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The Husky ID Card is the official identification card for members of the UW Tacoma community and it can be used at all three campuses. The Husky Card provides access to buildings and restricted parking lots, opportunities and services, including campus libraries.
Eligibility
You can see your Husky ID card eligibility status alongside other information such as U-PASS membership, Husky Card Account balance, etc online. Go to the Accounts page of MyUW for more information.
Categories
Your first Husky ID Card is free.
If you are currently registered for credits, then you are eligible to obtain your Husky Card.
| New first-year or running start students | You are required to complete orientation prior to obtaining your Husky ID Card. For autumn quarter, ID card pickup will occur at the orientation event. |
|---|---|
| Returning students | If your original card does not have an RFID chip, you may request a new one. |
Replacement Cards
Students may use the Husky Card Upload Portal to request a replacement card. Lost, stolen, or damaged Husky Cards cost $25 to replace. The non-refundable replacement fee will be added to your student account.
All UW employees who are active in Workday are eligible for a Husky Card. Please note, eligibility for a Husky Card does not necessarily indicate eligibility for a UPASS. For more information about the conditions of and eligibility for the subsidized benefit, go to the UW HR website.
New Employees
New employees generally do not become eligible until their official start date. The Husky Card system is not updated in real-time and requires a nightly feed from Workday. Once you are entered into Workday, it will generally take until the following business day for Workday to send the update to the Husky Card database.
Replacement Cards
Employees may use the Husky Card Portal to request a replacement card. However, lost, stolen, or damaged Husky Cards are $25 to replace. Employees must first pay the nonrefundable replacement fee online. If you need assistance with the online payment, contact the Cashier's Office.
The UW Retiree Husky Card is the official identification card needed for UW retiree privileges, and replaces the Employee Husky Card. For a full list of the privileges and resources available to UW retirees, click here. Your first UW Retiree Husky Card is free.
The UW Benefits Office authorizes retiree cards as part of the retirement process. Approximately two weeks after your retirement effective date, you may obtain a new retiree photo ID card at one of several ID Centers. One UW retiree card is available per household.
At UW Tacoma, you must use the online Husky Card Upload Portal. Be ready to provide your UW-issued EID number and U.S. state- or federally-issued photo identification (such as a driver's license or passport). It is recommended that you call our office or email with your UW employee ID number to confirm that our records list you as a retiree. If it is not yet updated, you have to contact the Benefits Office.
Surviving spouses and registered same-sex domestic partners of retirees may continue retiree privileges. Contact the UW Benefits Office to request authorization of a card in the survivor's name. After confirming that the record has been changed and a new ID number issued, the spouse or partner may get a new retiree card at an ID Center.
Replacement Cards
Use the online Husky Card Upload Portal to request a replacement retiree Husky Card. The nonrefundable fee to replace a lost, stolen or damaged card is $25.00 and you must pay online (UW Tacoma campus only).
Instructions
The Husky Card Upload Portal is intended for use by UW Tacoma students, faculty and staff members only. Click the button below to request a Husky ID Card.
If you are a member of the UW Bothell or Seattle campuses and would like to have a Husky ID Card produced at UW Tacoma, send an email to reguwt@uw.edu instead.
Cropping Student ID Photo: Toward the end of your request, you will have to option to crop the photo you submitted for your Husky ID Card. Make sure the "cropped photo" preview meets your approval before finalizing your request.
- A recently taken color photo of yourself. Passport-style photos are ideal.
- Photo must be unedited. No filters are allowed. Use of any editing will result in the rejection of your photo.
- Photo must be taken in front of a plain white, off-white, or light-colored solid background. No objects should appear in the image.
- Photo must be taken in full-face view directly facing the camera.
- Cropped from just above the top of the head to collarbone and centered within the frame.
- No hats or head coverings, unless worn daily for religious purposes.
- No sunglasses. Only prescription eyewear is permitted.
- No masks or face coverings.
- No pets or other people.
