Q2 has been a busy one. New clients, big go-lives, product updates, and a lot happening across the Atrium community — there’s plenty to catch up on!
Whether you’ve been with us for years or are just getting settled in, this is your quarterly look at what’s happening, what’s coming, and how campuses everywhere are reimagining the student experience.
Let’s get into it!
Is Your Campus Card System Ready for What’s Next?
David McQuillin, VP of Sales and Marketing and Co-Founder, sat down with NACCU Membership and Engagement Director John Ogle for a candid conversation about where campus card technology is headed.
They dig into the forces reshaping the industry right now — legacy system replacement, mobile credential adoption, physical security, automation, and the shift toward open, cloud-based platforms. David also shares how Atrium is responding with tools for mobile credentials, photo upload, meal plan management, access control integrations, AI-powered support, and 24/7 campus services.
It’s a timely watch for anyone thinking about where their campus card program is heading next.
NACCU 2026 Recap
It was great seeing so many of you in person at NACCU this year! Whether you stopped by our booth, joined us for a session, or made it to the client appreciation dinner, those face-to-face conversations mean a lot to us and genuinely help shape where Atrium goes next.
We heard a lot of great things happening across your campuses, and a lot of big priorities for the year ahead. If something from NACCU sparked an idea or a next step for your program, reach out to your AtriumCare Manager and let’s keep that conversation going.
And if you missed our infomercial at the show, no worries — you can still catch it here!
NACCU Video Showcase: The Paradox of Meal Plan Choice
We partnered with NACCU on a Virtual Expo Showcase that’s worth a watch if you missed it. The session, “The Paradox of Meal Plan Choice,” explores how simplifying your meal plan options can actually increase revenue and improve satisfaction for students and parents.
Inspired by Dr. Barry Schwartz’s The Paradox of Choice: Why Less Is More, the session digs into how too many options can create confusion, reduce satisfaction, and add unnecessary admin complexity on your end.
Atrium’s John Wu, Director of Product Management, and John LaFrance, Meal Plan Product Manager and subject matter expert, walk through how a smarter approach to meal plan design can make life easier for your team and better for your students.
Introducing the Atrium Partner Portal
Our partner ecosystem is an important part of how we deliver value to you, and we continue investing in tools that make it easier to connect, collaborate, and grow together.
We recently launched a new Partner Portal on our public website featuring all current partners including enhanced search capabilities by solution type or partner name, partner content along with clickable partner logos that link directly to each partner’s website.
Additional enhancements are already on the roadmap. Soon, this live and growing Partner catalog will be accessible from Atrium Admin with additional content.
Welcoming Our Newest Clients 
You’re in good company, and that company keeps growing! This quarter we welcomed new clients spanning large university systems, healthcare, and corporate campuses. The momentum is real and we’re just getting started!
Here’s a partial list:
Higher Ed
- UC Davis
- UC Santa Cruz
- Western Kentucky University
- University of Southern Mississippi
- CSU Monterey Bay
- Malone University
- St. Clair County Community College
- College of the Holy Cross (mobile credentials)
- Howard University (mobile credentials)
- Wofford College
- Marian University
- Saint Martin’s University
University Systems
- University System of New Hampshire
- Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (Central, Eastern & Southern CT State)
Healthcare
- RWJBarnabas Health
Corporate
- Amazon Audible (Newark & LAX)
Transitioning to New Connect: What to Expect
Atrium is transitioning all Connect clients to the new Connect experience, and we’re committed to making the process as smooth as possible. While the transition is required, it also brings significant enhancements — and there is no cost to move to the new platform.
New Connect delivers a more modern, mobile-friendly experience for students and staff, unifies both Connect and Core within a single admin portal, and provides the foundation for future enhancements that will be exclusive to the New Connect platform.
The transition to New Connect will roll out in phases between May 2026 and June 2028. Your timeline will be based on your current Atrium deployment and the services and partner integrations your campus utilizes. The AtriumCare team will reach out with detailed information and scheduled transition dates specific to your environment.
We’ve created a comprehensive Transition Guide to help you navigate every step of the move to New Connect — including timelines, key expectations, and how the AtriumCare team will support your campus throughout the process. Download it below to get started.
Keep an eye out for upcoming communications from the AtriumCare team regarding your transition schedule. In the meantime, please reach out to your AtriumCare Manager with any questions or to discuss next steps.
We’re excited to welcome the Identification Systems Group (ISG) as a new Atrium Partner!
Through this partnership, Atrium clients gain access to ISG’s nationwide network of experts specializing in identification, security, tracking, and card personalization technologies. Together, we’re helping campuses modernize the way credentials are issued, managed, and supported across the entire one card ecosystem—creating a more seamless, secure experience for students and staff alike.
