Associated Students UCLA launched a new rewards program named “Be True to Your School” last week, though the program has garnered mixed reviews from students.
The program is the most recent addition to ASCULA’s larger Benefits U program, which started in 2006 and offers occasional discounts for students at the UCLA store and ASUCLA restaurants.
By registering with ASUCLA Benefits U, either online or in person at Ackerman Student Union, students can receive discounts at the UCLA store and ASUCLA restaurants, and be notified of upcoming sale events. Students can begin accumulating points when they get a new ASUCLA card and tag from an ASUCLA employee.
Students get one point for every dollar they spend at the UCLA store. When students have accumulated 300 points, they will receive $5 off of their next purchase. After this, students will receive $1 off future purchases for each additional 100 points.
The addition of the reward points is a way to encourage students to stay involved with their student union, said Karen Noh, special projects director for ASUCLA.
“We feel it’s a way for students to have a sense of membership with ASUCLA,” Noh said.
But several students said they did not see the value of the program.
Second-year English student Tierra Sowell said she was not impressed with the rewards program. Sowell said she thought a $1 discount for spending $100 was too small to alter her purchasing habits.
“It seems like it’s more work than it’s worth,” Sowell said.
Currently the points only count toward items bought at the UCLA store, which includes textbooks but excludes food, computers and dental kits. Textbooks bought during fall 2012 also apply to a student’s total, as long as their BruinCard was swiped at the time.
The UCLA store does not make large profits from computer sales, so the department will be excluded from the loyalty program, Noh said. Although computers are not part of the program at the moment, they may be included later on, she added.
Brandon Mann, a third-year business economics student, also said there was no incentive for him in the loyalty program.
“It’s good if students really are spending a lot of money at the UCLA store, but I’m not interested since I don’t spend much,” Mann said.
First-year bioengineering student David Sanville, however, said he thinks the new rewards plan would be beneficial for students.
“It’s a good idea, since everyone likes saving money,” Sanville said, while waiting in line for his textbooks.
The program will extend through the end of the school year and it is unknown whether or not it will continue after June, according to ASUCLA’s website.
Email Herrera at eherrera@media.ucla.edu.