Credit card marketing on college campuses is ubiquitous, but another type of predatory program is also becoming the norm — and it's sanctioned, even encouraged, by university administrators and alumni organizations.

A number of colleges and universities have been inking deals with banks and credit card companies over the past few years, allowing lenders onto campuses and giving special access to some university events. Alumni and current student address lists are being sold, and institutions of higher ed are reaping the benefits in kickback fees and percentages earned on each cardholder account.

Last year, President Obama signed landmark legislation to curb these types of marketing ploys, and to some degree, the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act has been successful. But these types of "affinity agreements" between public universities and financial institutions like Bank of America are often quite secretive yet totally legal thanks to a loophole in the Credit CARD Act. Affinity agreements target young people and are bad for everyone.

Students and alumni have a right to not be preyed upon by credit card companies who buy their information from universities. Tell Congress to plug the holes in the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act to protect students across the country. 

Photo credit: Andres Rueda