What Is My StarID Used For?

Introduction

Your StarID is a system-wide username and password provided by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system. At St. Cloud State University, it serves as your unique login for accessing a wide range of campus and online services.  It follows a consistent format to ensure privacy, prevent duplication, and support system-wide integration.

All students, faculty, and staff must activate their StarID to access university systems. 

Instructions

With your StarID, you can access:

  • Office 365 and your SCSU email account
  • Campus Wi-Fi (HuskyNet Secure)
  • Wired network access for laptops
  • Campus computers, software, printers, and scanners
  • Online courses via D2L Brightspace
  • Zoom Account
  • Supplemental Account login
  • Cayosoft Account login

What Does a StarID Look Like?

A typical StarID looks like this: ab1234cd
It consists of:

  • 2 letters
  • 4 numbers
  • 2 letters

This format was chosen after analyzing username needs across the entire Minnesota State system.

Why This Format?

  • Privacy Protection: StarIDs don’t include names or personal info, helping meet privacy standards like FERPA and HIPAA.
  • No Duplicates: Unlike names or email addresses, StarIDs are never reused or reassigned.
  • Consistency Across Institutions: Since students and staff may be affiliated with multiple campuses, a neutral, system-wide ID avoids conflicts.
  • Name Changes Don’t Affect It: Your StarID stays the same even if your name changes.
  • Legacy System Compatibility: The 8-character format works well with older systems.
  • Easier to Remember: Shorter, consistent IDs are easier to recall than longer or variable ones.

Once assigned, your StarID is yours for life within the Minnesota State system.


For more details, visit: starid.minnstate.edu/help

 

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