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Huskie Bucks Frequently Asked Questions
  • What are Huskie Bucks?
  • Where can I use Huskie Bucks?
  • How do I open a Huskie Bucks Account?
  • How can I add to my (or my student's) Huskie Bucks Account?
  • Can I charge Huskie Bucks to my (or my student's) Bursar Account?
  • When will the Huskie Bucks that I charged to my Bursar Account be available?
  • What happens to any unused Huskie Bucks at the end of the semester?
  • Can I charge Huskie Bucks to my credit card or debit card?
  • Can I use my Huskie Bucks to buy books?
  • Can I get a refund from my Huskie Bucks Account?

    Can't find your question here? Contact Us!

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    1. Residence Hall Students have the option to open a Huskie Bucks Account on their Housing and Dining contract when they select a meal plan. The amount chosen will be billed to your student bursar account as a part of your Housing and Dining bill.
    2. Stop by our office and complete a Huskie Bucks Account Agreement. Our office hours are 8:15 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and is located in the lower level of the Holmes Student Center, across the hall form the University Bookstore.
    3. We can mail you a contract which you can complete and then bring to our office. Simply call our office at (815) 753-9569 and request a Huskie Bucks Account Agreement or send a letter to:
    4. Access a Huskie Bucks Disclosure Statement Huskie Bucks Account Agreement Form (pdf) online at our website.

    All printed forms must be signed and mailed/faxed to:

    Northern Illinois University
    OneCard ID Services
    DeKalb, IL 60115
    FAX:  (815) 753-9080

    How can I add to my (or my student's) Huskie Bucks Account?
    There are five easy ways to deposit money into a Huskie Bucks Account:
    1.  We now accept deposits to Huskie Bucks Accounts Online!   To make a payment via the internet, visit our   Bursar Office Web Payment Page and click on the "Huskie Bucks Deposits via Internet" selection on the right hand side of the page.
    2. You may come into the OneCard ID Office and deposit cash or check into your account. Please remember to bring your NIU OneCard.
    3. You can deposit cash into your Huskie Bucks at the new Value Transfer Stations (VTS Machines) around NIU's campus.  The machines accept bills in the increments of $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills, and the funds are added using your NIU OneCard. There are 7 VTS Machines on campus at the following locations:
      • One VTS Machine in the Holmes Student Center, on the main floor across from the computer lab
      • Two VTS Machines in Founder's Library, both on the main floor and near the "Huskie Prints Desk"
      • One VTS Machine in Gabel Hall near the Learning Center
      • Two VTS Machines in Swen Parson Hall, one on the first floor near the vending machines, and the other in the College of Law Library
      • One VTS Machine at the Campus Recreation Center
    4. You can deposit cash or check at any of the following stores in the residence halls with your NIU OneCard:
      • Neptune Cove
      • Stevenson Corner Store
    5. You may deposit cash or check during regular business hours at the Bursar's Office (753-1885) in Swen Parson Hall. Please remember to bring your NIU OneCard.
    6. You can mail a check to the following address. Please remember to include these four items along with your deposit:
      • Student Name
      • Student Social Security Number
      • Local NIU Phone Number of Student (if applicable)
      • The 17-digit ID Number on the Student's NIU OneCard ID
    NIU Holmes Student Center
    OneCard ID Office
    DeKalb, IL 60115

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    Can I charge Huskie Bucks to my (or my student's) Bursar Account?
    Yes: Students who will be living in the Residence Halls in an upcoming semester may open a Huskie Bucks account through Housing and Dining and charge the money to their Bursar Account. (A Bursar Account is the student account where tuition and housing fees are billed. Each student at NIU has a Bursar Account to handle the payment of bills to the University.)

    Opening a Huskie Bucks Account through Housing and Dining allows residence hall students to set up their Huskie Bucks Account before they arrive for school, saving them time during the first week of classes. This is also helpful for students if they do not have money with them at the time of their visit to campus during orientation. The method is very simple: When students fill out their contracts with Housing and Dining, the dollar amount requested (usually $200, $250 or $300) is automatically set to be active in the students' Huskie Bucks Accounts for the upcoming semester. (Huskie Bucks cannot added for immediate use by charging them to the Bursar during a current semester.) The bill for the dollar amount requested is simply charged to the student's Bursar Account. To charge Huskie Bucks to your (or your student's) Huskie Bucks Account, please contact Housing and Dining at (815) 753-1525 or email at housing-dining@niu.edu.

    Notes:

    • Only residence hall students may have Huskie Bucks billed to their Bursar Account.
    • Huskie Bucks can only be charged to a Bursar Account for an upcoming semester, not a current semester.
    When will the Huskie Bucks that I had charged to my Bursar Account be available?
    Once students have elected to have Huskie Bucks billed to their Bursar Accounts through Housing and Dining, the money will usually be ready for use the week before the semester starts.
    What happens to any unused Huskie Bucks at the end of the semester?
    Huskie Bucks do not expire, so any unused funds will carry over to the next semester. However, any account with a balance of $5.00 or more, showing no activity for a period of one year will be charged an inactivity fee of $5.00 per month.  This does not mean we will bill you each month, but rather this inactivity fee is only subtracted from the remaining balance of your Huskie Bucks Account until it reaches $0.00 and is closed.
    Can I charge Huskie Bucks to my credit card or debit card?
    Yes: We now accept deposits to Huskie Bucks Accounts Online! American Express, MasterCard, and Discover cards are accepted. You may also deposit to a Huskie Bucks Account using an "e-check" which requires a bank routing number and a checking account number. Credit, debit and "e-check" payments are only accepted via the Internet. A convenience fee will be charged for this service.

    To make a payment via the internet, visit our Bursar Office Web Payment Page and click on the "Huskie Bucks Deposits via Internet" selection on the right hand side of the page

    Can I get a refund from my Huskie Bucks Account?
    Yes: Please     view the refund policy page for complete information regarding refunds of your huskie bucks balance.

    Can't find your question here? Contact Us!

    Have questions about your NIU OneCard?
    See our OneCard FAQ

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