Get Started at UVa
New to the U? How to Get Started with Computing & Communications
ID Management & NetBadge
- Passphrase cards: For your security, when you get your University ID card, you’ll also be identity-verified, enabling you to set your personal security questions and answers. This enables you to log into many UVa websites and resources that are protected by NetBadge and/or Enhanced NetBadge.
Getting Connected
- Access: On Grounds, you can connect to the Internet via a wired or wireless connection. You may also want to access some services from off-Grounds.
- Digital certificates: To use our encrypted cavalier wireless network, you’ll first need a personal digital certificate, which you can obtain easily by running the automated Network Setup Tool. You can log into NetBadge using your certificate rather than ID and password, too—a faster, more secure method!
Your Computing Accounts
- UVa email accounts (UVa Exchange Service, UVa Gmail, UVa Central Mail Service): As part of obtaining your UVa email account, you must also pass the Responsible Computing Tutorial & Quiz as described for student accounts and faculty/staff accounts.
- UVaCollab: Log into UVa’s online course management and collaboration system through NetBadge.
- Other computing accounts: Some commonly-used computing accounts are granted automatically; others have to be requested.
Free & Low-Cost Software
- Free software: ITS provides you with some free software—including an antivirus subscription—as long as you’re at UVa. Go to Software Central and download software appropriate for your computer operating system.
- Microsoft software at a discount: The UVa community (students, faculty, and staff) can obtain Microsoft products such as Office at a discount. See the Microsoft Software Chooser Wizard to find out what is available to you, at what cost.
Phones, Mobile Devices, & Cable TV
- Telephones & voicemail: ITS provides voice communication and telephone services to all University and Health Sciences Center departments and the Regional Centers of the Division of Continuing Education.
- Mobile devices: How to connect your smartphone or mobile device to the UVa network.
- Cable television: ITS provides cable TV services for students in residence halls.
ITS News, Alerts, & Downtimes
- Beware email scams: Bookmark the UVa Security Alerts & Warnings page and/or sign up for its RSS feed. Check unexpected email messages you receive against this page to see if they are fraudulent or known phishing scams. Forward scam emails to abuse@virginia.edu.
- Stay informed: Find out about downtimes and service notices by viewing ITS System Status or subscribing to its email list; checking out the ITS homepage news; following ITS on Twitter or “Liking” us on Facebook; and/or subscribing to ITS RSS feeds.
