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Get a Wildcard

Who is eligible

Most students, faculty and staff are eligible to receive a Wildcard:

  • Students
    • Undergraduates (upon admittance)
    • Graduate students  (Bienen and Medill upon admittance; TGS and other graduate/professional programs upon acceptance of admission offer)
    • SPS and non-credit students (upon tuition payment)
  • Faculty & staff (if eligible for benefits)
  • Visiting scholars

Other members of the NU community are eligible for NU-issued ID cards. Visiting students and those in high school programs are not eligible for Wildcards or NU-issued ID cards.

How to obtain your card

Every student, faculty and staff member at Northwestern University is issued a Wildcard. Other members of the NU community are eligible for NU-issued ID Cards. Find out how to obtain your card:

Is your Wildcard lost, stolen or damaged? See Replacing Your Wildcard for information.

Students

You may submit your photo online. Bring your picture ID (driver's license, state ID, or a valid, unexpired passport) to the Wildcard office when picking up your card.
  • Cards are free to students, but the replacement cost for lost or stolen cards is $25.
  • Student records will not appear in the Wildcard system until approximately 45 days prior to the beginning of an academic quarter. You are encouraged to obtain your Wildcard early; however, services to the University Libraries, Health Services and Sports & Recreation facilities (SPAC) will not become active until the start of the academic quarter for which you are registering. Call the Wildcard office to check your status at 847-467-NUID (6843) (Evanston campus) or 312-503-0548 (Chicago campus).

New to Northwestern? See Information for New Students.

Faculty and Staff

You may submit your photo online. Bring your picture ID (driver's license, state ID, or a valid, unexpired passport) to the Wildcard office when picking up your card.

  • You cannot pick up your Wildcard until Human Resources has entered you in the system and the data is available to the Wildcard office. Call the Wildcard office to check your status at 847-467-NUID (6843) (Evanston campus) or 312-503-0548 (Chicago campus).
  • Cards are free to faculty and staff, but the replacement cost for lost or stolen cards is $25.

Affiliates

Bring your picture ID (driver's license, state ID, or a valid, unexpired passport) to the Wildcard office when picking up your card.

  • Cards are free to affiliates, but the replacement cost for lost or stolen cards is $25.
  • Affiliates include OLLI Students who purchase a full academic year membership in the fall, GME Residents and Physician Assistants, employees of the Office of University Chaplains, and employees of The Family Institute*.
    • *A Northwestern University official must sponsor the request for an access card to be issued specifically to NU spaces. 

Spouses and domestic partners of faculty and staff

  • The initial fee and the renewal fee for a spouse Wildcard is $10. The replacement cost for lost or stolen spouse cards is $15.
  • Spouse/Partner cards are only available to spouses/partners of those whose primary status with the university is faculty or staff. 

    REQUEST ONE HERE

Part-time/temporary employees

PART-TIME/TEMP EMPLOYEE PROCESS

For part-time/temporary employees working primarily on the

Evanston Campus:

EVANSTON PART-TIME/TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE REQUEST

*Note: You must log in with your NetID and password.

For part-time/temporary employees working primarily on the

Chicago Campus:

CHICAGO PART-TIME/TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE REQUEST

*Note: You must log in with your NetID and password.

  • Part-Time Temporary Employees should not book an appointment with the Wildcard Office for a new, replacement, or renewal access card. Once your Northwestern University Authorized Supervisor/Administrator submits the request, the Wildcard Office will notify your Supervisor/Administrator when the card(s) are ready for pick-up.
  • Cards are free for part-time/temporary employees, but the replacement for lost or stolen cards is $25.
  • Cards that are requested, but not picked up within 60 days of production will be shredded. Any card that needs to be replaced after being shredded for this reason will incur a $25 replacement fee. The $25.00 replacement fee is payable by credit/debit card, made by the cardholder at the time a re-created card is distributed to the cardholder.

  • Building/door access is facilitated through the Authorized Supervisor/Administrator submitting this form.

Authorized contractors

AUTHORIZED CONTRACTOR PROCESS

For contracted employees working primarily on the

Evanston Campus:

EVANSTON CONTRACTOR REQUEST

*Note: You must log in with your NetID and password.

For contracted employees working primarily on the

Chicago Campus:

CHICAGO CONTRACTOR REQUEST

*Note: You must log in with your NetID and password.

  • Contractors should not book an appointment with the Wildcard Office for a new, replacement, or renewal access card. Once your Northwestern University Authorized Supervisor/Administrator submits the request, the Wildcard Office will notify your Supervisor/Administrator when the card(s) are ready for pick-up.
  • Cards are free for contractors, but the replacement for lost or stolen contractor cards is $25.Cards that are requested, but not picked up within 60 days of production will be shredded. Any card that needs to be replaced after being shredded for this reason will incur a $25 replacement fee. The $25.00 replacement fee is payable by credit/debit card, made by the cardholder at the time a re-created card is distributed to the cardholder.
  •  
  • Building/door access is facilitated through the Authorized Supervisor/Administrator submitting this form.