Password Support                       

This page contains general information about computer passwords at Algonquin . Every system uses authentication to ensure that only known clients are granted access. Managing your accounts and authentication requires care and attention on your part.

Why?

Because if someone gets your username and password they can do you harm involving your reputation, your finances, your involvement with the College and even legal matters. They could delete your files, use up all your printing paper or write a rude letter in your name.

Not all Algonquin computer systems use the same user authentication and not all computer systems automatically communicate with each other when you change your password. So then one system has the old password and some have the new. Like a chain full of keys you need to know which key is used for which door...and it can be confusing.

Algonquin also wants you to be aware in order to protect the College's interests and security. If unauthorized people access the computer networks they could harm our systems. One measure is to lock out an account if too many failed attempts occur. The assumption is that one of the bad guys are trying to get in.

Changing your Password

The purpose of this page is to give you basic information about the College systems and their passwords. If you want to know more about each of those systems please visit their respective support pages where there are instructions on how to change your password.

Systems That Talk To Each Other

Some systems communicate automatically when you change your password or lock a user out of an account after too many failed log in attempts.  These systems are:

NT Network - The main Algonquin network - Password change link
Blackboard - The teaching tool
Email - No matter how you access it.
Dial-up- Slow but dependable
VPN - Use your high speed from home yet authenticate to the College.
Citrix - Software access site
CISCO speed dial page - for staff phone settings
Online Staff Phonebook

When you change your password on one of the above systems, the other systems are updated within 30 minutes.

Click here for help changing your NT account password (and therefore all the ones listed above)

The Ones That Don't Talk to Each Other

The following computer systems do not automatically communicate regarding user authentication.  Each of these systems has their own authentication process.  They may appear to be the same because the process sometimes begins with a request for your student or staff password but the process changes from that point onward. A partial list:

Acsis
Academic/Algonquinstudents
Acadunix
Algwww
Genesis/algadmc1
Peoplesoft
Oracle
etc

With the exception of ACSIS, almost all of the systems in the above list require the username and password you were originally given.  The support pages associated with these systems will instruct you on how to change your password.

Weak or Strong?

People and programs try to break into accounts. The simpler your password is, the weaker it is. Algonquin recently took a step to force everyone to begin using more complex passwords. Not all of our systems require it yet but they will. Remember that many systems are case sensitive so check the Caps-Lock key on your computer.

Time Outs

For extra security, passwords on some systems expire automatically after a certain period of time forcing you to select a new one. As part of the process, the system will verify that the new password contains sufficient complexity and hasn’t been used recently.

ACSIS?

ACSIS can be confusing because this system does not recognize staff or student usernames and passwords.  ACSIS is the only system that requests your student or employee number.  Do not use your employee or student number for any other system except ACIS. - ACSIS Support