UMass Amherst UCard Office

Starting May 25th, students will need to have an approved UCard photo in SPIRE before they are allowed to sign their housing contracts.  

To submit a UCard photo, please go to https://www.umass.edu/ucard/content/ucard-photo-upload-online-photo-submission.

To find out if you already have an approved UCard photo:

• Log in to SPIRE
• Go to Main Menu -> My Personal Information -> UCard Information

If you see your photo there, you are all set. 

(Please note that it can take between 1-2 hours and 1 business day between your photo being approved, and it showing up in SPIRE.  If you don't see it in SPIRE after one business day, please contact the UCard Office.)

The UCard online photo submission page is now available to all UMass students receiving their first UCards!  

• Due to the continuing COVID situation, the UCard Office is only accepting UCard photos via online photo submission, and does not anticipate taking photos at the UCard Office during either the summer or fall of 2021.
• Unlike years past, the UCard Office will be mailing UCards to incoming students.  The cards will be mailed to students' U.S. permanent addresses as recorded in SPIRE prior to their arrival on campus. Cards will not be mailed to students with permanent residences outside the U.S. These international students will receive their UCards when the come to campus in the fall.  Information as to where cards can be picked up will be announced in early August.
• To ensure enough time to mail the cards, the deadline for photo submission is July 5th, 2021.  
• Starting May 25th, 2021, having an approved photo in SPIRE will be a requirement to sign student housing contracts, so students should submit their photos as soon as possible, and not wait until the July 5th deadline.

Due to the COVID-19 situation, there were a significant number of Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 students who were not able to come to campus to pick up their UCards.

• Those active students who submitted approved UCard photos and whose permanent address is in the United States will have their UCards mailed to their permanent addresses over the summer, prior to their arrival on campus in the fall.
• Those active students who submitted approved UCard photos and whose permanent address is outside the United States will pick up their cards when they arrive on campus in the fall
• There are still approximately 350 "returning" students who have not submitted approved UCard photos yet.  These students should upload their UCard photos as soon as possible (and no later than July 5th).

If you are unsure as to whether or not you have an approved UCard photo, log in to SPIRE, and go to:

• Main Menu -> My Personal Information -> UCard Information

If you have an approved photo, you should see it there.  (Please note that it can take up to 2 hours after a photo has been approved before it shows up in SPIRE.)

The UCard Office is operating under normal Summer 2021 business hours:

• Phone and Email Support:  Monday - Friday, 08:30am - 05:00pm
   
• Appointments to pickup cards:  Monday - Friday, 10:00am - 03:00pm
   
• Please do not simply show up at the UCard Office without an appointment.  We will not be able to assist you, and you may put other customers at greater risk as we strive to maintain social distancing.

 
Self-Support Options (24 x 7):

• If you are getting your first UCard, you can submit your UCard Photo at https://www.umass.edu/ucard/content/ucard-photo-upload-online-photo-submission.
   
• If you need a replacement UCard, please see https://www.umass.edu/ucard/content/getting-replacement-card-during-covid-19.
   
• Once your photo is approved, or after you have submitted a replacement request, make sure that you have booked an appointment to pick up your UCard at https://www.umass.edu/ucard/content/scheduling-appointment-pick-your-card-2.

If you are using a mobile phone or tablet to access GET, GET will automatically send you to a mobile-friendly version of the web site. 

However if you are using an iOS or Android device, you should download and install the free iOS app or download and install the free Android app for even better performance and ease of use.

In addition to all the features found at the GET web site, the GET app also included the GetMyID functionality which allows a cardholder to display their UCard photo and id on their phone or other mobile device.

To learn more about GET, please see these short movies about How to Deposit Using GET and The GET Experience!