PSU ID Cards: New Design, New Process, and Faster Pickup
The university moved ID services to the IT office, introducing online photo uploads and a new building design to cut wait times.
By Amelia Gupta ·
Portland State University has issued new identification cards for students, faculty, and staff, marking a shift in both design and administrative control. The cards now display the Karl Miller Center building on SW 6th and Harrison in the background, with student cards in landscape orientation and faculty and staff cards in portrait orientation.
The change stems from a transition of ID Card Services from Student Financial Services to the Office of Information and Technology. Jerrod Thomas, senior director of academic and technology services at OIT, stated that the effort began in the 2023-2024 academic year using funds from the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. Thomas described the budget as sufficient to move production into the OIT help desk area, consolidating operations that had previously been scattered across multiple departments including Campus Public Safety.
Students and faculty can now upload photos online at pdx.edu/id-photo or take them in person at the Student Services Lobby in Fariborz Maseeh Hall. Processing online submissions takes up to two business days, after which OIT emails the user to approve or deny the photo. Approved users collect their cards at the Technology Help Desk and ID Services in FMH, where they must present a valid government-issued photo ID.
The new system aims to reduce the long lines that plagued orientation sessions. During summer orientations, where roughly 800 people registered, OIT used text messages to prompt attendees to take selfies via the CloudCard software. This allowed 55% of attendees to have their cards pre-printed, reducing the maximum line length to 15 people and the wait time to about 20 minutes.
OIT also tracked students who lacked ID cards to streamline access to campus facilities like the library and recreation center. On Sept. 1, 2026, 1,029 students did not have an ID associated with their account. By Oct. 9, 2026, that number dropped to 137. Between Jun. 22 and Oct. 9, 2026, the university printed 6,596 ID cards.
For faculty and staff, a free replacement ID card is available through Dec. 18. Student fees remain unchanged, with the first card free and replacements costing $21, unless the card is broken or defective. Thomas emphasized the importance of reporting lost cards to Campus Public Safety to deactivate access.
The OIT Annual Report 2025-2026 notes the goal of providing a seamless transition to new tools and processes. The shift allows OIT to manage ID production directly, while Campus Public Safety retains control over access permissions.
