Penn State Access Accounts

Penn State Access Account is a userid and password combination that allows Penn State students, faculty, and staff to use the full range of Internet services. The Penn State Access Account works in tandem with the Penn State Online Directory, which uses Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP, a standardized method for providing directory information), to provide the foundation for digital identity authentication (proving who one is) and authorization (what one has access to once authentication occurs).

You need a Penn State Access Account to use the ITS Student Computing Labs, send e-mail, post to Netnews, use dial-up services, obtain your academic records, charge printing to your Bursar account, and change the unofficial information in your directory entry.

By accepting your Penn State Access Account, you are agreeing to abide by Penn State policies and guidelines. You are expected to exercise responsible, ethical behavior when using the University's computers, information, networks or resources. Violation of policies or laws may result in suspension of network or other information access privileges, disciplinary action, and legal proceedings. For more information, see https://its.psu.edu/policies/.

Your User ID

Your userid is the "public" part of your Penn State Access Account. Like your name, your userid identifies you as an individual. This is the part you should share with others so that they know where to send your e-mail. Your userid is usually composed of your initials followed by a 1- to 4-digit number such as xyz123. It is important to remember that the letters are lowercase.

Your Password

Your password is the "private" part of your Penn State Access Account and, as such, should not be shared with others. Like your University ID card, it authenticates that you are who you say you are. Your password is the "key" that lets you open electronic doors. Guard your password just as you guard your bank card PIN. Don't write it down or make it easy for someone to guess. Don't share your password with others, as they would then have the opportunity to read your e-mail, see your grades, obtain your transcript, charge printing to your Bursar bill, and forge e-mail and news postings from you. It is a violation of policy AD20 to share your password.

Change Your Password

Passwords must meet certain minimum requirements in order to be acceptable: the criteria are listed on the "Change Your Password" page at https://www.work.psu.edu/. A set of additional best practices and guidelines is found via the Security Operations and Services (SOS) password page at http://sos.its.psu.edu/passwords.html.

ITS systems require passwords for newly activated Penn State Access Accounts to be changed at first use. This ensures that only the person who has been assigned the account knows the password.

ITS systems force expiration of Penn State Access Account passwords once a year. ITS recommends changing passwords more frequently for higher security.

Although all students, faculty, and staff must change their Access Account passwords annually, passwords can be changed more frequently, and at any time, for higher security. You can check your password expiration date for the upcoming year online. You will receive reminders to change your password prior to its expiration date. In addition, when your password is within eight weeks of its expiration date, the Penn State WebAccess screen will present a brief message stating that your password will expire, and you will be prevented from authenticating through WebAccess. You will be provided with a link to a Web form where you can change your password. After you have successfully changed your password, access to authentication through WebAccess will be restored.

ITS strongly encourages you to change your password before it expires, in order to avoid disruption to your access to University systems and services. To view your password expiration date, please visit the Access Account Password Management Web site at http://its.psu.edu/password/.

If You Forget

If you forget your password, present your Penn State photo ID at ITS consulting locations, the ITS Accounts Services Office, or to other computer support staff. Staff will help you request a password reset back to the original password you were given. If you do not remember your original password, you may get it from a signature station.

Penn State Access Account Storage Space (PASS)

The University's network storage system, known as PASS, is provided to all computer users once they are joined to Penn State's e-mail service and can be used for a variety of internet needs including storing Portal preferences or storing WebMail mailboxes and attachments. Individuals can manually add space to their respective base allocations of 500 MB in 100 megabyte increments up to 1 gigabyte at https://www.work.psu.edu/.

Student Accounts

If you attended the First-year Testing, Counseling and Advising Program (FTCAP) during the summer, you should already have a Penn State Access Account. If not, take your Penn State photo ID card to a signature station and follow the instructions there. Make note of your userid and password when they are displayed on the screen. Your account should be fully active within one business day.

Signature stations at University Park are located at 101, 215 Computer Building, 103 Boucke Building, 6 Findlay Commons, W113 Pattee Library, 2 Willard Building, 201 Pollock Building, 108 Warnock Commons, and 107 Waring Commons. Locations and hours are subject to change. See http://aset.its.psu.edu/accounts/sigstations.html on the Web. At other locations, please contact your local computer support staff for signature station locations. Students also receive special Web services; see the section "World Wide Web". Student accounts remain active during periods of continuous enrollment (fall and spring semester) and for six months after graduation.

Free Printing

Each student can print up to 110 pages per semester at no charge. Laser printers are set to print on both sides of the paper in order to reduce the cost of printing and waste of paper. To check your print jobs and the number of pages you have printed, visit the Page Accounting and Login Server (PALS) at the following URL http://clc.its.psu.edu/printing/.

