Student Conversion Information Overview Penn State is committed to maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of an individual's Social Security number (SSN). Therefore, this fall will be the last semester that your student number is your SSN. Starting Spring Semester 2005, all Penn State students, employees and other constituents will be using a new Penn State Identification Number (PSU ID) as their ID for University purposes. The University will still be required to collect individuals' SSNs for reporting and taxation purposes, but the use of SSNs will be strictly limited by a new University policy. For more information about how this changeover will impact students, please read the latest Student Newswire story on Penn State Live at http://www.live.psu.edu/story/8265 Timeline of Events - How the Conversion Will Affect You This Fall To facilitate the SSN-to-PSU ID conversion, University Administrative Information Systems, including eLion, will be taken off-line for several days, beginning Saturday night, Dec. 18 at midnight. Angel and e-mail availability will not be affected. What does the eLion interruption mean for me? The conversion will cause a temporary interruption in both the eLion grade entry by faculty and the eLion grade inquiry by students. Faculty will be notified by e-mail when they may begin grading their course, and will be able to enter grades from that start date until midnight of Dec. 18. As a student, you will be able to check eLion for your grades until midnight of Dec. 18.  If you do not receive all of your grades before the eLion interruption, don't panic or e-mail your instructors. eLion will become available again on or after Dec. 26. At that time, grade reporting will resume as normal; faculty will be able to complete the grading process and you will be able to view the rest of your course grades. How and when will I receive my new PSU ID? You will receive your new PSU ID number when new Penn State id+ cards are distributed in November to all existing cardholders (i.e. students, faculty and staff). Your new nine digit PSU ID (9-9999-9999) will be printed on the front of your new card. Existing photos will be used so new photos will not be necessary.  Below are some important dates to remember from the SSN Project Timeline: Nov. 1-5 - New id+ cards distributed at HUB event (activation date will be Dec. 20) Dec. 20 - Automated card reading systems scheduled to be converted (students, faculty and staff should carry both their old and new id+ cards from now until the end of the year - just in case) Jan. 1 - New PSU IDs become effective University-wide If I forget my PSU ID or if I do not currently have a Penn State id+ card but am registered, where can I find my PSU ID number? Students will be able to find their PSU ID on the eLion Academic Summary page after Jan. 1, 2005. ID Card Information Can I use my new Penn State id+ card when I get it in November even though my new PSU ID number doesn't become effective until Jan. 1? The new id+ cards will not be activated until Dec. 20; therefore, you will need to continue using your current card until that time. If you will be on campus and using a card reading system during the last two weeks of December (example:  for access to residence halls or offices), you will need to carry both your old and new ID cards to ensure access. Anything else I need to know about the new id+ cards? During this summer, LionCash underwent a transition to LionCash+, a new online system. With LionCash+, funds are accessed via the magnetic strip on the back of your id+ card instead of the "smart chip" on your card.  LionCash+ accounts have been established for all current cardholders. For more information on LionCash+, including how to deposit funds in your LionCash+ account, visit Penn State's id+ Card Web site.  Future Use of Social Security Numbers Can I stop using my SSN and get a PSU ID now? No. The University has decided on the systematic, one-time conversion to minimize confusion. The new policy AD19 on use of Penn State Identification Number and Social Security numbers, states, that even after Jan. 1, 2005, the University will still be required to collect the SSN of any person wishing to enroll in academic offerings and any person employed at Penn State. As a student, if you do not provide the University with your SSN, certain services such as transcripts, enrollment verification and tax reporting may not be available to you. In addition, any student applying for Financial Aid must provide a SSN to the University. How will my SSN be protected? Access to and use of your SSN will be strictly limited by the new University policy.  Will my transcript, enrollment verification or degree audit documents look different after the conversion? Official transcripts and enrollment verifications will continue to display your full SSN. Advising transcripts and degree audit documents will display the new PSU ID.

Printer friendly view