UIN as Directory Information FAQ
- Are UIN’s now public information?
- The campus does not plan to publish UIN data in any public manner. The University has discretion in public release of directory information and, in the majority of circumstances, the campus chooses not to publish this information.
- What is the purpose of defining the UIN directory information if you are not publishing it?
- The UIN serves primarily as a useful and unique number for business processes internal to the University. As one example, staff and faculty use email as a preferred method of communication about students. Email is not a secure transmission, but the use of UIN in email will no longer be considered a potential release of the educational record. Another example is that staff frequently share paper lists of UIN’s to communicate about aspects of student records and this sharing becomes less cumbersome if the UIN is treated with the same level of security as the student name.
- How will defining the UIN as directory information impact the student?
- Student service will be more efficient because staff can easily identify a specific student record e.g., when students have identical names. However, students may need to answer a few questions from University staff to authenticate their identity before further information is released or before services are provided.
- How will a staff member validate student identity?
- Staff members can no longer rely solely on the UIN for identification and may ask for additional verification. This will likely be in the form of additional questions that only the student could answer. Many units are implementing an authorization system that can be used to authenticate student identity when students call (nearby access to a computer is needed).
- A unit on campus is not asking me further questions to verify my identity. Should I be concerned?
- All units have been notified that additional authentication is needed to verify a student’s identity. However, not all verification processes used are apparent to the student. If you have concerns, please feel free to contact us.
Please feel free to contact the Office of the Registrar with any questions or concerns at registrar@illinois.edu or 217-265-6575.