- Neutral or smiling facial expressions only.
Other guidelines
Save your photo as JPEG (.jpeg, .jpg) or PNG (.png) file.
If you have issues downloading your photo, clear your internet browser cache and log back in to the Husky Card Upload Portal. If possible, use Google Chrome.
Additional Information
Caring for your Husky Card
It is important for cardholders to take proper care of their Husky Card. The technology that makes your card work includes an antenna, electronic chip and magnetic stripe. There are three primary reasons why your Husky Card would stop working:
- Damage to the antenna or damage to the bond between the chip and the antenna will destroy the card.
- Exposing the card to electrostatic discharge can damage the integrated circuit.
- Strong magnetic fields can wipe out the programming on the card's chip. Keep your Husky Card away from wireless chargers.
When Husky Cards fail, it is frequently the result of unintentional abuse by the cardholder. Below is a list of common actions that damage Husky Cards:
- Punching a hole or slot in the card
- Machine washing the card
- Keeping the card loose in your clothing or backpack, or keeping it in a wallet in your back pocket and sitting down
- Bringing it within close proximity to a wireless charger
- Exposing the card to extreme heat (i.e., direct sunlight on the dash of your car, clothes dryer, iron) or extreme cold
- Leaving it in your vehicle or using the card as an ice scraper for the windows
- Bending, twisting and/or crimping the card
- Exposing the card to chemicals including organic solvents, thinners and/or alcohol
Keeping your card in a protective cover or holder is the best way to ensure a long, functional life. Cardholders will be charged a fee for the replacement of a damaged Husky Card.
Suspending Activity for Lost or Stolen Husky Cards
If your Husky ID Card is lost or stolen and you have money in your Husky Card Account, go to the Online Card Office or call the Husky Card Account & ID Center (Seattle campus) at 206-543-7222 during normal business hours. They can suspend activity until your card is found or replaced. If you are able to recover your missing card, you can reactivate it through the Online Card Office anytime.
Preferred Name Option
You now have the option of printing your preferred name on a Husky Card. Your preferred name is for use within the University community. If you choose to have a preferred name on your Husky Card it cannot be used as proof of legal identity and may impact its use as a form of ID. It is advisable to carry a government-issued form of ID such as a driver's license or passport with you.
Privacy Issues
There will be no personal identification information stored on the smart chip. The RFID chip will be used to validate that the cardholder has access to U-PASS transit privileges. All information associated with the card and access rights are kept in accordance with the UW policy on personally identifiable information. For information regarding the privacy of transit data, please see the U-PASS Terms of Use.
Card Ownership
Your Husky Card is the property of UW and is not transferable. Allowing others to use your Husky Card is a serious misuse of the card and, as such, subjects you to disciplinary action as described in the University of Washington Student Conduct Code.
Troubleshooting
Most buildings on the UW Tacoma campus have public access doors that do not require a key card during normal hours. Go to the Campus Safety website for a map showing public access doors and for building hours. Outside of normal building hours, contact Campus Safety & Security at 253-692-4416 for immediate assistance and to troubleshoot your Husky ID Card.
You may need specific permissions to access these areas. Please contact your academic program for assistance. Click here for the UW Tacoma Directory.
Contact Transportation Services at transit@uw.edu or 253-692-5926. Click here to learn more about parking lots and garages at UW Tacoma.
U-PASS members that experience errors after using their card should contact Transportation Services at transit@uw.edu, 253-692-5926 or submit a reactivation request. Your ORCA-powered U-PASS will be available for use on transit 12 to 24 hours after you submit your reactivation request.
The U-PASS will be active for transit one week before the quarter starts, and you must tap your new Husky Card on an ORCA card reader to finalize activation each quarter. (Note: Failure to finalize activation of your U-PASS will not result in a refund of the U-PASS charge).
Click here to learn more about the U-PASS.
Contact Housing & Residence Life at court17@uw.edu or 253-692-5708.
