University Park, Pa. -- As the semester winds down, Information Technology Services reminds students that eLion will be offline beginning Dec. 19 while the University's Social Security Number (SSN)-to-PSU ID conversion takes place. Also, the new id+ cards -- which all students should have been picked up by now -- will become active on Dec. 20 in most card-reading systems.
eLion Interruption Alert
To facilitate Penn State's SSN-to-PSU ID conversion, several of the University's administrative information systems, including eLion, will be taken offline for a number of days, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 19. ANGEL and e-mail availability will not be affected. The new PSU ID is being implemented to help protect students, faculty and staff from dangers related to the surge in national identity theft crime.
The interruption affects both the eLion grade entry by faculty and grade inquiry by students.
SSN Project Team manager Kathy Plavko advises students to check the SSN Project Web site at http://ais.its.psu.edu/ssn/ to see when eLion becomes available again on or after Dec. 26. Once eLion comes back online, grade reporting will resume as normal -- faculty will be able to complete the grading process and students will be able to view the rest of their course grades, Plavko added.
New Penn State id+ Cards
All students, faculty and staff should have picked up their new id+ cards by now since the new cards will become active on Dec. 20 in most card-reading systems. There is no charge for the new card, and it can be picked up at each campus id+ card office. Individuals who will be using their cards on campus Dec. 20-31 in card-reading systems for access to residence halls or offices will need to carry both the old and new id+ cards to ensure access.
In January, after determining that the new id+ card is working in Penn State's card-reading systems, students, staff and faculty are urged to destroy their old id+ card by cutting it up or shredding it. This will ensure that the card's embedded Social Security number information can't be used by anyone with malicious or criminal intent.
For more information about Penn State's SSN conversion, go to http://ais.its.psu.edu/ssn/