University of Florida Identification Numbers
UFID Home | Students | UF Software Developers | Background
UFID in a Nutshell
Q. What is the UFID?- A. Implemented on January 21, 2003, the UFID is an identifier for all University of Florida faculty, staff and students. The UFID is an eight-digit number displayed using a dash between the fourth and fifth digits as in 1234-5678.
Q. Why did UF introduce the UFID?- A. For many years, UF relied on the Social Security number (SSN) to serve as an identifier for the people UF serves. For many years, privacy advocates and others have urged UF to adopt its own identifier and use SSN only for required purposes when dealing with outside agencies. A University task force convened by the provost studied the problem of replacing the SSN and recommended creation of the UFID number in August 2001 (see: http://www.reg.ufl.edu/id-numbers/proposal.html). UFIDs were officially implemented on January 21, 2003.
Q. Who did this this?- A. Warren Curry was the UFID Project Manager. Willy Rechsteiner led the programming effort which involved developers from UF Information Systems who worked with staff from NERDC and the Health Science Center to produce databases, numbering and tools. Diane Craig led the communication effort to inform the UF community of the new UFID number.
Q. How was the work done?- A. Design, programming and documentation began in earnest in November 2001. A central group of developers associated with the project produced programming interfaces (APIs) and applications. Developers across UF met every other Friday in Frazier Rogers Hall. Literally thousands of software programs were changed to accommodate the change to UFIDs. Units across UF are modifying local processes, forms, software and databases to eliminate the unnecessary use of SSN and substitute UFID as appropriate.
Q. When was the work done?- A. Application programming interfaces are available now.
- Application programming interfaces (APIs) were developed and made available beginning in June 2002 to help programmers prepare for conversion.
- Individuals with valid Gator 1 Cards were assigned UFID numbers in October 2002.
- A communication campaign to inform students, faculty and staff of the new UFID number began in October 2002.
- A web-based self-service interface for obtaining one's UFID number was made available in November 2002.
- A SSN-to-UFID translator (1189 on Admin Menu) was made available in December 2002.
- Directory Coordinator training began January 7, 2003.
- Conversion of major central systems to utilize new UF Directory and implement UFID as identifiers occurred January 18-20, 2003.
- Manage Directory Information (1264) was available to Directory coordinators on January 21, 2003.
- A self-service, web-based application that allows individuals to manage some of their own contact information was made available on January 21, 2003.
- The Retrieve Departmental Affiliates (1266) application became available on February 4, 2003.
Q. How can I learn more?- A. The UFID web site www.it.ufl.edu/ufid contains additional information. The UF Directory Project web site (www.it.ufl.edu/projects/directory) contains additional information regarding Directory Coordinator functions and programming issues. Specific questions may be directed to the UF Directory Administrator at directory@ufl.edu.
Questions? Contact ufid@ufl.edu for UFID numbers; directory@ufl.edu about UF Directory project; and, webadmin@aa.ufl.edu concerning this web site.
Email questions about the UFID number to ufid@ufl.edu
Email questions about the UF Directory project to directory@ufl.edu
Email questions about new Gator 1 card to ID Card Services at
dlooney@ufmail.ufl.edu or call (352) 392-8343.