This collaboration reflects Atrium’s ongoing commitment to an open, modular and agnostic ecosystem that gives institutions the flexibility to choose the solutions and partners that best fit their unique needs.
Fall will be here before you know it! Take a few minutes now to review your card office supplies and licenses so you’re not scrambling in July.
A quick checklist to run through:
✅ Card stock and preprinted cards
✅ Ribbon and laminate
✅ Card printers and readers
✅ Mobile credential licenses and expected volume for fall
✅ Any new locations or services coming online
If anything looks low, has changed for fall, or you’d simply like a second set of eyes on your setup, reach out to your AtriumCare Manager. A quick inventory review now can help ensure your team is focused on welcoming students, not tracking down supplies.
Atrium User Conference
As we look ahead, we want to put AUC27 on your radar early. Our next Atrium User Conference is planned for Fall 2027, giving campuses ample time to incorporate it into future budgets and planning cycles.
We’re already exploring new ideas and experiences centered around the evolving expectations of today’s mobile-first students, and we’re excited to share more as plans come together. Additional details — including dates, location, and registration information — will be announced once finalized.
👋 New Atrium Team Members
We’re excited to welcome several new team members to Atrium as we continue to grow across product, support, and client services. These additions strengthen our ability to support campuses, accelerate innovation, and continue delivering the high-touch experience you expect.
- Sami Takieddine joined as Director of Partnerships in February. With more than 20 years in higher education technology, most of it at CBORD, Sami brings deep industry experience and a strong track record of building partnerships with best-in-class providers.
- Matthew Frausto joined the AtriumCare team in March as an AtriumCare Manager. Based in Houston, TX, Matthew comes from the University of Houston – Downtown where he served as Applications Manager and Systems Control Coordinator.
- Deborah Michaud joined the Implementation team in April. She brings a strong background in client implementations from her time at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and has already made an immediate impact, earning recognition from both clients and teammates for her experience and thoughtful approach.
- Eric Ellis joined the Engineering Systems team in April as a Systems Engineer. Eric is based in Raleigh, NC and brings experience from Amazon and Beacon Platform.
- Nicole Camacho joined the AtriumCare team in May as an AtriumCare Manager. Based in West Palm Beach, FL, Nicole comes from Palm Beach State College where she oversaw card operations across five campuses.
- Erich Dobson joined the Sales Operations team with a focus on Point of Sale. He brings more than 30 years in the food and beverage industry, including seven years overseeing campus dining at Alfred University.
🔔 PAX A920 End of Commercialization
We want to make clients aware of upcoming lifecycle changes for the PAX A920 payment terminal. PAX, the manufacturer of the device, has officially announced that the A920 is entering its End-of-Life (EOL) phase. While existing devices are expected to continue operating for the foreseeable future, there are important support and replacement timelines campuses should begin planning for now.
Our goal is to give campuses ample time to plan and ensure payment environments remain secure, compliant, and fully supported.
Existing A920 devices will continue to operate normally for the near future; however, PAX has announced important lifecycle milestones, including the end of security updates in June 2026 and hardware repair support through June 30, 2027. Atrium recommends beginning future replacement planning now to avoid disruption, ensure long-term compatibility and compliance and have all A920’s replaced by June 30, 2027 at the latest.
We recommend clients upgrade to the new A920PRO which offers enhanced performance, updated Android operating systems, and long-term supportability. Atrium is offering attractive hardware-only pricing for A920 replacements. AtriumCare is available to help review your existing deployment, discuss replacement options, and assist with planning future upgrades.
Where You’ll Find Atrium
Conference season is officially underway, and our team has a full schedule ahead. If you’re attending any upcoming events, be sure to stop by and say hello — we always appreciate the opportunity to connect with clients and partners face to face.
- May 31–June 2, 2026 — NACAS West CX, Long Beach, CA
- June 13–17, 2026 — NACAS East CX, Richmond, VA
- July 15–18, 2026 — NACUFS, New Orleans, LA
- September 27–30, 2026 — NACAS C3X, Chicago, IL
😄 Dad Jokes of the Quarter
“I have a great website to order sausages from. Let me know if you want a link.”
“Not all construction work is equally enjoyable. For example, enlarging a drilled hole is boring, but fastening pieces of metal together is riveting.”
“I gave my handyman a to-do list, but he only did jobs 1, 3, and 5. Turns out he only does odd jobs.”
“They just identified the part of the brain that determines what kind of sandwiches you eat — it’s the subconscious.”
“I went to the doctor for hearing problems. He said, ‘Can you describe the symptoms?’ I said, ‘Sure. Homer’s the fat guy and Marge has blue hair.'”
Thanks for reading! We can’t wait to share what’s coming next quarter, more innovation, more partnership wins, and more ways to reimagine the campus experience together.