Enrolling as a User

To purchase through NUcore, a user must have an account and at least one valid payment source.

User Accounts

NUcore user accounts are universal; one account covers all core facilities. If you are a first-time user of NUcore you can request an account from the manager or director of the facility in which you would like to make a purchase, from a NUcore Account Manager in your department or center, or from the NUcore support staff (nucore@northwestern.edu).

Accounts for members of the Northwestern community are NETID-based. NUcore will retrieve your name and email address from the NU directory and any changes in the directory will be reflected in NUcore. Accounts for users outside of Northwestern are based on email address.

Payment Sources

To purchase in NUcore, a user must have a valid payment source. NUcore recognizes three types of payment sources: chart strings, purchase orders and credit cards. Once a chart string is established as a payment source, it may be used in any facility enrolled in NUcore. Chart strings are validated directly with the NU Financials system. Purchase orders and credit cards are valid only in the facility in which the payment source was created. Not all facilities accept purchase orders and/or credit cards.

Each payment source has an owner and may also have authorized purchasers and/or business administrators. Owners receive billing notifications for their payment sources, can review and dispute charges, and have the ability to add and remove purchasers. Purchasers may use a payment source and will receive receipts for their individual purchases, but do not otherwise have any control over the payment source. Business administrators receive billing notifications at the same time as owners and have the ability to review charges on their behalf.