAROLINACARD?
No. Money in your CarolinaCard accounts can only be spent for the goods and services that are provided by the vendors that accept your CarolinaCard.

RETURN TO TOP

WHAT ABOUT REFUNDS AND WITHDRAWALS?
Carolina Cash rolls forward from one year to the next until graduation or withdrawal from the University. (Carolina Dining Meal Plans, "Bonus Bucks", and the $100 Meal Plan Dollars that come with the 16+ meal plan do not roll forward).

Meal Plans can be changed until the close of business on the Friday at the end of the first full week of classes. Adjustments to your University bill will be made at this time as necessary. After this time, refunds for meal plans are only made for reasons of  withdrawal from the University. Students who are suspended from the University by the Office of Student Conduct will not receive a refund for their meal plan.

Requests for refunds from your CarolinaCard (except for Meal Plans as noted above) are granted for graduation, end of semester and withdrawal from the university.

Carolina Cash funds left in your account longer than 180 days after graduation or withdrawal from the University are forfeited and become the property of University of South Carolina.

No refunds will be issued for Account balances of $25.00 or less. A $20 check processing fee will be charged for all refunds. To request a refund, fill out and submit the form listed at http://carolinacard.sc.edu/refund.asp. Please allow approximately four to six weeks for any refund to be processed.

BOOKSTORE IMMEDIATE CAROLINA CASH REFUNDS
If the University Bookstore does not have a required material (as listed on the course syllabus) for your class and you need a Carolina Cash refund to purchase it from another source, you can request an immediate refund. You must obtain a refund request from the University Bookstore management and bring the approved form to the CarolinaCard office. The amount of the refund can only be up to the amount for the item(s) that were unavailable. Upon receipt of the approved Bookstore refund request, the CarolinaCard office will issue you an immediate refund request to be taken to the Bursar's Office for a check.

RETURN TO TOP

LOST OR STOLEN CARDS
Lost or stolen cards should be immediately reported to the CarolinaCard office, or reported 24 hours a day at https://vip.sc.edu.

Once notified, we will block your CarolinaCard, preventing unauthorized usage. If you notify our office within 2 business days after you learn that your card has been lost or stolen, your maximum liability is $50. If you notify us after the 2nd business day after you learn of the loss or theft of your card, but within 60 days, your maximum liability is $500.  If you notify us after 60 days, you liability is unlimited. Replacement cards are $35.  Once a new card is made, previous cards cannot be re-activated nor will the $35 fee be rescinded.

Please remember that your CarolinaCard is also your official University ID card. It is not transferable (to another person) and must be returned upon request. Because misuse of cards may have a negative impact on both students and the institution in general, students are expected to protect their card and abide by all terms and conditions associated with the use of the CarolinaCard as student identification as found in the Student Handbook, The Carolina Community found at http://www.sa.sc.edu/carolinacommunity.