Merrimack College Receives Infusion of RFID Equipment for New Lab

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 10/08/08
Merrimack College has received a donation of $60,000 in radio frequency ID equipment from Tagsys to establish an RFID and automatic identification technology laboratory as part of its Mendel Center for Science, Engineering, and Technology. The college includes coursework on RFID as a core requirement for its electrical engineering undergraduate degree.

"Merrimack anticipates continued widespread adoption of RFID in item-level tracking, and we are extremely grateful to Tagsys for their generous donation," said Ronald Champagne, president of the college. "Merrimack students now have the opportunity to learn actively on the latest RFID technology that will provide them with superior hands-on experience and unmatched preparation for their professional lives. This in turn will allow us to deliver highly-qualified RFID candidates to the field."

The vendor donated a combination of high frequency and ultra high frequency tags, readers, antennas, and application stations to Merrimack's RFID/Auto ID lab. Tagsys also donated RFID "demonstration stations" to help students learn how RFID is used to track items in manufacturing and supply chain applications in industries such as: libraries, textile services, apparel retail, luxury goods, and pharmaceutical/healthcare.

"As we anticipate increased demand for RFID technology in all industries, it's imperative that we have qualified RFID professionals to support this growth," said Bill Stuek, Tagsys CEO. "This is a mutually beneficial opportunity for both Tagsys and Merrimack by helping prepare the next generation of future RFID professionals."

Merrimack College, located in North Andover, MA, has 2,000 students. Later in October, the college will host a day-long symposium on RFID from technology, higher education, and business perspectives.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • young man in a denim jacket scans his phone at a card reader outside a modern glass building

    Colleges Roll Out Mobile Credential Technology

    Allegion US has announced a partnership with Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) and Denison College, in conjunction with Transact + CBORD, to install mobile credential technologies campuswide. Implementing Mobile Student ID into Apple Wallet and Google Wallet will allow students access to campus facilities, amenities, and residence halls using just their phones.

  • university building with classical architecture is partially overlaid by a glowing digital brain graphic

    NSF Invests $100 Million in National AI Research Institutes

    The National Science Foundation has announced a $100 million investment in National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes, part of a broader White House strategy to maintain American leadership as competition with China intensifies.

  • stylized figures, resumes, a graduation cap, and a laptop interconnected with geometric shapes

    OpenAI to Launch AI-Powered Jobs Platform

    OpenAI announced it will launch an AI-powered hiring platform by mid-2026, directly competing with LinkedIn and Indeed in the professional networking and recruitment space. The company announced the initiative alongside an expanded certification program designed to verify AI skills for job seekers.

  • lightbulb

    Call for Speakers Now Open for Tech Tactics in Education: Overcoming Roadblocks to Innovation

    The annual virtual conference from the producers of Campus Technology and THE Journal will return on September 25, 2025, with a focus on emerging trends in cybersecurity, data privacy, AI implementation, IT leadership, building resilience, and more.