If everything goes as planned, students will be able to use Wildcat Cash off-campus by Monday.

Wildcat Cash, essentially usable Bean Bucks off-campus, is waiting for a pending written agreement and the delivery of equipment before it is available for students, and they don’t anticipate any delays, said Lisa Flores, assistant director of Business Services.

Jason’s Deli will be the only restaurant accepting Wildcat Cash in the beginning. The restaurant will be used as a pilot test for 12 to 18 months to evaluate the process.

“Based on the progress of the program we hope to add one or two other restaurants during that time period,” Flores said.

Flores said they have been in conversation with at least two restaurants close to campus.

Wildcat Cash can be added to students’ accounts by going online or to The Depot.

Wildcat cash will be used like Campus Cash – students’ ACU IDs will be swiped when they pay, and the balance on their Wildcat Cash will decline with each purchase. Taxes will still be charged

“We are continually looking for opportunities for the students that are robust and will enhance the experience that they have here at ACU,” Flores said. “We welcome suggestions or input from the student body at any time. It is our desire to serve the students of ACU to the very best of our ability. Serving the students is our number one priority.”

Nathan McClain, senior kinesiology major, first presented the idea of student off-campus cash at the The Greatest Ideas Challenge. His idea didn’t win, but ACU collaborated with McClain to envision a program similar to the one he created.

In August, Dylan Benac, president of the Students’ Association, predicted Wildcat Cash would be available off-campus halfway through the fall semester. However, ACU ran into some issues that delayed the process.

In a previous Optimist story, Anthony Williams, chief business services officer, said Wildcat Cash would benefit students because of its ability to be spent in the Bean, Campus Center, Campus Store, Pura Vida, multiple convenience locations on campus and, now, off-campus. Also, unlike Bean Bucks, students will be refunded leftover Wildcat Cash at then end of the semester.

Sophomore Itzel Garcia, said she thinks Wildcat Cash is a good idea because many other universities offer similar programs.

“We shouldn’t be limited to the Bean. A lot of people bond in restaurants better,” said Garcia, communications and international studies major from Farmer’s Branch.

While some students have been waiting anxiously for the opportunity to use off-campus cash, others are not interested in the program.

Seth Montgomery, junior accounting major from Abilene, said he did not plan on purchasing Wildcat Cash.

“I would still have to pay the same amount of money at restaurants, and I would probably waste more money because it would ‘feel’ free.”