HawkCard Office

The first HawkCard is free to all new students, faculty and staff.

The process to obtain your HawkCard will begin upon official registration.

Staff/Faculty, will receive their HawkCard when they stop by the HawkCard Office to have their picture taken. We recommend that all staff call the office first to make sure that they are in our system.

Once you sign up for SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration), you’ll receive an email from the HawkCard Office to your UWW email 1–2 weeks before your SOAR date with a personalized link to the HawkCard Online Photo Portal.

Through this portal, you’ll upload two photos:

• A front-facing selfie for your HawkCard photo.
• A photo of the front of a government-issued ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID) to verify your identity.

Tip: Don’t share your personalized link.

After your photo is approved:

• You’ll receive a confirmation email.
• Your HawkCard will be ready for pickup at the HawkCard Office (UC 250) during SOAR.

Online Students

If you’re a student attending UW-Whitewater fully online, please email your student ID number, address, and the two photos (selfie and ID) to hawkcard@uww.edu and your HawkCard will be mailed to you.

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Photo Tips & Criteria

• Photos cannot be in “live” mode.
• File size must be between 300 KB and 2 MB.
• Crop your photo from just above your head to your collarbone.
• Avoid filters — they may cause the photo to be rejected or too large.

Do's & Don't's

Do

Don't 

• University ID Card (Proof of association with the University)
• Residence Hall Access Card
• Meal Plan/Dining Dollar Card
• Purple Point Debit Card
• University Library Card
• Textbook Rental Card
• Admission to UWW Athletic Events
• UWW Fitness Center ID Card

Lost Cards:
If you lose your HawkCard, contact the HawkCard Office at (262) 472-1437 or visit the University Center, Room 250, to suspend activity.
You can also suspend your card anytime through your Online HawkCard Office (Transact eAccounts) account — click on “Card Services” after logging in.
Cardholders must request reactivation in person at the HawkCard Office.

Replacement Cards:
Replacement cards are issued at no charge in the following cases:

• Name change (verified through Registrars/WINS)
• Change in university status (e.g., student → staff)
• Defective card (determined by HawkCard Office staff)

All other replacements incur a $25 replacement fee.

Non-Functioning Cards:
If your HawkCard isn’t working for door access, meal plans..etc bring it to the HawkCard Office for testing.
Sometimes the chip or magnetic stripe can become damaged or corrupt. Staff will test your card and determine whether a replacement fee applies.

Problems Outside of HawkCard Office Hours:

If you lose your HawkCard or it stops working outside of HawkCard Office hours, visit Information Services on the main level of the University Center during their open hours to request a temporary meal card. This will allow you to continue using your meal plan until the HawkCard Office reopens. For residence hall access, contact the Goodhue front desk for assistance.

Expiration:
The expiration date at the bottom of your HawkCard applies only to its use as a Voter ID. Your HawkCard itself does not expire while you are enrolled at UW–Whitewater.

The technology that makes your HawkCard work includes an antenna, electronic chip, and magnetic stripe. There are three primary reasons for your HawkCard to stop working on electronically controlled doors:

• Damage to the antenna or to the bond between the chip and the antenna.
• Exposing the card to electro static discharge (ESD) can damage the integrated circuit.
• Strong magnetic fields can wipe out the programming on the card's chip.

Your HawkCard is intended to be used strictly for access control and identification purposes, including meal plans, Purple Points and other specific uses at UWW. When HawkCards fail, it is frequently the result of unintentional abuse by the card holder. Below is a list of common actions that damage a card:

• Machine washing the card by accident when it is forgotten in a pocket of a shirt or pair of pants.
• Exposing the card to extreme heat (direct sunlight on the dash of your car, clothes dryer, microwave or iron).
• Punching a hole or slot in the card.
• Using the card as an ice scraper for the windows of your vehicle.
• Bending, twisting or crimping the card.
• Storing your HawkCard in your phone case
• Exposing the card to chemicals including organic solvents, thinners, mineral spirits, alcohol, isopropyl, ethanol or methyl.

Voter ID HawkCards provide out-of-state students with the ability to register and vote in Wisconsin.

Most UW-Whitewater students have a Wisconsin ID or driver’s license, which can serve the same purpose. The expiration date of HawkCard Voter ID card does not impact the functionality of the HawkCard in any capacity. The HawkCard itself never expires!

For more information on voting, please reference:

https://www.uww.edu/vote

https://myvote.wi.gov

The HawkCard photo ID card is the property of UW-Whitewater, is non-transferable, and does not guarantee current university status. Fraudulent use or reproduction of a UW-Whitewater ID card violates Wisconsin criminal statutes and will be referred for prosecution.