The UCSF directory is the centralized phonebook and profile system that connects students, faculty, and staff across the university. It provides accurate contact details, role descriptions, and organizational links for anyone affiliated with UCSF.
Using the directory effectively reduces internal email delays, speeds referrals, and improves communication across campuses and departments. This overview explains how to locate profiles, interpret listing details, and keep personal information up to date.
| Profile Field | Typical Content | Visibility | Update Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Preferred display name and legal name | Directory public | As changes occur |
| Title | Role, rank, and department affiliation | Directory public | When positions change |
| Phone | Primary desk, mobile, and lab lines | Directory public | Quarterly review recommended |
| UCSF official address and forwarding notes | Directory public | Immediately when changed | |
| Building/Room | Campus location and office number | Directory public | When moving spaces |
Search and Profile Navigation
The search interface allows filtering by name, keyword, department, and campus. Advanced options let you narrow results by role type, school affiliation, or active status.
Each profile page typically includes a photo, job description, preferred pronouns, and links to key resources such as internal phone extensions or shared calendars. Consistent use of profile fields improves discoverability for colleagues.
Directory Management for Employees
Human Resources and IT partners rely on the directory to reflect staffing changes accurately. Supervisors should confirm new hire entries and updates as part of onboarding and transition processes.
Employees are encouraged to review their own listings at least once per semester or term to ensure phone numbers, room assignments, and titles are current and consistent with HR records.
Directory Access and Permissions
Access levels determine who can view fields such as mobile numbers and home addresses. Public entries support external collaboration, while sensitive details can be restricted to designated internal audiences.
Directory managers and department coordinators often control bulk updates. It is important to follow change request procedures to maintain data integrity and avoid duplicate or conflicting profiles.
Directory Integration with UCSF Tools
Single sign-on and campus VPN can affect which services recognize directory information. Integration with email systems, learning platforms, and building access tools depends on accurate and uniformly formatted profile data.
When systems fail to auto-fill contact details, checking the underlying directory record usually reveals mismatched identifiers or legacy entries that require cleanup by authorized administrators.
Optimizing Directory Use Across Campuses
Following a few practical steps helps everyone leverage the UCSF directory reliably and securely in everyday work.
- Verify profile completeness for new roles before sharing contact links externally
- Request field-level visibility reviews to balance openness with privacy requirements
- Run quarterly audits of your team's entries to correct room changes and phone updates
- Use consistent naming conventions to improve search accuracy across schools
- Coordinate bulk updates through HR or IT change management to prevent conflicts
FAQ
Reader questions
How do I report an incorrect phone number or room assignment for a colleague?
Contact your department admin or HR partner with the exact profile URL and the corrected details. They can submit a directory update request or, if delegated, make the change directly through the management console.
Can students update their own directory information independently?
Students with self-service privileges can update phone numbers and room information through the student portal linked to the directory. For fields restricted to admin edits, IT staff must process the update after verifying enrollment status.
Why does a profile appear incomplete or missing from search results?
Incomplete profiles often lack required fields such as title or affiliation, or the record may be flagged as inactive. Confirm that the person's affiliation status is active and that all mandatory fields are populated, then request a refresh from the directory team.
What should I do if my contact details changed but my email still shows the old information?
Clear your email client cache and global address list, then restart the client so it re-syncs with the latest directory entries. If the issue persists, verify that the update was processed in the directory and that no legacy forwarding rules remain active.