Student Guide to UConn Technology

Review the UConn Student Device Requirement Checklist

At UConn, students use technology for everyday use, remote learning, and online exams. Your devices need to meet certain requirements for your academic success.

Before you arrive on campus, make sure that your laptop/computer includes:

• Required: Intel Core i5, AMD Ryzen 5, or Apple silicon

• Recommended: Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7, or newest Apple silicon

• Required: 8 GB

• Recommended: 16 GB

• Required: 256 GB Solid-State Drive (SSD)

• Recommended: 512 GB Solid-State Drive (SSD)

Keep in mind your major, interest, and extracurriculars in mind when choosing a new device, and if you know your school or academic area, you may check to see if they recommend or require specific technology. If purchasing a new device, consider whether the device you’re interested in will last the duration of your academic career; it will be used heavily and may be exposed to a lot of wear and tear (thrown into backpacks, used around food and drink, carried through inclement weather, etc.).

NetID

Your NetID is your unique identifier in all UConn systems. You use it to access online services and systems such as Student Admin, ResLife, HuskyCT and other technology resources. Your NetID remains the same throughout your career at the university.

Your NetID is composed of 3 random letters and then 5 numbers that help determine when your NetID was created.

Set your chosen name

You can change your name as it appears in UConn directories from the NetID home page. This will not change your UConn email address. Follow the instructions provided at Changing Your Chosen Name in UConn Directories.

If you have undergone a legal name change, contact the Office of the Registrar so that they can change the name on your record.

Reset or recover your NetID password

If you have forgotten your NetID password, you can use password recovery options via text or email to reset it. For instructions, visit: Reset Your NetID Password.

If you know your NetID password but you wish to change it, visit: Change Your NetID Password.

Password management

When you use your NetID to access online services, systems, and resources at the university, you also use passwords.  Your passwords protect your digital identity, so their strength and security is critical.

Never reuse passwords across accounts. If your password gets compromised on one website, it is very easy for someone to track your internet activity and compromise all of your other accounts that use the same or similar passwords.  Use different passwords for each of your accounts to avoid security risks.

Create long, unique passwords.  UConn’s standard password length is over 12 characters. One strategy for long and strong passwords is passphrases: they can help you make passwords that are both easy to remember and hard to crack.  Passphrases combine multiple random words together, for example: correct horse battery staple. 

Use a password manager. Password managers enable you to store your passwords and personal information in a virtual safe called a password vault. For more information on using a password manager at UConn, visit: LastPass at UConn. 

Never share your passwords.  Keep your passwords private from anyone within or external to the UConn community. 

For more tips on creating secure passwords, visit: IT Security: Set a Passphrase.

Microsoft Outlook

UConn uses Outlook for all emailing. Your Outlook account is where you will receive official messages from the university and communicate with your advisor and instructors.

Students are expected to check their inbox frequently to stay up to date with important notifications from UConn, messages related to your academic progress, information about your fee bill and financial aid, and more. Outlook has a mobile app that can installed on a smartphone/tablet. You can also install Outlook along with the rest of the Microsoft 365 apps directly on your computer.

Learn more about Outlook.

Duo 2FA

Before you register for classes, you will need to set up Duo two-factor authentication (Duo 2FA). When you log in to UConn systems with your NetID and password, you will complete a second step and verify your identity on a device in your possession. This prevents outsiders from accessing your accounts: if your NetID credentials are stolen and someone tries to log in as you, you receive an alert and can deny their access.

UConn ITS recommends setting up the Duo Mobile app on a phone or tablet - it should be something you always have nearby. The app will send you a push notification on your enrolled device when you need to log in.

To begin setup for Duo 2FA on your mobile device:

1. Go to the 2FA Portal.

2. Sign in with your NetID and NetID password.

3. Click Opt in to 2FA.

Next, follow the steps for your device type:

• Set up a Mobile Phone for 2FA (Recommended)

• Set up a Tablet for 2FA

Student Admin

Student Admin is UConn’s student administration system: the space where you will register for classes, manage your fee bill and financial aid, view your transcripts and final grades, and access other important information and tools that you will need throughout your career at UConn. 

Manage your academics and finances in Student Admin

Your Student Admin account is organized into 10 separate pages. Each page grants you access to different information and tools that you will use to manage your academic progress and finances at UConn.

Open

Navigate pages from your Student Admin homepage.

Use the buttons on your Student Admin Homepage to navigate to:

• Action List

  • View any tasks you need to complete, existing holds on your account, or agreements you’ve completed in the past.

• Announcements

  • Check for university wide announcements relating to Student Admin, including fee bill due dates or system maintenance alerts.

• Academic Progress and Advising

  • Contact your advisor, view the academic requirements for your plan of study, view your course history, use the academic planner to plan your upcoming course schedules, and view high school/transfer credit summaries.

• Bursar Services

  • View your fee bill, make payments, view available 1098-T statements, and enroll in direct deposit. For support on managing billing and payments in Student Admin, review the guides available at: Finances: Student Admin Support. 

• Financial Aid

  • View information about financial aid awards and scheduled disbursements.  For support on managing financial aid in Student Admin, review the guides available at: Financial Aid: Student Admin Support.

• Graduation

  • View your expected graduation term, submit your final plan of study, apply for graduation, and review your academic requirements. 

• Manage Classes

  • Enroll in classes, view the date of your enrollment appointment, swap or drop classes, access the scheduler builder tool, and search or browse in the university course catalog. 

• Profile

  • Edit your contact information and emergency contact details, access FERPA designee form, and register as a Connecticut voter. 

• Schedule & Grades

  • View your previous and current course schedules, final exam schedules, and final grades for each semester. 

• Transcripts & Verifications

  • Request your official transcript, view your unofficial transcript, and access your enrollment verification certificate.