User Accounts & Passwords

For information on computing services for students, see the Student Computing Services page.

There are many different kinds of computer "accounts" faculty and staff have at NMC. All are subject to the NMC network computing policy, and the software use policy.

• Banner
• NMC Self-Service
• GroupWise
• ITS-NMC (also known as nmc.edu or its.nmc.edu)
• the Novell network
• WebAccess e-mail (primarily for students)

Believe it or not, you could have a different password for almost every one of these accounts. Click the links above for more information.

The Novell Network

All the computers at NMC are part of a local area network (LAN). When you start an NMC computer you are asked by the Novell networking software to log in. This ensures that only authorized users can access the network, and it restricts each user's access to only his or her files, printers, etc. No one else on the network has access to your files.

Network passwords expire every 30 days for faculty/staff. (They do not expire for students.) When this happens, the login screen will tell you that your password has expired and allow you three "grace logins."

Novell Login Screen

You must change your password while you still have one grace login left or your account will be locked. Three attempts with the wrong password will also lock any network account.

Locked accounts and forgotten passwords can be reset for faculty and staff by Information Technology Services (ITS).

GroupWise

GroupWise is the e-mail and calendar program used by NMC. In addition to the GroupWise "client" program most people use in their offices, access is also available through the web at groupwise.nmc.edu. From your desk, the GroupWise program does not normally ask you to log in. It "reads" the user ID and password that you used for logging into the network and gives access to your e-mail and calendar. It can be programmed to ask users to log in, however, which is useful when a computer is being shared.

The GroupWise password is most commonly needed to get e-mail while off campus with GroupWise web access. Your GroupWise password does not expire. It can be reset by you from within GroupWise or from the web interface; see the GroupWise Help for more information. This password can also be reset for you by Information Technology Services if you forget it.

Banner

Banner accounts must be authorized by the department in charge of the data you need to access (Enrollment Services, Business and Financial Services, or Human Resources). The Banner password is used when you start Banner, run one of the NMC Intranet reports, or run another report (from Microsoft Access, for example) which gets data from Banner. It expires every 30 days and can be changed at any time using the Banner form GUAPSWD. It can also be reset for you by Information Technology Services.

NMC Self-Service

NMC Self-Service does not require a password. Instead, it asks for your ID number (or your Social Security Number, whichever you prefer) and Personal Identification Number (PIN) as you log in. For users who know their SSN but not their ID, there is a link on the login page to get the ID. This helps users avoid using their SSN when it is not necessary.

Your PIN can be any six-digit number, except that if you are an employee of NMC it should not be set to your own birthdate. (The program will allow you to do this, but it will later be changed to a random number and the HR office will have to notify you of that number.) PINs can be reset for employees by the Human Resources office, and for students by the Records and Registration Office. PINs do not expire. You can change your PIN from NMC Self-Service, in the Personal Information Menu.

The ITS-NMC (nmc.edu) Server

ITS-NMC is a computer in East Hall which a few staff use in conjunction with the Banner database. If you have an account on ITS-NMC, you can log in using a telnet program such as QVT Terminal. The ITS password is also used when you are transferring a file from the server to the network using FTP.

ITS-NMC passwords expire every 30 days. Once expired, you must change the password as you log in. (To change an unexpired password, simply enter "passwd" at the prompt after you have logged in.) ITS-NMC accounts are locked by too many failed login attempts. Locked accounts and forgotten passwords can be reset by Information Technology Services.

WebAccess Mailbox Account (MBX)

WebAccess is a Novell e-mail system maintained by NMC for student use. Every student with a network account at NMC also has a WebAccess mailbox. To open your mailbox, point your browser to http://mbx.nmc.edu. Log in with your network username and password. If you don't know your username or password, ask for help from a lab aide or ITS.