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Please note: There will soon be a change in access to UVA Academic Division buildings, residence halls, and dining facilities outside the scope of UVA Health.

Effective Jan. 1, 2026, your current UVA Health ID cards will no longer provide access to any UVA Academic Division facilities. After Jan. 1, UVA Health staff, faculty, and students will have to use either the new UVA Mobile ID Wallet or a physical UVA Academic ID card to access UVA Academic Division buildings, dining halls, residence halls, meal plans, and/or CavCash. The UVA Mobile ID Wallet became available to the entire UVA community in August, as part of the Academic Division’s ongoing efforts to enhance security and streamline access management across Grounds.

Please find the situation below that best applies to you, as a UVA Health employee/student: 

1. I already have a physical UVA Academic ID card

• You can keep using it, unless you want to switch to the Mobile ID Wallet.
• Switching to the Mobile ID Wallet is optional and free. The Mobile ID Wallet works directly from your mobile device (phone or smartwatch). You don’t need to unlock your phone or open an app - just hold your mobile device near the reader, and access is granted instantly.
• If you activate the Mobile ID Wallet, your physical Academic ID Card will stop working right away. Your UVA Health ID Card is not impacted by the Mobile ID Wallet.
• If you want to keep using your UVA Academic ID Card, then you will need to visit the Cavalier Card Office or visit a mobile site to have the existing Academic ID Card encoded to meet the UVA secure credential upgrades. The locations and dates for the mobile sites can be found here: https://idoffice.virginia.edu/academic-id-card-secure-encoding
• You’ll keep using your UVA Health ID for Health facilities and either your Mobile ID Wallet or physical Academic ID Card for Academic Division access.

2. I already use the UVA Mobile ID Wallet

• You don’t need to do anything.
• You will keep using your UVA Health ID for Health facilities and your Mobile ID Wallet for Academic Division access.

3. I only have a UVA Health ID (no Academic ID card)

• After Jan. 1, 2026, your Health ID will no longer work for Academic Division access.
• Check if you have a photo in the Academic ID system.
• Log into Atrium Connect.  
• If your photo does not display, follow the prompts to upload a government-issued ID and photo. 
• Once you receive email confirmation that your photo has been approved, choose one of these options:
  1. Get the UVA Mobile ID Wallet: Fast, free, and digital. Activate it in three easy steps here: Mobile ID Wallet.
  2. Apply for a physical UVA Academic ID card: You will need to upload a photo because the Health and Academic ID systems are separate. 

4. I don’t need access to any UVA Academic Division facilities, meal plans, or CavCash. 

• You do not need to do anything different or new. You will still use your physical UVA Health ID just as you currently do for access to UVA Health facilities.

What About My UVA Health ID? Keep it! You will still use your UVA Health ID for access to Health facilities. For Academic Division facilities, you’ll need either the Mobile ID Wallet or a physical UVA Academic ID card.

Thank you for your understanding and patience with this change as UVA works to prioritize both security and operational efficiency between the Academic Division and UVA Health. If you have any questions or need assistance with transitioning to the Mobile ID Wallet or re-encoding your existing Academic Division ID card, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Cavalier Card Office.