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Working at Cornell

ID Cards

Important information for faculty, staff (including temporary employees) and retirees about your Cornell ID card, including how to request a card or receive a replacement if it's lost or damaged.

What To Know

  • Your ID card shows your Cornell ID#, which is different from your NetID.
    • NetID is used for email and other digital identification.
    • Cornell ID# may be required for certain administrative functions.
  • Your ID card is valuable - take good care of it!

Things you can do with your Cornell ID card:

  • TCAT Bus Service: present your ID card to the card reader on TCAT buses for free service in the Ithaca area.
  • MealChoice: full-time faculty and staff are automatically enrolled in the MealChoice plan. You can load money into your account and use your ID card to get discounted meals at Cornell dining rooms, cash-free access to Cornell Dining eateries and campus vending machines with readers, and Ithaca area restaurants participating in City Bucks.
  • Retail Discounts: You can present your Cornell ID card at a number of businesses to receive retail discounts.
  • Access: Your card may be used as an electronic door key to your workspace, as well as to fitness centers and for different functions on campus.

What To Do

If you need a Cornell ID card, or lose or damage your ID card:

  1. Email

  2. Photo

    • Include a headshot photo (preferably .JPG format). If it's a replacement card, we can use the photo on file.

  3. Receive your card

    In your email, confirm how you'd like to receive your new ID card:

    • Pick up in person at HRSTC, East Hill Office Building, 395 Pine Tree Rd., Suite 130, M-F 8:30am-4:30 pm.
    • Mail: confirm your mailing address.

Important - Replacement ID Cards: Printing a replacement card will deactivate your existing card. If you are routinely using your current card you'll need to coordinate a time for you to pick up your card from our office.

Special Cases

Spouse/Partner ID Card

  • Spouses and registered domestic partners of Cornell faculty, staff, retiree, and emeritus are eligible for a Spouse/Partner ID card.

  • Please submit the Spouse/Partner ID Card Request Form with a headshot photo (preferably .jpg format) to hrservices@cornell.edu.

  • Once the card has been printed, you and your spouse/partner will need to come to our office, with $40 in cash (exact change is required) or a check made payable to Cornell University.  

  •  The ID card becomes void upon termination or interruption of the spouse/partner's university employment.

Affiliate ID Cards