But Jim, that is why I'm asking if you are a new employee. You may not understand that in education, we spend A LOT of time explaining rules, procedures, ways things work at the school, to students. It is part of our job, especially a the beginning of a school year or semester, and especially newly enrolled, 1st time students. It comes with the territory.

And how much longer can it take to say "I need to see your student ID" than it does to say "I need to see your drivers license or passport"? The answer as to WHY you need to see their ID is "because I have to verify your student status, and that you are the student named on this slip."

Boom, you're done.

Now, if the issue is that the students are arguing with you AFTER that point because they don't want to comply with the request (and students do this all the time, no matter what), that is a whole different thing. If that is the thing you are objecting to, then you might need to understand that changing the policy/procedure won't stop them from arguing, but that time passing will lessen it to a large extent. At the beginning of the year, new students especially haven't learned the ropes yet. So they are defensive, because they don't like to (they would say) "look stupid". But it isn't about looking stupid really, it is about them feeling competent. In that regard, they are no different than we are when we are learning a new system, or the ropes of a new job, that sort of thing. The learning curve will result in the majority of students who come up to the window not even needing to be asked for the ID. They will shove it at you! Because they will know the ropes then.

Also, I'm guessing the beginning of the year is a very busy time for packages too. This too should drop off by mid-semester or so.