Related content

• Medical ID
• Core Services

Other University Identifiers

What are they?

Information systems need a way to identify individual users uniquely.  Unfortunately, the name you use to interact with other humans is not necessarily unique, even in its full legal form. 

Accordingly, all information systems assign "user IDs" -- also known as usernames, logon IDs, etc.

These IDs perform the same function in the "virtual" world that your Security ID card / Access badge does in the physical world.  It establishes who you are and what you have access to. 

Confirming that you are really you requires specification not only of the user ID, but of a password, PIN, or other factor (like biometrics) associated with it.  In computer-speak, this is called "knowledge-based authentication" because it is based on something that only you know. 

Because of their use in authentication, it is important that you take care to disclose your IDs only when necessary.  NEVER disclose your password to anyone.  Note that the Information Technology department will never ask you to disclose your password.

What IDs are used at the University?

While some of our information systems and processes use identifiers that apply only to them, most applications at UM rely on one of the following.  Some you may already know, if you've gotten far enough to be reading this page.  Others may be new to you.

CaneID

The CaneID and an associated password is used for access to many UM systems managed by UM/Coral Gables Information Technology.   The most important of these is myUM, an information portal that provides access to a range of personal data about and for you.

The CaneID Authentication Service (CAS) is an associated login service that allows you to access multiple password-protected Web services after logging in using your CaneID and password. 

CaneIDs are usually initial(s) plus last name, with characters added as necessary to make the ID unique -- for example, "jdoe", "tsmith" but without the quotes.  (Students' CaneIDs have been identical to the C-number, discussed next, but are now switching to an initial+name format.)

NOTE: CaneIDs perform a similar function to the Medical ID discussed below, in that they provide access to a range of information services.  But though your CaneID may look like (or even be identical to) your Medical ID, it is a different user ID with a different associated password.

Your initial CaneID is created for you when you begin as an employee or student.  (You have the ability to change it, as long as you pick something that no one else is using.)

To find your CaneID go to http://myum.miami.edu/, the MyUM login page, and click on the "First time using CaneID" link.   You will be asked to provide your SSN or C-number, and your birth date to authenticate your identity.

The system will then lead you through the steps to set a password for the CaneID, and also offer you the opportunity to change the ID to a different set of characters.  

C-number

Every employee and student is assigned a unique C-number.  It consists of the letter "C" followed by eight digits.   For example, C12345678.  You can get your C-number from MyUM.  Click on the "View UM ID number" link. 

(In some cases, your C-number is also printed on your physical ID badge.  This is yet another reasons why it is critical to protect your physical ID badge, and file a report immediately with the Department of Security if you lose it.)

For privacy reasons, C-numbers are used instead of Social Security Numbers (SSN) on most UM forms.  Indeed, it's University policy not to use SSN unless required by law.   A few applications use the C-number as a user ID (e.g., ULearn). 

You will be using your C-number constantly for UM administrative functions, so you might as well get started on memorizing it.  (Note that while CaneIDs may be changed, C-numbers may not.  Yours will be the same for as long as you are associated with the University.)

Preferred E-mail address

One of the things you can do in MyUM is "register" your preferred email address.  Which email address?  Whichever one you want to designate as the destination for official UM correspondence.

You may have one or more email accounts and associated email addresses on University systems.   For example, on the Medical campus, Exchange addresses are typically of the form name@med.miami.edu.  (The "name" is often, but not always, in the same form as your Medical ID.)

For security reasons, we recommend you register your Exchange email account as preferred, rather than one you may have from an outside account from Yahoo, MSN or some other Internet Service Provider.  But do designate something.  Otherwise you will miss out on critical correspondence.

Global Email Alias

Every employee and student is given a global email alias that allows you to give out an unchanging address -- name@miami.edu for employees, name@umiami.edu for students -- which will forward to to whichever email system is your current preferred email address.

You can find your assigned global email address in MyUM.  The "name" in the alias usually has a format similar to CaneIDs.   (Unlike CaneIDs, your global email addresses cannot be changed.  Gables IT will sometimes honor special requests, but the change must be made by them.)  

When you change email accounts, and have a new preference for where to receive email, you need only change the preferred email address. 

NOTE: You don't use the global email alias to log in to your email systems.  It's an identifier that you give to others so that they can always reach you with the same email address.  It's the address you could put on your business cards, for example.

A few applications use the global email alias as a user-ID (e.g., Blackboard).

Medical ID

The Medical domain user ID -- or Medical ID for short -- is used to authenticate to the Medical campus network and to many information applications on that network.   

Like CaneIDs, Medical IDs are usually first initial plus last name (e.g., "jgarcia" but without the quotes).  Numbers are added at the end if necessary to make the ID unique (e.g., "jgarcia2"). 

NOTE: Though it may look like (or even be identical to) the CaneID, this is a different ID with a different associated password

Medical IDs are obtained via the Medical Information Technology Help Desk, typically by a request from an employee's supervisor or an authorized representative of a student's academic department. 

You can read more about Medical IDs here.

Telephone number and address

We know you know what these are.  But you have "ID" tasks related to them too.

In order to use the University's Communite voicemail system fully, you will have to register your assigned telephone number, and set a passcode for the voicemail system.   Click on the "Update Voicemail Information" link in MyUM.

When you visit MyUM you should also check to be sure your contact information, such as your home and office address, is up to date.  Click on the "Verify Personal Information" link.

Social Security Number (SSN)

We know you know what this is too.  We just want to remind you that for security reasons the SSN is generally not used for UM transactions and forms, except those that legally require it.  If you need to uniquely identify a student or employee, get the C-number.

Specialized user-IDs

As we noted at the beginning, some information systems require a unique user-ID and password combination as a security measure.   Typically, these are systems that contain particularly sensitive financial, health or other data.

Issuance of such IDs is usually contingent on completing training on the system in question. 

Protecting Your IDs

Do not give out your identifiers to anyone, unless you are certain of that person's identity and also that the reasons for requesting the ID are legitimate.

Rarely if ever should you send an identifier or associated password through email.  Email is not generally a sufficiently secure medium for such exchanges.