Acquiring and Use of the U Card

The U Card is the official University photo identity authentication card used on all University campuses and facilities for eligible members of the University community. The U Card is required for personal identification and may be required as certification of eligibility for University-related services and secured physical access to designated University buildings.  Students, faculty, and staff are required to carry their University issued U Card when in University buildings outside of public hours. Building hours are available on the U Card website.

All individuals who have received a U Card must comply with the conditions set forth in this policy and Administrative Procedure: Obtaining and Maintaining the U Card.

Individuals who are required to wear the U Card as a condition of employment must wear the card face up at all times when in non-public spaces, high-security areas, or mandatory use situations. Departments are responsible for monitoring and addressing non-compliance of individuals to whom this requirement applies. Employees in non-public or high-security areas are encouraged to approach any individual seen accessing a restricted work space without wearing a U Card and offer to provide assistance. For additional information regarding U Card requirements within University facilities see Administrative Policy: Getting Access to University Buildings.

University campuses, colleges, departments or units who do or will require the establishment of an identity authentication method to verify service eligibility or for secured facility access must use the U Card.

Units may not retain U Cards as collateral for departmental services.

Departing the University

The individual cardholder is responsible for maintaining their U Card. Departments cannot retain U Cards at graduation or upon termination or separation of employment. Cardholders should not give their U Cards to their former departments as collateral, nor should they return their U Card to the U Card Office. Some value accounts on the U Card may remain active even after a person has left the University.

Eligibility

Eligibility for the U Card is determined by an individual's relationship to the University at the time of printing, both role and status.

Students: Undergraduate, graduate and professional students must be currently admitted and/or registered for classes at the University of Minnesota to be eligible for the U Card.

Faculty/Staff/Regents: Faculty, staff, and University Regents must be entered into the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) to be eligible for the U Card. An indication that you have been entered into HRMS is when you have received an official University e-mail address and/or are listed in the online directory. Individuals may not obtain a U Card until the first day of their appointment.

Visitors: Affiliated academics, staff, students and all other visitors must be sponsored by a University department to be eligible for the U Card. See Administrative Procedure: Obtaining and Maintaining the U Card.

Access

Physical access to designated buildings and eligibility for some campus services will be electronically authenticated via the U Card. Access and eligibility may change based on a change in an individual's role or status. The U Card Office does not assign or manage access to secured doors. Departments may request that secured door access be added to a U Card. See Administrative Policy: Getting Access to University Buildings.

Requirements and Restrictions

Stolen or fraudulent use of a U Card should be reported to the University of Minnesota Police or local law enforcement.

Found U Cards should be immediately returned to the U Card Office and not held by departments. The U Card Office will not give out contact information or facilitate meetings to return found U Cards. When the U Card Office receives a found U Card, the office will contact the cardholder via University email.

Lost or stolen U Cards should be deactivated on the U Card website. If a replacement U Card is issued, the previous U Card will be deactivated. Deactivation is permanent and cannot be reversed.

A new photo is required when an individual replaces their U Card 2 years or more after original issuance. The U Card holder is responsible for any applicable replacement fees.

Unauthorized and/or fraudulent use of a U Card may result in confiscation, deactivation, disciplinary action and/or prosecution.

An individual may not possess more than one U Card at any given time. When a replacement is issued, the U Card Office will reclaim the old U Card.

While some services are deactivated when a user no longer has an eligible status, many of the services associated with the U Card never expire. Therefore, U Cards may be retained by cardholders indefinitely. U Card holders must comply with all terms and conditions for the services used.