Bursar Billing Option

Students who want to print additional pages can select the Bursar billing option at signature stations. A student who selects this option will get the allotted free pages for the semester, and additional printing beyond this amount will be billed to the student's Bursar account at the rate of five cents per page on non-color printers. This billing method remains in effect until individuals return to the signature station and decline the option or graduate. Printing charges are included on tuition or interim bills.

Students who decline to have their Bursar account charged will be unable to print in the Student Computing Labs beyond their free allotment. However, they can return to a signature station and select the billing option if desired. One business day is required for processing this option.

The number of free pages, how color prints affect your count, and charges for additional pages are subject to change. For details, select "Limits and Charges" at http://clc.its.psu.edu/printing/ on the Web.

Faculty and Staff Accounts

Employees can apply for a Penn State Access Account by using any one of the following methods:

• Complete, print, and sign the form that is available at http://aset.its.psu.edu/accounts/ on the Web. (Please note that you must install the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software in order to view and print the form; a link to the Acrobat software is provided at the above URL.)


• Obtain a paper application form from the ITS Accounts Services Office. Send the completed form to the ITS Accounts Services Office. Wait three business days, then take your Penn State ID card to a signature station. For locations, see http://aset.its.psu.edu/accounts/sigstations.html on the Web. At locations other than University Park, see your local computer support staff for assistance

After activating the Penn State Access Account, faculty and staff can request Web space for courses, database access, UNIX access, and other specialized services. For details, see http://aset.its.psu.edu/accounts/ on the Web.

Faculty and staff accounts will be closed upontermination of employment, with the exception that Penn State retirees who continue Penn State benefits after retirement may retain their Access Accounts. For further information refer to the policy "Penn State Access Account Qualifications" at: http://its.psu.edu/policies/aaq.html.

Friends of Penn State (FPS)

The Friends of Penn State digital identity service has been developed to help provide a variety of University services to potential students, alumni and e-commerce customers via the Web. A joint project between several ITS organizations, the FPS account management system has been designed to enable the development of Web-based information resources to more efficiently serve individuals outside the University. FPS is also part of the University's initiative to create a long-term relationship with the many individuals who use Penn State services, such as library technologies, e-stores, World Campus, the Registrar's Office, Undergraduate Admissions Office and more. For more information about the FPS project, FPS accounts and information for developers, please visit http://aset.its.psu.edu/fpsproject/.

Short Term Access Accounts (STAAs)

The for-fee Short Term Access Account service (STAA) was developed to replace "demo" accounts and Access Accounts needed for only a short period of time. A STAA is a Penn State Access Account with a lifetime of less than 45 days. Typical uses for a Short Term Access Account include, but are not exclusive to, the following examples:

• Outreach students taking a certificate course.
• Visiting faculty or corporate entities participating in a conference.

STAAs provide for either authentication only (slim) or full access (authentication, e-mail, optional Web space, and a directory entry). STAAs are created in pools for full-time staff or faculty members who act as administrators/supervisors for the pools of accounts issued to them. Secure Web sites for administrators to manage and assign accounts as well as assign administrators to pools of accounts were developed to facilitate ease-of-use and management of this service.

Please also note that for-fee Access Accounts may be requested and issued (depending on the circumstance) for up to one year. Both STAAs and Access Accounts of this type require an ITS Charge Account. For more information and a current cost schedule, please visit http://aset.its.psu.edu/accounts/cost.html.

Sponsored accounts

Sponsored Accounts are "special" Access Accounts. Typically, Access Accounts of this type are issued for up to one year. The charge per month (based on the type of Access Account) is charged to an ITS Charge Account. Sponsored Access Accounts may be slim (authentication only) or full (authentication, e-mail, optional Web space, and an directory entry). As with STAAs, Access Accounts of this type require an ITS Charge Account. For more information and a current cost schedule, please visit http://aset.its.psu.edu/accounts/cost.html.

Online Forms

In an effort to improve, streamline, and enhance the way in which accounts-based services are made available to the University community, ITS now offers Online Application Forms Central — a consolidated, online repository of forms designed to help the Penn State community conduct business more efficiently. Users may visit http://aset.its.psu.edu/accounts/accountsforms/ to access a series of forms for what will eventually become a full suite of dynamic, online application forms for all accounts-related services. The conversion to online forms, however, will not totally eliminate previous versions. Both .pdf and printed versions of all forms will continue to be available online and on a per-request basis (although those who wish to apply for such services are encouraged to use the online versions.)

Efforts on the paper-to-Web forms conversion initiative will continue throughout the year. Application forms will be posted to the site as they become available, so students, faculty and staff are encouraged to check the site frequently for new additions. Questions, requests for assistance, and/or problem reports may be directed to the ITS Accounts Services Office staff by sending e-mail to accounts@psu.edu or by calling 814-865-4772.

This page is part of Your Guide to Information Technology @ Penn State.