iNews: Administrative services

Cal 1 Card, CalNet ID, and campus ID numbers: what are the differences?

Natalie Kato and Kalle Nemvalts, IST–AVCO

All students, faculty, and staff at UC Berkeley have a UC Berkeley ID number (student or employee), a Cal 1 Card, which shows the UC Berkeley ID number, and a CalNet ID. This article describes the relationships among these three forms of ID.

Cal 1 Card (formerly known as the Cal Photo ID) is a plastic identification card with your picture and UC Berkeley ID number (student or employee) on the front, and a magnetic stripe on the back. It is UC Berkeley's official identification card, assigned permanently to you, and not transferable. In addition to serving as your photo identification card, it permits you to gain access to campus buildings, events, and activities, and allows you to take advantage of many University services such as the Library, University Health Services, and the Residence Halls. This card can also function as a campus debit card; see the Cal 1 Card website (http://cal1card.berkeley.edu/) for more information.

You can get your Cal 1 Card at the Cal 1 Card office (http://cal1card.berkeley.edu/), located at 110 Cesar Chavez Center, Lower Sproul Plaza, by presenting a current government-issued identification card such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport. New employees please note, it could take one to two business days before the Cal 1 Card office is able to verify employment and issue the card.

UC Berkeley employee ID is a unique number for payroll and other administrative purposes. The employee ID number is assigned upon hiring, as soon as the employee's records are entered into HRMS (the Human Resources Management System). The UC Berkeley employee ID number is printed on the employee's Cal 1 Card.

UC Berkeley student ID (SID) is a unique number used for such student systems as Tele-BEARS on the Web, Bear Facts, and InfoBears, as well as other systems like the Library and the Recreational Sports Facility. It is assigned to new undergraduate, graduate, and professional school applicants when they are first processed for admissions. An SID, once assigned to a student, remains with the student throughout the course of that student's career at Berkeley. The SID appears on a student's Cal 1 Card.

CalNet ID, together with an associated secret passphrase, is your personal network identity for accessing campus online services such as AirBears, e-Parking, WebDisk, ezSurePay, and CalNet Directory updates. See the CalNet-enabled applications web page (https://calnet.berkeley.edu/current_apps.html) for a list of CalNet-enabled services, and the CalNet Gateway website (https://calnet.berkeley.edu/) for detailed information about activating and using your CalNet ID. The Sidebar answers some frequently asked questions about the CalNet ID activation process.

It is important to realize that your CalNet ID provides access to sensitive or confidential information about yourself. Therefore it is essential that you keep your CalNet passphrase secret. Your CalNet ID and passphrase identifies you, personally, to online services. Do not allow anyone else to use your CalNet ID!

Everyone at UC Berkeley has a CalNet ID. Initially, your CalNet ID is the same as your UC Berkeley ID number (student or employee). In order to use your CalNet ID, you must first activate it and choose an associated passphrase. The way you do this depends on whether you are faculty or staff, or a student.

For faculty and staff, you must

  1. Obtain a temporary "token" (a numeric code) from a departmental CalNet Deputy (http://uas.berkeley.edu/services/deputies.html), the User & Account Services office (http://uas.berkeley.edu:7355/), or the Cal 1 Card office (http://cal1card.berkeley.edu/).
  1. Go to the Activate CalNet ID web page (https://net-auth.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/krbreg) and follow the posted instructions. You can do this from any computer that has network access. You will be requested to input your CalNet ID (UC Berkeley employee ID), the token, and a passphrase.

For students, you must

  1. Have your initial CalNet ID and temporary passphrase (your Tele-BEARS PIN) which will have been mailed to you.
  1. Go to the Change Passphrase or Create Student CalNet ID web page (https://net-auth.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/krbcpw) and follow the posted instructions. You can do this from any computer that has network access. You will be requested to input your CalNet ID (UC Berkeley SID) and your PIN.

For more information

Cal 1 Card

UC employee ID

CalNet ID

Sidebar: Some FAQs about the CalNet ID activation process

What is a CalNet token?
A CalNet token is a numeric code given to faculty and staff on a printout by the CalNet Deputy, the User & Account Services office, or the Cal 1 Card office; it is used by faculty and staff to activate their CalNet ID and to choose a passphrase.

Is there a time limit to using the CalNet token?
From the time the token is issued, faculty and staff have 72 hours to activate their CalNet ID and choose a passphrase before the token expires. The expiration date of the token is indicated on the printout.

How do I get a new CalNet token?
If your token expires before you have activated your CalNet ID, you will have to contact a CalNet Deputy (http://uas.berkeley.edu/services/deputies.html), or go to the User & Account Services office (http://uas.berkeley.edu/) or the Cal 1 Card office (http://cal1card.berkeley.edu/) to have a new token issued.

If I forget my passphrase, how do I get a new one?

  • Faculty and staff: If you forget your passphrase, you will have to contact a CalNet Deputy (http://uas.berkeley.edu/services/deputies.html), or go to User & Account Services (http://uas.berkeley.edu/) or the Cal 1 Card office (http://cal1card.berkeley.edu/) to get a new token. Then you must visit the Activate CalNet ID web page (https://net-auth.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/krbreg) and follow the posted instructions.
  • Students: If you forget your passphrase, you will have to go to the User & Account Services office (http://uas.berkeley.edu/) to have your passphrase reset.

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