Welcome to the BlasterCard Office!

The BlasterCard is the official identification card for the Colorado School of Mines. Encompassing physical access to residence halls, offices and labs, utilizing dining services, rec center privileges, library usage and more. Your BlasterCard is your key to campus life. Your BlasterCard says that you are one of us.  Possibly most important, your BlasterCard identifies you as part of the Mines Community.

Services

RTD PASSES

• You must be a registered student, in good standing, and taking classes in-person to be issued an RTD Pass.
• At the start of the Fall semester, you will receive an e-mail from RTD with instructions how to acquire your College Pass through their mobile app.  RTD is transitioning from a physical card. For more information, please contact blastercard@mines.edu.

The BlasterCard

It is the policy of Colorado School of Mines that each student, staff member and faculty member possess a valid identification card. This card must be presented upon request by any Mines official. The BlasterCard can be used in conjunction with the Mines access control system, Mines dining locations, as well as many other functions.

• Online Students: While it may not seem necessary to have a BlasterCard, a photo must still be uploaded to the website below in order to register for classes.
• Faculty, staff, and students at Colorado School of Mines are required to have a BlasterCard (Mines ID).
• Utilize https://myphoto.mines.edu/myphoto/ to upload a picture.
  • If there are difficulties with the website, having a picture taken in-person is also an option.
  • NOTE: Ad blockers tend to break the website. Please make sure to disable it.

BlasterCard Photo Guidelines

• Current color photo with a solid white or light color background, taken indoors with natural lighting and flash.
• Full-face passport style headshot directly facing and looking at the camera with open eyes, a natural expression and no tilting of the head. Smiling is encouraged.
• Clothing must be visible; however, no uniforms or costumes are allowed.
• No hats, sunglasses, headphones, or other accessories which obstruct a complete view of the face and no one other than you are allowed. Prescription glasses without glare and religious head coverings are allowed.
• You will be given the opportunity to crop/adjust the photo during the upload process.
• Only .jpg files will be accepted with high resolution photographs being preferred.
• If the site will not let you begin the process, please ensure that you have properly claimed your MINES email account. You can find more information about that process at https://its.mines.edu/account-claim/
• The username for your account will be the first portion of your MINES email address, example: Bblaster

• Anyone requesting a BlasterCard will need a current, valid form of state or federal issued photo ID to establish identity. This may include:
  • Passport or passport card
  • Driver’s license or state-issued ID card
  • U.S. military ID or U.S. military dependent ID
• There is no charge for your first BlasterCard
• If you need a replacement BlasterCard you can visit us in person or e-mail a request to blastercard@mines.edu
• The Blastercard and any applied services are NON-TRANSFERABLE.  Any attempts to share, duplicate, or otherwise misuse the card or it’s services will be subject to disciplinary action by the appropriate department.

DOOR ACCESS

The BlasterCard is used to access residence halls, academic buildings, and offices around campus.

• Students who reside in one of the Residence Life residence halls use the BlasterCard as the “key” that grants admittance to those areas.  The BlasterCard can also be used to gain after-hours entry to certain academic buildings if you have been assigned special access.
• Other areas that will require your BlasterCard include Arthur Lakes Library and The Student Recreation Center.
• Academic Building Access should be requested through the specific Building Proctor. The Building Access Form can be found at https://www.mines.edu/operations/access-services/
• Student Center and Res Life Access can be requested by sending an e-mail to blastercard@mines.edu

DINING SERVICES

All meal plans (and accompanying “munch money”) that are available through MINES Dining are accessed with proximity chip embedded in BlasterCard. Each Mines Dining location on campus will use your BlasterCard to track meal swipes or confirm a “munch money” payment.

Information on all Mines Dining Plans can be found HERE.

Commuter meal plans are available to students living off-campus, in Greek Housing, 1750 Jackson or at Mines Park Apartments, purchased at https://blastercard.mines.edu.

Below are the meal rates for Fall 2023

IMPORTANT NOTES – “Evening exchange” refers to meals after 2 pm. ALL COMMUTER MEAL PLAN SALES ARE FINAL.

Weekly meal plans – Single purchase. These refresh each week, and have a fixed amount of munch money per semester. Meals do not roll over after the week’s end. Munch money rolls over from Fall to Spring.

Block Meal Plans – these are fixed per semester, and can be purchased more than once. Munch Money and meals roll over from Fall to Spring.

Please review meal plan details carefully as all sales are final.

If you have any questions please contact blastercard@mines.edu before making a purchase.