MEMORANDUM
TO:
All Faculty and Staff
FROM:
Mark B. Rosenberg, Provost & Executive Vice President
SUBJECT:
Panther ID Distribution to Students - We need your assistance
DATE:
February 6, 2004
On February 9, the University will begin issuing new identification numbers-Panther ID-to all current
FIU students. This new Panther ID will be delivered to each student's FIU e-mail account
(webmail.fiu.edu). The Panther ID will become the primary form of identification for each student,
gradually replacing the student's current ID number. Panther ID will be used to access student
information in the University's student administrative systems. Given the importance of this milestone
and the significant impact it will have on how students transact business with the University, I am
requesting your assistance in communicating this message to our students.
Panther IDs will be distributed via FIU e-mail only and I believe faculty and staff can serve as the best
avenue for communicating to students that they must access their FIU e-mail accounts and they must
begin using their Panther ID. We have taken necessary steps to ensure that every FIU student has an FIU
e-mail account and that we have the institutional capacity to handle the volume of usage. Since many of
our students forward their FIU e-mail to external service providers, they will be responsible for keeping
their external e-mail accounts up-to- date to ensure receipt of important University electronic messages.
Use of the Panther ID is a major component of the implementation of PantherSoft, the University's new,
web-based student and administrative computer system. This new system will come into place gradually
over the next year and will be used for all student transactions by the end of Summer 2004. PantherSoft
will integrate the student's information and will allow students to access their records online at anytime,
from anywhere, further enhancing self-service capabilities.
A comprehensive student awareness campaign announcing these changes has been underway, but we
need the support of faculty and staff to ensure a successful transition for our students. Please
communicate this important message to our students by making repeated announcements in your classes
and in any other forums in which you interact with students. Please visit http://panthersoft.fiu.edu to
access more detailed information about the PantherSoft Project. Thank you for supporting this effort.
Office of the Provost
University Park . North Miami, FL 33199 . Tel 305-348-2151 . Fax 305-348-2994 . www.fiu.edu
Florida International University is an Equal Opportunity/Access Employer and Institution . TDD via FRS 1-800-955-8771