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What is the One Card?

The One Card is many things in one: your university ID, your way to access campus facilities, and a convenient way to dine on campus and a range of other services. 

Show or swipe the One Card to enter your residence hall or office, use a meal plan, check out books at Bender Library, do laundry, print papers, make copies, use the fitness center, and access many other services. If you load it with EagleBucks, you can even use it at many off-campus restaurants and businesses around DC.

How to Get a One Card

You'll get your One Card once you are granted status as a student, staff, or faculty member.

  • Students: Please upload a photo before the deadline, if possible, to avoid lines. Your One Card will be distributed during Move-in (for residential students); during orientation sessions; or can be picked up at the One Card office (MGC 123).
  • Faculty, staff, guests, alumni, contractors: See details below on how to get your university ID and what it includes.
  • If you have dual status (such as staff and student), your card will reflect your primary status. You can only have a single One Card at a time.

When you pick up your One Card, you must present one of the following forms of photo identification: (1) valid driver's license, (2) valid passport, or (3) valid government-issued photo identification,

One Card Online Photo Submission

Visit the One Card Photo Submission page on the myAU Portal and follow the instructions to upload your photo. Please submit by the deadline to avoid lines.

Online photo submissions will continue to be received on a rolling basis following the add/drop periods in fall and spring semesters. If you receive errors uploading your photo, contact the IT Help Desk for 24/7 support at 202-885-2550.

Please see One Card policies for photo-related permissions.

Photo Requirements

Do

  • Do use a light, solid white, or blue colored background
  • Do submit a color photo
  • Do submit a photo that is at least 300 x 375 pixels

Don't

  • Don't include personal belongings, other people, pets, silly faces, or hands
  • Don't look away from the camera or obscure a front view of your full face and shoulders
  • Don't wear sunglasses or hats (except for religious head coverings)

For Faculty, Staff, and Others

New staff members will receive their One Card during New Hire Orientation. 

Staff may also receive a One Card before New Hire Orientation once their official employment date starts. 

Their supervisor must request their building access clearances by contacting University Police at access@american.edu.

New faculty may receive a One Card once they are granted status as a current faculty member. New adjunct faculty members may have their photo taken by the One Card & Dining Services office during their orientation. 

Their supervisor must request building access clearances by contacting University Police at access@american.edu.

Alumni One Card

Alumni are eligible for an Alumni One Card that grants:

  • lifetime borrowing privileges in Bender Library
  • a 10% discount at the Campus Store
  • access to Career Services
  • access to the Alumni Audit Program
  • and much more!

Alumni One Cards do not include access to buildings.

Alumni One Cards are free to all alumni who have completed a degree or non-degree program. Replacements for lost or stolen cards follow our replacement guidelines and incur a $25 fee to be paid by credit card.

Alumni residing in the continental United States may have their Alumni One Card mailed to their current mailing address free of charge. We are unable to mail internationally.  

To request your card, please contact us at idcards@american.edu and include the following information:

  1. Your legal first and last names
  2. AU ID number
  3. Date of birth
  4. Graduating class year
  5. Current mailing address
  6. A photo of you taken in the last year that meets our requirements

Contractors may receive a One Card only at the request of an authorizing AU employee. The employee must be the university point of contact for the contractor's company. The AU employee must email idcards@american.edu from their AU email account and include the following information:

  1. The contractor's legal first and last names
  2. The contractor's company name
  3. The contract's expiration date, which will serve as the card's expiration date

All building access requests must be sent to University Police at access@american.edu by the authorizing AU employee.

Guests and unpaid interns not currently affiliated with the university may receive a One Card only at the request of an authorizing AU staff or faculty member. The AU staff or faculty member must be the guest or intern's supervisor. The supervisor must email idcards@american.edu from their AU email account and include the following information:

  1. The cardholder's legal first and last names
  2. The cardholder's department and position title
  3. The cardholder's intended guest/intern expiration date

All building access requests must be sent to University Police at access@american.edu by the intern or guest's supervisor.