Computing @ UT—NetIDs

Now that you know what the purpose of your NetID is, let's go over the process of looking it up and resetting your password. Remember, you must locate your NetID, log in, and change your password BEFORE you can register for classes—and before you can begin your Pre-Orientation Homework.

Your NetID—How to Find It

Don't worry, this shouldn't take very long at all.

1. Go to the Directory Services lookup page at https://directory.utk.edu/
2. Type your full name into the search field and click "search." Your NetID should appear in the upper right hand corner of the results page. Copy it or write it down—you'll need it for the next steps.
3. From the links at the left of the page, select "Password Management."
4. From the Password Management page, select "NetID/Tmail/Active Directory Password."
5. Select the "First Time Password Setup" option and follow the instructions.
6. Make note of your new password! Resetting a forgotten password is a potentially lengthy process. It will take your new password approximately 15-20 minutes to take effect, but once you're finished, there's a new world for you to explore!

Speaking of Passwords...

UT requires you to pick a "hardened," or secure, password, so choosing your NetID password will be more difficult than just typing in the name of your favorite pet. Give your password some serious thought before you begin the process—it'll save you time in the long run. Here are some things to remember when coming up with your unique password:

• You will be required to change your password every 180 days.
• Passwords must have a minimum of eight characters and must contain a mixture of at least three out of the four following elements. (1) upper-case letters, (2) lowercase letters, (3) numbers, and (4) punctuation or special characters (such as “!” or “$”).
• Avoid dates, social security numbers, phone numbers, birthdays, and names of family members—anything that might be relatively easy for someone else to guess. Don't make the Paris Hilton mistake!
• You might want to use an acronym for a phrase or jingle. This will make it easier for you to remember but can produce a seemingly random string of characters. Google “song titles with numbers in them” and pick one you love! Here are some examples of phrase-based passwords (please be smart and don't use any of these):
  • P!dhoTUW = PLEASE! don’t hang out THE UPPER WINDOWS
  • dwydICT! = drop what you’re doing: ICE CREAM TRUCK!
  • SSPmbe2r = SLIGHTLY SILLY PHRASES may be easier 2 remember

If you do have to reset your password, whether due to forgetfulness or the standard 180-day expiration, you'll need to complete an Online Password Reset (IF you enabled it when you set your password, which you should do to avoid yourself additional heartache).

• Go to https://directory.utk.edu
• Click the Password Management link on the left.
• Choose NetID/Tmail/Active Directory Password.
• Choose Forgot Your Password and follow the instructions.

Otherwise, we'll see you at The Commons.

» Now that this NetID thing is taken care of, what about email?