Types of University Accounts

People need a University account for a wide range of reasons, including, but not limited to, these types of affiliations:

  • A new student group forming on campus
  • The hiring of contractor for a short amount of time
  • Visiting faculty helping on a research project
  • A department or research lab wanting a single point of contact

There are several account options to meet the variety of needs you may have for collaboration and access control.

Types of Accounts and Recommended Resources

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Student Account

An Internet ID is assigned automatically to students when they confirm their registration at the University. This is the account that students will use to access various applications and services, including a University email address and other Google services. After graduation, students will lose access to most University services with the exception of their University email account (e.g., [email protected]) and their Google Drive. 

Students may continue to use their University email accounts for one year. After one year, the account will be deprovisioned and students will lose access to their email and Google Drive accounts. Please see Account Termination Reference Guide for more information. 

Key Considerations

  • Renewed annually unless enrolled in Duo Security multi-factor authentication
  • Only eligible for this account type if enrolled in an academic program
  • Degree holders who would like access to more University resources beyond their Google Workspace account can join the University of Minnesota Alumni Association

Recommended Resources

Current Staff/Faculty Account

An Internet ID is assigned automatically to staff and faculty when they begin their employment at the University. 

Key Considerations

  • Only eligible to users with a current, active appointment
  • Duo is required for all logins

Recommended Resources

Retired Staff/Faculty Account

Key Considerations

  • There is a one-year transition period for all people who have graduated or retired from the University of Minnesota through May 31, 2024.
  • Faculty and staff who retire on or after May 31, 2024 may continue to use their University email and Google workspace for 3 weeks (21 days). After 21 days, access to University email and Google workspace access will be removed.
  • Faculty and staff who retire on or after May 31, 2024 may continue to sign in for 6 weeks (42 days), for access to view benefits, pay statements, vacation balances, and other personal data on the MyU portal.
  • There is no change to the current policy for retiree access to VPN, WiFi, and Active Directory resources. This access is removed as of the faculty or staff member's retirement date.
  • The Office of Information Technology will never reassign your Internet ID to another person. If you return to the University for future enrollment or employment your Internet ID will be reassigned to you.

Please note: Faculty emeriti will have continued access to UMN Gmail and Google Workspace, per UMN policy

Recommended Resources

Parent/Guest Account

A Parent/Guest account allows a student to grant access to protected financial and academic information such as viewing grades, financial aid, account summary, and billing information. The student initiates an invitation to the parent or third-party individual to create a proxy account.

Key Considerations

  • Provides proxy access to a student’s account
  • The student controls what is accessible through the account
  • Renewed annually

Recommended Resources

Alumni Account

An individual who joins the University of Minnesota Alumni Association (UMAA) is matched with their U of M student account or assigned a new account. 

Key Considerations

  • Non-degree holders do not receive a UMN email address
  • Alumni accounts do not provide access to University resources or databases

Recommended Resources

Departmental Account

A Departmental account can be used as an email point of contact or associated with a specific task, service, or function for a department or group, rather than an individual. 

Key Considerations

  • Provides a single account accessible by multiple users
  • Account renewed annually and can be disabled by request
  • Password reset annually (unless enrolled in Duo Security multi-factor authentication)
  • Only eligible for Faculty and Staff to create, within My-Account 
  • No Active Directory, VPN or WiFi access
  • Google Workspace optional

Recommended Resources

Student Organization Account

Student groups who have registered with Student Unions and Activities may request internet accounts to represent their organization.

Key Considerations

  • Provides one University email account and access to Google Workspace
  • Renewed annually

Recommended Resources

Person of Interest (POI) Account

If you were previously affiliated with the University and have questions regarding that previous affiliation, contact the Office of Human Resources.

There are certain situations where people have an association outside of a defined appointment within the University of Minnesota, and they need access to University-wide resources. Some examples of when to request this type of account are for External Service Providers, Affiliates or Office of the Vice President of Research appointees.

Key Considerations

  • Provides access to Active Directory, Google Workspace, U Card, Virtual Private Network (VPN), and secure WiFi
  • Duo Security multi-factor authentication is required
  • HR has specific policies outlining who can have this type of account and what expiration controls are available
  • Renewed annually

Recommended Resources

Sponsored Account

Sponsored accounts may be created for collaborators not formally affiliated with the University so that they may gain access to University resources to provide support for instruction, research or administrative services. 

Key Considerations

  • Only eligible for Faculty and Staff to create within My-Account
  • Provides access to Active Directory, Google Workspace, Virtual Private Network (VPN) and secure WiFi
  • Duo Security multi-factor authentication is required 
  • U Card optional (additional fee)
  • Renewed annually

Recommended Resources

Guest Account

Provides limited access to select applications and services for those who do not have a formal relationship with the University of Minnesota, such as non-credit registration (Destiny One) and for local landlords who work with Housing and Residential Life.

Key Considerations

  • Provides access to non-credit registration and off-campus housing listing service
  • Renewed annually
  • Not eligible for Duo Security multi-factor authentication (This account type cannot be used to access applications that require Duo Security)

Recommended Resources

Functional Account

Key Considerations

  •     Provides a single account for a single use case
  •     Account intended for non-person use cases
  •     Account renewed annually and can be disabled by request
  •     Password reset annually (unless enrolled in Duo Security multi-factor authentication)
  •     Only eligible for Creation/Modification by submitting a TDX ARF form
  •     Can request LDAP, AD, Google, VPN, Wireless access and Multi-Factor authorization
  •     Is suppressed from Directory

Recommended Resources

    Functional Account Access Request Forms