Background on and types of ID Numbers

A person on campus can have multiple "ID Numbers", commonly referred to as "Campus IDs": "Wiscard" (A/K/A "Photo ID"), "SIS Campus ID" (or "Student ID" -- formerly ISIS Campus ID), "Predicted Photo ID", and "Wiscard Account Number". These numbers are confusing, so please be precise in to what you refer. Use the words below, unless you are very certain you are using correct terminology.

Wiscard (Photo ID)

The number that is printed on a card (a piece of plastic that someone keeps in their pocket). It is 11 digits long (a 10 digit number with an "issue code" specifying the "current" card that a person has). This number will not change unless a person goes to the Wiscard Office and gets a new card printed. Non-students can request a new number be issued if for some reason they do not like their number, students must contact the Registrar's Office to change .

SIS (formerly ISIS) Campus ID (Student ID)

The ID number issued to a student by SIS, the UW-Madison Student Information System, it is 10 digits long. It is communicated to the student early on in the application process, and if they have an active "Student" affiliation, will be the number printed on a piece of plastic when the person goes to get a Wiscard. n.b., this is completely different than SIS Emplid, which is unrelated to this document at all.

Predicted Photo ID

The number (10 digits long) that will be printed on a piece of plastic along with an issue code, provided the person is eligible to get a card, and that they do not change status before they get a card, or request a different card number.

Wiscard Account Number

Often confused with a Wiscard or Predicted Photo ID, this is the number associated with a person's account in Wiscard (for debit account functionality), which is 10-digits long (does not include an issue code, even if it is the same as a number printed on a card). People whose card is revoked or invalid (reported stolen, for example), do not have a number and cannot charge items.

Library Patron ID / ILLiad ID

Very similar to Wiscard Account Number, but defined by the library and used for library functionality. This number remains as an identifier even if cards are revoked or invalid.

These numbers have a complex relationship. They ARE NOT generally interchangeable. Some details:

• A person will not have a Predicted Photo ID and a Wiscard at the same time.
• A Wiscard number is only valid when it is between it's effective and expiration dates and has not been disabled (reported lost/stolen or revoked for whatever reason).
• ID numbers issued by SIS are independent of ID numbers issued by other sources, including Wiscard, so the Student ID can differ from Wiscard.
• Numbers issued by SIS will override other numbers when a card is issued (and the person is currently a student), but until a new card is issued, a person with an existing card who becomes a student will have two numbers. This is not an error.
• As soon as a card is invalid (expired or revoked), they no longer have a Wiscard and their Predicted Photo ID is populated with the number that will be printed on the next card the person gets.
• Wiscard Account Numbers are selected by the following logic:
  1. Valid (non-expired card): Number printed on card (no issue code)
  2. Expired Card: Number printed on most recent card issued (no issue code)
  3. No card or Revoked card: Predicted Photo ID
  Wiscard Account Numbers are not interchangeable with Predicted Photo ID

Some scenarios where ID numbers can or will differ:

This is not a complete list, there are other cases.

• A person is an employee and gets an ID card before becoming a student: SIS will issue it's own Student ID that will differ from the Wiscard (printed on the card). Note: he or she must have a card printed before becoming a student, otherwise if they get a card while having a student affiliation, the Student ID will be printed on the card (they will still have a historical old number, but the one printed on the card will trump the historical number.)
• A person was a student with an SSN-based ID number, graduated and came to work, keeping the SSN-based card: SIS has purged all SSN-based ID Numbers, resulting in people whose Student ID differs from their Wiscard because their Wiscard will always show what is printed on their card. When they were issued a new non-SSN card, it had a different number because they are not currently a student.

Restrictions on ID Number Use:

• Any ID number available in UDS is eligible for use during activation, although Wiscard numbers must be entered with all 11 digits (the Issue Code appended).
• A person can have several different Campus IDs, maintained in the Campus ID System. Some people on campus have access to view those numbers via the UDS Data View application. UDS Data View displays all Campus ID numbers in the Campus ID system, not just those in UDS (despite the application name). It does not make clear what numbers are in UDS and are usable for activation. The NetID Utility (New or Interim) are correct, and do display only those IDs that will work.
• The SIS Campus ID (formerly ISIS Campus ID) is the only number that SIS will accept for a person. It is the number that must be used with "My Info."
• If a Wiscard has been issued, it is the only ID number that the Library, Rec Sports and most other services will accept.