Claim Your CNetID


This guide will help you claim your CNetID, which along with the CNetID password that you establish, will provide you access to the services and systems that you may use.

CNetID Purpose

A CNetID is the username and unique identifier available to all University faculty, students, and staff. You use your CNetID to access most online services at UChicago. These services include:

Note: Your email address at the University contains your CNetID. When you create your CNetID, you are automatically granted access to all the central University services to which you are eligible. For most people, including faculty, other academic appointees, students, and staff members, an email account is also created. The email address takes the format CNetID@uchicago.edu.

Tip: Be sure to choose a CNetID that is appropriate to share professionally and that you like because your CNetID can't be changed. Your CNetID is the prefix of your email address (CNetID@uchicago.edu) as well as your login to most services. Choose a CNetID that you will be glad to have in print or on your resume, something like tchampion@uchicago.edu instead of thechamp@uchicago.edu.

Create Your CNetID

  1. Visit the CNetID Overview article and click Create your CNetID and Password in the How to Request this Service section.
    Note: Please read the instructions carefully and ensure that you have everything necessary to complete your CNetID creation.
  2. Select the checkbox to confirm you have read and accepted the Policy on Information Technology Use and Access, then click Next.
    Create CNET ID terms & conditions
  3. Enter your birth month, day, and four-digit year.
  4. Enter your ID Number. You may use your ChicagoID, social security number, Student ID, Alumni ID, or University of Chicago ISO number.
    1. ChicagoID: An eight-digit number followed by a letter. It is printed on the back of your UChicago Card. The ChicagoID is used in replacement of your social security number (SSN) in systems that once required SSN data.
    2. Alumni ID: Alumni who graduated before 1980 will need to use this in place of their Social Security Number. If you have problems finding your Alumni ID, call 877.292.3945, or email the Alumni Office at alumni-support@uchicago.edu.

      Tip: If you receive and keep copies of The University of Chicago Magazine, your Alumni ID can be found on the address label.
    3. University of Chicago ISO number: The 16-digit number printed on your University of Chicago ID card.
  5. Select Next.
  6. Select your desired CNetID from the suggestions listed or check the availability of other options using the Other field. Click Next to continue.
    Radio buttons for CNetID suggestions
    Note: Your CNetID must begin with a letter and can contain only letters and digits. It can be 3-16 characters long.
  7. Press Next to confirm your desired CNetID.
    CNetID confirmation page
    Now you are ready to complete the next portion of the CNetID claiming process. Every CNetID user is required to register a device (i.e., mobile phone, tablet, landline) for two-factor authentication (2FA). More information about 2FA is available from the 2FA site, Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) You are strongly encouraged to register at least two devices for two-factor authentication.
  8. Click Start Setup.
  9. Choose an option for 2FA registration, then click Next.
    2FA Registration Selection
  10. Select your device (i.e., mobile, tablet, hardware token), then click on Continue.
    Note: It is highly recommended to register your mobile phone. If you register your mobile phone or your tablet, the process will direct you to install the Duo Mobile. A token requires the use of a hardware token acquired at the ID & Privileges Office prior to the start of the claims process.
    2FA Device Registration
    Now that you've registered your 2FA device(s), you will have to download and install the DUO Mobile app for your operating system (i.e., iOS, Android, Windows) in order to use 2FA with your device(s).
  11. Install DUO Mobile. After the installation is finished, select I Have Duo Mobile.
    Instructions to install Duo Mobile for Android
  12. Use your phone or device's camera to scan your QR code. Once the code is scanned via Duo Mobile app, registration for 2FA will be completed automatically.
    Duo Mobile activation page
    If your device is not equipped with a camera, the activation link will be sent to you via email.
  13. After you activate Duo, the new device will be displayed on the 2FA window on the screen. You will receive these options to use to log in: Ask me to choose an authentication method, Automatically send this device a Duo Push, or Automatically call this device. Once you have finalized your preferences, you will be walked through a login process using your newly registered device.
    Device selection for Duo authentication
  14. Upon login, you may choose to automatically receive a Duo Push, enter a passcode, or receive a call to complete the 2FA process. Duo Push is the recommended (and easiest) option.
  15. Select a question from the drop-down list and provide the answer in the Security Answer text field. Select Next to continue.
    Note: If you ever lose your password, you will be required to answer your secret question-answer pair that you set up when you claimed your CNetID in order to recover your account. You can use this question-answer pair to reset your password whenever you choose. You should definitely reset your password immediately if you believe your current password is compromised.
    Dropdown menu of questions for question/answer set
  16. Create a password or passphrase, confirm your password or passphrase, then click Next to continue.
    Password tips and password input boxes
    Note: If you are eligible to use the University's email service, your Office 365 account will be created and you will be directed to the next step.

    If you are not eligible to use the email service, you will select your email forwarding option here. Please enter the email address you want to use in the blank. Even if you forward your email to another service (such as a departmental email account), you will receive all official University communication through your CNetID@uchicago.edu address. You must confirm before you proceed to the next step.

    See the article Email Forwarding Overview, section Email Settings, for more information about email and forwarding services.
    Text input box for email address
    Note: If you choose to forward your email, an additional request to confirm email forwarding appears.
  17. Select Next to allow provisioning to finish. WARNING: Please do not close the page before the provisioning is complete or you may need to go through some part of the claims process again.
    Account Provisioning message and next button
  18. Next, you will see a confirmation screen that includes a series of helpful links to information regarding the use of your CNetID. Note: Some of the services that are generated when you claim your CNetID take time to provision. The confirmation screen will give you an idea of how long to expect before being able to use all your services.

CAUTION:

If you handle sensitive information, such as student information, patient information, human resource information, or grant data, you must not forward these communications to a non-University service. You may forward to a departmental service. For more information about the University's policy on the treatment of confidential information, see section U601 of the Personnel Policy.