Lourdes Serna's new student ID number has done more than protect her identity. It changed her status to being an unregistered student, even though she is currently registered for three classes.

Serna (graduate-chemical engineering), of Spain, is one of about 200 students whose new student ID came with a new user ID, as well.

"During Christmas I didn't check my account, so [last] Monday I tried to access eLion, and it wasn't possible," she said. "Actually, I could log in on ANGEL [Course Management System], but the course wouldn't appear, so I thought there was a problem with my registration."

There were about 100,000 student IDs that were converted, about 200 of which have been identified as having some sort of problem, Robin Anderson, Information Technology Services (ITS) director of customer communications, said.

"Anytime there's a big change you try to anticipate all possible problems, and this is just one of the ones that just happened," she said.

Two problems have emerged with the student ID number conversion.

Some students had a temporary Social Security number assigned to them. When they received a permanent Social Security number, the information was updated, Anderson said, so some students, mainly international students, have duplicate student ID numbers. The ID office is currently merging those numbers to rectify the problem, she said.

There are also students who have been assigned multiple user IDs, disabling their access to ANGEL and eLion. Some students are experiencing both problems.

"We're in the process of putting every resource that we can to getting this solved," she said. "What we are doing is working on getting the access account problem fixed, as well as getting the multiple Penn State IDs fixed."

The student ID office is working with the ITS office to ensure the problem is resolved, Anderson said.

Kathy Beck, staff assistant for the computer office, said the office has been very busy in trying to rectify this problem.

"As these merges are being done, it's taking a while for those changes to filter around to all the system," she said.

During the drop/add period, which ends tomorrow, students who are experiencing a problem with accessing their accounts should go to the Office of the Registrar or to their respective academic department to add or drop classes, Michael Tribone, assistant registrar with enrollment services and user support services, said.

"We're having them make a copy of the student ID, the Social Security card and make sure we have the current and correct information to verify their identity," he said.

Serna was not able to access her online accounts until Friday, after being ping-ponged from the Office of the Registrar to the student ID office and the ITS office.

"You go to one place and they don't know the problem; you go to another place, they don't know the problem," she said. "I had the problem solved [Friday] -- I hope it's not an illusion," she said.

But by Sunday Serna's online accounts were not recognizing her as a current student.

"I don't know what's wrong now," she said. "I have to submit a quiz ... and I can't."

Anderson could not say how long it would take to rectify this problem.

"It's a priority problem and we are doing as much as we can and as fast as we can, because students need access accounts," she said.