IRT announces new network identification system: username and password changes will take effect over the summer

From IRT

As the UST community continues to grow, electronic resources are being requested more and more by faculty, staff and students – as well as by prospective students and alumni. To meet the growing needs of these groups IRT is implementing a new system for managing UST accounts and passwords: the new Network Identification system —"Net ID" for short.

The Net ID system will synchronize usernames and passwords across the multiple systems used by the UST community. Currently users must remember numerous usernames and passwords when interacting with the different systems at UST. IRT’s goal is to bring the community, a one-username, one-password model, which works across all systems. The development of Net ID has been made possible through the cooperation of the Center of Excellence in the Opus College of Business, which provided the means to test the Net ID system.

Benefits of Net ID include increasing the speed at which accounts are created, increasing the security around system access, and no longer requiring the verification of a person’s Social Security Number (SSN) for resetting a password; instead, when users first activate their UST accounts they will set up a series of challenge questions. If users forget their passwords they can reset their passwords by answering the challenge questions over the Web or by calling the Tech Desk.

Net ID system highlights

• Resetting Passwords: The ability to reset a password 24 hours a day over the web
• Challenge Questions: Answering several challenge questions to verify a user’s identity to reset a password. Examples of challenge questions include:
• Who is your favorite author?
• What is your favorite city or vacation spot?
• Who is your favorite athlete or Olympian?
• New Account Format: New UST accounts will be created using the format of the first four characters of the user’s last name followed by four random numbers. This change is necessary due to the large number of accounts UST maintains. An example of the new Net ID format:
• Name: John W. Anderson
• Net ID: ande1234
• Email Address: ande1234@stthomas.edu
  Note: Existing accounts will remain unchanged
• Claim Codes: When activating an account for the first time a claim code will be needed (a claim code will not be needed for existing accounts that transition from the current system to Net ID).
  • Prospective students will receive the claim code from their admissions department
• Faculty and staff may receive the claim code from their hiring manager, the HR department or IRT
• Registering non-UST e-mail: Net ID will allow a registered non-UST e-mail account to receive notifications when the UST password has been changed. This allows individuals who primarily use non-UST systems to monitor any changes that occur with their UST accounts.

The first phase of this project’s implementation will take place on May 20. This is a behind- the-scenes-only event and the UST community will not notice any changes to their accounts at this time.

This July, IRT will turn on the Net ID system for users to set up their challenge questions and begin using the Web pages for password resets. Students may set up their challenge questions at that time, or when they return to campus in the fall.

For additional information about the Net ID system or any technology-related questions please contact the IRT Tech Desk or (651) 962-6230.