Q: Why has the campus issued new ID numbers?
A: As a result of heightened awareness about identify theft, the California legislature has passed several new laws requiring that universities use an assigned id number to identify students. We have taken this a step further to include faculty and staff and others with an association with the campus.

Q: What is the format of the new campus-wide ID number?
A: The new campus-wide-ID number is a 9-digit number beginning with "8".

Q: Who has been issued these new campus-wide ID numbers?
A: Anyone with any association with the campus has been issued a campus-wide ID number including students, faculty, staff and alumni. Each person will be issued a single number regardless of how many different roles they play on campus or how those roles change over time.

Many alumni who graduated between 1959 and 1989 have not yet been assigned a CWID.  If you are one of these people, you can call Alumni Relations at (714) CSU-ALUM to have one generated.  You will need to give them your Social Security Number to verify your identity.

Q: Does the campus still require me to provide my social security number?
A: Yes. There are still many processes including tax reporting that require the campus to know and store your social security number.

Q: How can a person find out the value of their own campus-wide-ID number?
A: A new webpage is available where you can supply your SSN and last name and you will be told your new campus-wide-ID number. Alumni can also use this website by supplying their previous student ID number (usually SSN) and last name. You should use the last name  you used while at CSUF, unless  you have updated it with Alumni Records since that time. You can also find your CWID in the Alumni Portal .

Q: How will the use of the Alumni Database change following the implementation of the campus-wide ID number?
A: Whole SSNs will no longer be displayed in the Alumni Database, except for those individuals who run the database itself. For those individuals, the first 5 digits of the SSN will be available on certain screens with the final 4 digits blacked out. All others must use CWID.

Q: Will I need a new Titan Card?
A: No. Your Titan Card only contains a 16-digit ISO number and has never contained SSN. Alumni Association members who use a Titan Card for their library privledges will not be required to obtain a new Titan Card until their membership expires.

Q: Who should alumni contact if they have more questions about their campus-wide ID number?
A: Contact Admissions & Records at (714) 278-7601.

Q: What else can I do to protect the privacy of personal information?
A: It is important to shred all printed material that contains sensitive personal information as soon that printed document is no longer needed.