Online Photo Submission for New Students

Welcome to the College of Charleston! You will need an official College of Charleston ID card, known as the Cougar Card, to access a range of services and benefits across campus. To get your first Cougar Card, follow the steps below to submit your photo at least five business days before your orientation. We’ll have your new Cougar Card ready to pick up during your session.

May 11, 2023: The photo submission portal is back in service. If you continue to have problems submitting your photo online, please contact Campus Services HQ at campusservices@cofc.edu or call us at 843.953.1100.

Photo Requirements

We'll need a recent color photo with a plain, neutral background (white, off-white, cream, beige, light gray).

  • Face and hair should be clearly visible, with your face centered and facing forward. No hats, please.
  • Wear prescription glasses if you normally do so, but do not wear sunglasses. Your eyes should be clearly visible.
  • A natural smile or neutral facial expression is best.
  • Use proper lighting.
  • Crop the photo from just above your head to your collarbone.
  • Save the photo in .jpg format.

Examples of Acceptable Photos

Acceptable      Acceptable      Acceptable

The card office cannot accept a photo that does not meet the requirements, such as the photos below:

 Unacceptable     Unacceptable      Unacceptable

          No head tilting                       No sunglasses or hat                   Busy background

How to Submit a Photo

  • Go to the Cougar Card Portal.
  • Enter your MyPortal username and password. Your username is your CofC email address without @.g.cofc.edu. Note: If you receive an error, first try using your CWIDMMDDYY password (8-digit College Wide ID number and MMDDYY of your birthday). If that doesn’t work, call our IT Service Desk at 843.953.3375 for a password reset.
  • Click on the Profile tab and then the "Click to submit a new photo" link. There is no need to fill out the personal information on the Profile page.
  • Before you are able to submit your photo, you must accept the Student Cougar Card Terms and Conditions
  • After accepting the terms and conditions, follow the instructions to upload and submit your photo online.
  • Cougar Card Services will email you with approval or next steps if your photo cannot be used.

For a quick visual guide for the above steps, go to our Step-by-Step Guide.

Once your photo is submitted and approved, you cannot submit another photo. If you would like a new or different photo on your Cougar Card please visit Cougar Card Services, 162 Calhoun St. in Berry Hall to have a new photo taken and pay the replacement fee.

Card Pick Up

When your photo is accepted you will receive a confirmation email from Campus Services. If you are attending an orientation, your Cougar Card will be provided to you during your orientation session. You will receive instructions regarding the pick-up location with your orientation materials. Otherwise, your Cougar Card will be available for pick up at Campus Services HQ located at 162 Calhoun St. Please remember to bring valid government issued identification. Acceptable forms of identification include: Driver’s License or Non-driver ID Card issued by DMV, U.S. Green Card, Passport book or card, U.S. Military ID Card.