ARCHIVED: At IU, how do I change or reset the passphrase on a group or departmental account?

Note: All group or departmental accounts must have a sponsor who is an active faculty or staff member (as reported by HRMS). If the sponsor leaves the university or through change of HR status becomes ineligible to sponsor an account, the sponsored account(s) will be removed. To ensure the continuity of your group accounts, see How do I transfer ownership of a group or departmental account? or My group or departmental account doesn't have a sponsor; what should I do?

Every group, department, or student organization account at Indiana University has an official sponsor, usually a faculty member of full time staff. The account sponsor is the only person authorized to change the group account passphrase, even if other people regularly log into and use the account.

Changing your IU group or departmental account passphrase

If you are the account sponsor, to change or synchronize your IU group or departmental passphrase:

1. Close all applications other than your Internet browser, and log out of any phones that function as clients for UniCom.

   In your browser, if you're using the Account Management Service, in the left column, click change current passphrase. Otherwise, go to the Passphrase Maintenance page at:

   https://passphrase.iu.edu/
2. In the first field, enter your Network ID username; if you want to change the passphrase to a group or departmental account, enter the username of that account instead.
   
   
3. In the next field, enter the Network ID passphrase.
   
   
4. In the last two fields, enter the passphrase you want the account to have. All accounts associated with the Network ID will be set to this new passphrase.

   For information on selecting a valid and secure passphrase, see Passwords and passphrases.

5. Click Change Passphrase.

If you are not the account sponsor and need to change the passphrase on a group or departmental account, you must obtain permission in writing from the sponsor. This can be either a letter on official IU letterhead, delivered in person to a UITS Support Center walk-in office, or an email message to  valid@indiana.edu  that originates from the sponsor's personal email account. The letter must contain the username of the account (for example, jediclub). It must explicitly grant you permission to change the passphrase, and it must contain the sponsor's University ID number. If you wish to have the passphrase changed by mail, the sponsor will also need to include your postal address. If the account sponsor elects to send an email message to the Accounts Office, the message must specify whether you will handle the change request by mail or by visiting the Support Center walk-in office.

For more about walk-in support, see What are the locations and hours for walk-in support at each IU campus?

Note: Each letter or email message is effective only once. If you are not the account sponsor and you need to reset the passphrase more than once, you will need a new message from the account sponsor every time.

Resetting your IU group or departmental account passphrase

If you have forgotten your passphrase, you can have it reset and thereby get continued access to your IU technology accounts. Account sponsors for groups and departments have the following options for resetting their passphrases:

• In person: Take a photo ID to one of the UITS Support Center walk-in offices. You will need to know your University ID number. Once a consultant has confirmed your identity, allow 20 minutes for your passphrase change to be processed.

  For more about walk-in support, see What are the locations and hours for walk-in support at each IU campus?

• By mail: If you cannot visit the Support Center, you may obtain a Passphrase Change Form; see How can I request a passphrase reset by mail or fax?

  Print this form, fill it out, and either mail it to the address indicated on the form or fax it to 812-855-0354, attention VALID. A new passphrase will be generated and mailed to you in approximately one week.

For further help, contact your campus Support Center.