This article will guide incoming students through the process of submitting a photo for their Wildcat ID Card using the Atrium system, in preparation for Summer Orientation.

Quick Links: | Receiving Your Wildcat ID Card | Photo Criteria | Upload a Photo for Summer Orientation |

Welcome to Chico State, Wildcat! 

This article is only for New Fall 2025 Students. If you are not a new student, see the main Wildcat ID Card Article.

Receiving Your Wildcat ID Card

Who is this article for?

This article is intended only for new students admitted for Fall 2025.

Chico State is currently transitioning from the legacy CSGold system to the new Atrium platform for Wildcat ID Card photo submission and printing. As part of this early rollout, only new Fall 2025 students have access to Atrium. The rest of the campus community, including current students, staff, and faculty, will transition to the new system later this summer.

How do I get my Wildcat ID Card?

As a new Fall 2025 student, you will use the new Atrium system to upload your photo for your Wildcat ID Card. 

Upload your photo as soon as possible. If your photo is not submitted in time, you may not receive your Wildcat ID Card during orientation and will need to wait until the Fall semester begins. During orientation, your Wildcat ID Card will be printed and ready for pickup during the lunch session, assuming your photo has been approved in advance.

Wildcat ID Card Photo Criteria 

All submitted photos are subject to approval by the Wildcat ID Card Office. If your image is distorted, low quality, filtered, or otherwise does not meet the Photo Criteria, it may be rejected. 
 
To ensure accurate identification, you may be asked to submit a new photo or take one in person if your uploaded image isn’t a clear and current representation of you.

Appropriate: 

• Framing: 
  • Shoulders-up, passport-style, facing straight at the camera
  • Extra space around your head (e.g., no cropped-off forehead)
  • Straight face or natural smile is okay
• Attire: 
  • Clothing is required (no shirtless or swimsuits)
  • Religious headwear is allowed (e.g., hijabs, turbans, kippahs)
• Composition: 
  • Center yourself in the frame with space on all sides
  • No tilted or angled heads
  • Use a solid background (your background will be automatically replaced with blue when uploaded)
• Technical Specifications: 
  • MUST be a JPEG (.jpeg) file type.
  • Minimum size: 300 x 400 pixels
  • Maximum size: 1500 x 2000 pixels
  • File size must be smaller than 5 MB (5000 KB)
  • Resolution at least 72 dpi 

Pro Tip: Use your Chico State ChatGPT Edu account to have AI help you resize or convert your image to meet the requirements. Just copy and paste the technical specifications above, upload your photo, and ask ChatGPT to check or adjust it for you. 

Approved Wildcat ID Card Photo

The image below is a good example of an ideal Wildcat ID Card photo.

Inappropriate: 

• Framing: 
  • No tilted or angled heads
  • No turned shoulders, side views, etc.
  • No distracting backgrounds (e.g., in a car, forest, etc.)
• Attire: 
  • No hats, baseball caps, scarves, headphones, AirPods, sunglasses, or face masks
    • Religious headwear is allowed (e.g., hijabs, turbans, kippahs)
• Composition: 
  • No filters, editing tools, or photo enhancements (e.g., Snapchat or Instagram filters, Photoshop, etc.)
  • No other people, pets, or props
  • No scans or photos of official IDs (e.g., driver’s license, passport)
  • No funny faces, exaggerated expressions, or cropped-off features

Upload a Wildcat ID Card Photo

This article is only for New Fall 2025 Students. If you are not a new student, see the main Wildcat ID Card Article.

Uploading an Image

1. Go to the Atrium ID Card System and click Student & Staff Login on the left. 
   • If you are unable to sign in, please contact the Wildcat ID Card Office. 
2. Sign in with your Chico State username and password. Approve your login with Duo.
3. On the left, click Upload Your Photo. 
   
    
4. Read the Photo Criteria listed on the page. It should align with the criteria above. 
5. Click Choose File, select an image, and click Upload Photo.  

If there’s an issue with your file, you’ll receive an "ERROR" message. Please fix the issues or choose a different photo, and try again. If issues persist, contact the Wildcat ID Card Office.

Cropping and Adjusting the Image

1. After uploading, you will have the option to crop your image and preview the image with the blue background.
   • The background may not be perfectly smooth. That is okay. 
2. Use the plus (+) and minus (-) icons to crop your photo. You can drag or rotate the image to center your face. 
   
3. Click Save Photo once you are satisfied with the image. Alternatively, click Delete Photo if you would like to select a different image. 
4. Click Confirm. You should see a confirmation message when your photo is sent for review. 

All submitted photos are subject to approval by the Wildcat ID Card Office. If your image is distorted, low quality, filtered, or otherwise does not meet the Photo Criteria, it may be rejected. 

After Uploading Your Photo

Once your image has been uploaded, please give our Wildcat ID Card team up to 2 business days to process your photo. You can check your photo status under the Upload Your Photo tab in Atrium. You can also contact the Wildcat ID Card Office for questions or to verify your photo status. 

If your image is approved, you should see it displayed when you click Display Virtual ID.

If your image is rejected, you’ll be notified and can upload another image using the instructions above. You can submit a new photo as often as necessary. Note that after your initial Wildcat ID Card is printed, you will have to pay a fee to get a new card.  

 Still need help? Contact the Wildcat ID Card Office for further assistance.
  
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