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Identity Management & Permanent Passwords

The Process for New UVa Students

Phase I: Your Temporary Password

Phase II: Your Permanent UVa Password

Phase I: Your Temporary Applicant Password

Limited Access for Applicants & Newly Admitted Students

As an applicant, you have limited access to UVa systems:

Applicants use the Student Information System (SIS) to view their undergraduate admission decision, apply for financial aid, and/or update personal information. To gain access to SIS:

  1. Create a Temporary password using your UVa computing ID (e.g., mst3k) and SIS ID (a 7-digit number) on the Temporary Password Request page.
  2. Use your Temporary password to log into SIS as needed.

As a newly admitted student, you have increased access to UVa systems:

Continue to use your Temporary password and computing ID to log in through NetBadge and:

  1. Activate your UVa email account.
  2. Begin checking your UVa email account by going to www.mail.virginia.edu.
  3. Register for Summer Orientation (undergraduates only) or follow your school or program’s orientation information.

As a new student who has completed in-person identity verification following Orientation, you will gain full access to UVa systems. (See Phase II, below.)

Retrieving Lost Temporary Passwords

At any point, if you forget your Temporary password, use the Temporary Password Request page to create a new one.

Your UVa computing ID and SIS ID are required to generate a new password. If you have lost the email with these IDs, use the link on the Temporary Password Request page to request a new email be sent to you.

Phase II: Your Permanent UVa Password

Full Access for New Students after Summer Orientation & Beyond

As a full-fledged UVa student, you will use your Permanent UVa password for many things, including to:

  • check your UVa email account;
  • access UVa’s wireless network;
  • register for courses through the SIS;
  • log onto public computers around Grounds;
  • obtain a personal digital certificate to use to log into NetBadge; and
  • view course syllabi, assignments, etc. online via UVaCollab.

How to Obtain Your Permanent Password

(This assumes you have already completed all the steps listed above in Phase I.)

  1. Show a passport or U.S. government-issued photo ID as part of your in-person identity verification. Most students do this at Orientation when picking up their UVa ID card.
  2. Pick up your University ID and receive a PassPhrase card—a small, white card with the URL on it and a special code just for you. Again, most students complete this step at Orientation.
    • If you do not pick up your UVa ID Card at Orientation: Go to the University ID Card Office to pick it and your PassPhrase card up at the same time.
    • If you get a PassPhrase card at Orientation, but lose it before using it: You will need to go through in-person identity verification again to get one.
  3. On your computer, open a Web browser and go to the website listed on your PassPhrase card. (For your security, we recommend this not be done on a public computer, nor on a public, free wireless network.)
    1. How you do this depends upon whether or not you are completing this step on Grounds.
    2. You will have to log into this website through NetBadge, using your Temporary password one last time. (Forgotten your Temporary password?)
  4. While on the website listed on your PassPhrase card (http://whois.virginia.edu/idm):
    1. Create your 4 personal security questions and answers.
      • Please take your time and think carefully as you select these. Be sure to pick questions for which you easily know the answer, but other persons do not.
    2. Set your Permanent UVa password. You have the opportunity to:
      • Accept a password that is automatically generated for you, or
      • Re-enter the Temporary Password you already know to set it as Permanent, or
      • Create your own password (although it must be very strong).
  5. Now, you no longer need your Temporary password anymore.
    1. Do not destroy your PassPhrase card until you are sure you will remember your new, Permanent password.
    2. Within 15 minutes after completing the above steps, your other ITS computing accounts are now created, so anytime afterwards, you may configure your computer to access the UVa wireless network.

Retrieving Lost Permanent Passwords

At any point, if you forget your Permanent password, you may get a new one, depending upon whether you still have your white PassPhrase card:

  • If you still have your PassPhrase card:
    1. Return to the website listed on your PassPhrase card and go through the process to set your security questions and your new Permanent password again.
    2. You will have to log into the site through NetBadge, using your Temporary password one last time. (Forgotten your Temporary password?)
  • If you no longer have your PassPhrase card: For security, you will need to start the process all over again. You will have to redo your in-person identity verification and obtain a new white PassPhrase card, which you will use to set your security questions and your new Permanent password again.

Your Permanent Password & the UVa Wireless Network

If you’re going off-Grounds immediately after your in-person identity verification, what you do next is different than if you are staying on Grounds.

Going off-Grounds?

  1. From off-Grounds, go to the website listed on your white PassPhrase card. (For your security, we recommend this not be done on a public computer, nor on a public, free wireless network.)
  2. At that website (http://whois.virginia.edu/idm):
    1. Create your 4 personal security questions and answers.
      • Please take your time and think carefully as you select these. Be sure to pick questions for which you easily know the answer, but other persons do not.
    2. Set your Permanent UVa password. You have the opportunity to:
      • Accept a password that is automatically generated for you, or
      • Re-enter the Temporary Password you already know to set it as Permanent, or
      • Create your own password (although it must be very strong).
  3. Now, you no longer need your Temporary password anymore.
    • Do not destroy your PassPhrase card until you are sure you will remember your new, Permanent password.
  4. Once you are on Grounds, follow the first-time wireless configuration instructions for the Network Setup Tool, which will automatically configure your computer for you.
    • When installing the Tool, you will be prompted to provide information. When asked for a password, type your new, Permanent password.

If you encounter problems getting on the UVa wireless network or using your Permanent password, contact the UVa Help Desk.

Remaining on Grounds?

To finish your identity verification process and gain full access to the UVa wireless network:

  1. From on Grounds, connect your computer to the Welcome_to_UVa_Wireless network. (How to do this)
  2. Open a Web browser.
    1. You’ll be automatically directed to a webpage to set up your wireless access for the first time, but DO NOT click the Continue button yet!
    2. Instead, type the URL on your white PassPhrase card: http://whois.virginia.edu/idm. You will have to log into the site through NetBadge, using your Temporary Applicant password one last time. (Forgotten your Temporary password?)
      • You will not be able to successfully set up wireless until you have first done this! You may return to wireless setup afterwards.
  3. At that website (http://whois.virginia.edu/idm):
    1. Create your 4 personal security questions and answers.
      • Please take your time and think carefully as you select these. Be sure to pick questions for which you easily know the answer, but other persons do not.
    2. Set your Permanent UVa password. You have the opportunity to:
      • Accept a password that is automatically generated for you, or
      • Re-enter the Temporary Password you already know to set it as Permanent, or
      • Create your own password (although it must be very strong).
  4. Now, you no longer need your Temporary password anymore.
    1. Do not destroy your PassPhrase card until you are sure you will remember your new, Permanent password.
    2. Close your Web browser and wait about 15 minutes before proceeding to set up your access to the UVa wireless network for the first time.
  5. Re-open your Web browser. You will again be auto-directed to the first-time wireless setup page.
    1. Now that you have your Permanent password, you may now click the Continue button for Faculty, Staff, and Students and follow the first-time wireless configuration instructions for the Network Setup Tool, which will automatically configure your computer for you.
    2. When installing the Tool, you will be prompted to provide information. When asked for a password, type your new, Permanent password.

If you encounter problems getting on the UVa wireless network or using your Permanent password, contact the UVa Help Desk.

  Page Updated: 2011-11-11

Standards & Policy

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Page Updated: 2011-11-11; © 2012 by the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia.

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