IdentiKey

Last Updated: 05/26/2020

Overview

An IdentiKey consists of a CU Boulder login name and an IdentiKey password. An IdentiKey is the credential that uniquely identifies you to online services and campus computing facilities so that they may grant you access.

Manage Your IdentiKey

Your IdentiKey is a combination of your CU Login Name and a unique password set by you. CU Login Names are created automatically by OIT and composed of the first two letters of your first name, the first two letters of your last name, and four random digits. You can manage your identikey at identikey.colorado.edu. At that site, you will find links to do the following:

  • Activate Your IdentiKey
  • Reset Your Password
  • Find Your CU Login Name

Features

Depending on your role at the University, an IdentiKey is necessary for access to:

  • Buff Portal or MyCUInfo, the student and employee portals *
  • University of Colorado Boulder Email Services
  • Computers in OIT computing labs
  • UCB Wireless network
  • OIT's learning management systems
  • SkillSoft computer based training for Faculty, Staff, and Student Employees *
  • And more
*MyCUInfo and SkillSoft are provided by University Information Systems

An IdentiKey authenticates you to those systems, but authorization to their services and features is typically dependent on your human resources (PeopleSoft HRMS) or student information system (Campus Solutions) roles and records. For all centrally provided online campus and university applications, an IdentiKey provides information uniquely identifying you as a valid CU Boulder account holder. The application then determines what your role(s) authorize you to do on that system.

Cost

IdentiKey accounts are provided as a common-good to the campus which means there is no direct cost to you.

Who can get it

CU Boulder students, faculty, staff, retirees, and sponsored affiliates.

How to get it

Students

IdentiKeys are created when you are admitted to the University of Colorado at Boulder as evidenced by record keeping in Campus Solutions, the university’s student information system. After you have been admitted, you may activate your IdentiKey.

Faculty/Staff

IdentiKeys are created when an active position or supported Person of Interest (POI) record is identified in the university HRMS/Payroll system.  IdentiKeys are ready for activation within two to three business days from the point of data entry under normal conditions.** Then, you need to activate your IdentiKey. If you cannot activate your account, ask your payroll or appointment liaison to validate your HRMS entry.

** Because current identity is established based on enterprise record keeping, interruptions to enterprise services such as the HRMS/Payroll system, incomplete data, or unpredictable exceptions in data entry practice can result in failure to recognize IdentiKey eligibility.  Anytime an IdentiKey cannot be activated within three business days of entry by your payroll or faculty appointment liaison, please contact the help desk immediately to report the problem.

Learn more

Learn more about obtaining an Identikey for persons who are not identified as faculty, staff, or employees, such as retirees, volunteers, and other campus sponsored affiliates.

IdentiKey Manager Instructions/Tutorials 

You can find more information about managing your IdentiKey on the IdentiKey Manager page.

Gaining access to particular services, features of services, or facilities is a complicated process of understanding who you are (identity), what your roles are (enterprise system data, campus affiliation), and what the service or system authorizes you to do. If you are having trouble getting access to online services or facilities you believe you are eligible for, please contact the IT Service Center with as much of the following information on-hand as possible so that we can assist you in resolving the underlying issue:

  1. Any enterprise credentials you know such as student or employee ID numbers, etc.
  2. The campus and campus role (faculty, staff, student, Continuing Education student, retiree, alumni, volunteer, etc.) you are requesting service assistance for.
  3. The name and contact information for the payroll liaison, faculty/appointment liaison, or sponsoring authority for your role or position.
  4. Any related help ticket numbers.
  5. The name and/or URL of the service you are attempting to use.

OIT may direct you to University Information Systems support agents (or contact them on your behalf) for assistance resolving authorization and service problems with those systems.

Related Policies