Student use of Huskie Bucks has grown so rampantly that 21 off-campus establishments soon will accept the debit plan.

In fact, the dollar amount of Huskie Bucks sales increased more than 376 percent from fiscal year 2001 to 2002.

From July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2002, students used $1.6 million worth of Huskie Bucks – compared to $425, 000 the previous year.

The system is convenient for students, but both NIU and participating restaurants benefit as well.

“Restaurant owners are getting sales from people who may have money on their cards, but may not have money in their pockets,” said Kathe Shinham, NIU’s associate vice president of Finance and Facilities. “If I were a parent, this would be a good way to spend. It gives the student flexibility.”

NIU receives 2.5 percent of all Huskie Bucks sales, which are used to cover costs, she said.

“It’s just like a fee a credit card company would charge,” she said. “The whole system has been great.”

The debit plan allows students to do laundry, buy food and purchase non-alcoholic beverages.

The system began in 1998 simply as a way for students to utilize laundry services in the residence halls. Shortly after, students were given the option to spend Huskie Bucks at dining halls, as well as at the Hot Spot Food & Deli, 901 Lucinda Ave. From there, the use of Huskie Bucks hasn’t slowed.

In the past two weeks, four off-campus restaurants started letting customers pay with the virtual dollars. They include Cuisine of India (901 Lucinda Ave.), Las Margaritas (1262 W. Lincoln Highway), Pagliai’s Pizza (1221 W. Lincoln Highway) and Subway (162 W. Lincoln Highway).

“As more places see how successful it’s been, the more popular it will become,” Shinham said.

Four unidentified restaurants are in the process of becoming Huskie Bucks merchants, which will bring the off-campus total to 21. Including on-campus establishments means 30 community establishments soon will accept the debit plan.

The acceptance is so widespread that students can use Huskie Bucks over the phone to make a delivery order. Such is the standard at Pita Pete’s, 901 Lucinda Ave.

“Once the university set its system up so we could manually enter numbers, then we started accepting Huskie Bucks for delivery business,” said owner Pete Lutz. “A huge percentage of our deliveries to the residence halls are paid by Huskie Bucks.”

The establishment has accepted Huskie Bucks since its August 2001 opening. Lutz said Huskie Bucks currently account for about 35 percent of the restaurant’s business.

“It’s been positive for sure,” Lutz said. “It was hard in the beginning to get used to it because your money is held back [by the university] for a certain period of time. But, once you get used to that, it’s fine.”

According to the contract for merchants accepting Huskie Bucks, NIU provides payment to the merchant, minus the 2.5 percent service charge, on a monthly basis or at an interval mutually agreed upon. The latter is the case with Pita Pete’s, which NIU reimburses twice a month, Lutz said.

While the close proximity of Pita Pete’s to campus makes it vital to accept Huskie Bucks, other further establishments use the debit plan to attract student customers.

Chesapeake Bagel Bakery, 122 S. First St., began accepting Huskie Bucks in October 2002.

“We really don’t seem to attract many NIU students as our clientele,” said owner Danny Bethard. “We thought [Huskie Bucks] would be a good way to introduce them to our business.”

Bethard said he’s noticed a gradual increase thus far, but hopes for more success when the next school year begins.