Identity Management, Sponsored NetIDs

This page contains information for long-term guests and visitors to campus (i.e. people who are visiting for a month or more) including how to request an account.

What is a sponsored NetID?:

A sponsored NetID (also known as a long-term guest NetID) provides guests who will be on campus for at least one month (at the request of an academic department or unit) access to certain University resources, such as networking and library resources, and allows the department to request an optional Exchange email account.

A sponsored NetID is generally used for the following groups:

  •  Visiting Scholars
  •  People on approved leave of absence
  •  Vendors
  •  Other affiliates that work in some capacity with the University

Services available to individuals with a sponsored NetID:

Being sponsored by a department allows access to the following:

  • A unique NetID and password
  • IllinoisNet wireless
  • Campus VPN
  • Some library resources (more information: https://www.library.illinois.edu/borrowing/visitors-and-affiliates/) 
  • Exchange email - ONLY UPON REQUEST (if your department had requested it, see below for details)
  • U of I Box account - ONLY UPON REQUEST (if your department had requested it, see below for details)
  • ICS computer labs 
    • Instructional Computing Services (ICS) labs are available in several locations around campus

Please note: If you are unable to login to a particular application, that application may not be covered by a sponsored account.

Once your long-term guest NetID is created, you can access ICS labs and other services within 24 hours.

Note: The sponsored account must set a password and account recovery options at the NetID Center.

Optional services:

These services must be requested by the sponsor of the NetID. A business case should be provided as to why the service is necessary.

Microsoft Exchange Email
If your sponsoring department has arranged for you to have a Microsoft Exchange account for email and calendaring services, you will need to set a NetID password in order to access your mailbox. You can set your NetID password at the NetID Center and access your inbox at outlook.office365.com. Your email is your NetID@illinois.edu.

U of I Box Account
If a Box account was created for you, you can log in at https://uofi.box.com.

How to request a sponsored NetID:

Departments must request the sponsored NetID on behalf of the guest.

If the guest already has a NetID, their department can send a request to the Tech Services Help Desk for it to be reactivated (consult@illinois.edu or 217-244-7000). Please send this request using your Illinois email account or using your Skype for Business account. The request must include the following information:

  • Guest's UIN
  • Guest's full name
  • End date 
    • When the guest's visit is expected to end, up to 1 year in the future. This can be renewed.
    • Both the sponsor and the guest will receive an email warning prior to expiration.   
  • NetID of sponsor or proxy (if different from requester)
  • If the guest needs an Exchange inbox

If the guest does NOT have a NetID, their department must request one.

  1. Your guest must have a University Identification Number (UIN) before being given a guest NetID. In order to request a UIN, your department must fill out the Request for UIN Form: https:/treasury.uillinois.edu/userfiles/Servers/Server_338/file/form_UINRequest_2109.pdf
  2. Once the department sponsor fills out the UIN Request form, he/she should submit it to the i-card Programs Office for processing: https://icard.uillinois.edu/public/contact.cfm
  3. After your guest has received his or her UIN, the department must send a request to the Help Desk with the following information:
    • Guest's UIN
    • Guest's full name (first, middle, last, suffix - to match the name submitted to the i-card Office)
    • End date (when the guest's visit is expected to end, up to 1 year in the future. This can be renewed.)
    • NetID of sponsor or proxy (if different from requester)
    • If the guest needs an Exchange inbox
  4. The Help Desk will create the NetID and will contact you via PEAR (https://go.illinois.edu/pear) with your guest's NetID information, and how they can obtain their credentials.

How to renew a sponsorship:

Sponsored NetIDs can only be activated for up to a year at a time and will expire after that date (meaning the guest will lose access to all services). Both the guest and sponsor will receive an email reminder before the sponsored account is set to expire.
To request a renewal of a sponsored account, the sponsor should contact the Help Desk (217-244-7000 or consult@illinois.edu) from their university email or Skype account with the following information:
  • Guest's UIN and NetID
  • NetID of sponsor
  • End date
  • If they need their email account reactivated (FYI: Depending how long they have been deactivated, it might be empty)

Additional Help:

For additional assistance with guest NetIDs, contact the Technology Services Help Desk at (217) 244-7000 or consult@illinois.edu.