Student Account Information

Account Info

Do I Need a Computer Account?
What is My Username?
What Does a Computer Account Give Me?
What Happens When I Leave?

Internet

Accessing the Internet
Internet Access From Home

Passwords

What is My Password?
Changing Your Password
My Password Doesn't Work?

Do I Need a Computer Account?

If you wish to use any of the computer labs on campus to browse the internet or do printing/copying you will need a computer account (username). In order to set up your account and find out your username your will need to register your ID card. You can do this at one of the locations listed here. You will be able to do this from 3 weeks before the start of your first paper. (If you are a returning student your username and password will be the same as it was when you left). The account itself costs nothing, you get charged for things like printing and internet use.

What is My Username?

Your username is assigned by the computer system when you first enrol at Waikato, it is usually your initials followed by a number, e.g. John James Smith might have a username of jjs4. The number only indicates that other people before you have these initials.

To find out your username, you can go to one of the places listed here to register your ID Card. You will not have access till 3 weeks before the start of your course.

What Does a Computer Account Give Me?

• Access to computer labs provided by your school of study for course work and assignments.
• Use of network printers.
• Access to H: Drive (Home Share) - a 2 GB secure file storage space also accessible off Campus (Web Drive/Web Home)
• An email address allowing you to send and receive electronic mail world-wide.
• Access to the University online services (such as Moodle, My Web etc.).

What Happens When I Leave?

Access to your H Drive is active for approx. 6 months after you leave the Waikato University.

Your Gmail account does not expire so you will have lifetime access. You will however need to ensure that you change your password every 180 days. Failure to do so will result in your account being locked. You will then need to contact the Service Desk to unlock it.

Accessing the Internet

Internet Access for students is via Lightwire

Each computer lab is set up slightly differently but in most labs, access is via a browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. You will be prompted for your Lightwire username and password if you access any non-university sites.

Internet Access From Home

You will need your own account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to access the internet from home. You will be able to use your Lightwire account when off campus where there is Lightwire coverage (e.g. Hamilton CBD, WINTEC etc.) You can then get access to most University web pages.

The University does not give dial-up access to students.

What is My Password?

Students have one password to log into their email, iWaikato and Moodle etc (known as domain password). You may have more than one password. The lab you are using will affect the password you use. Some Schools labs may have different passwords to log in, so you will have to speak to the computer support people in those areas to find out this information.

If you are a new student your password will not be set until you register your ID Card or go through the New User process. For returning students, your password will be whatever you last set it to. Please note that you are required to change your password every 180 days. Failure to do so will cause your account will be locked. All domain passwords (as above) can be changed here.

Changing Your Password

All student passwords have a lifespan of 180 days. You will be prompted to change your password by the email warnings you will receive from 14 days prior to expiry. Failure to change your password at the end of this time will result in your account being locked.

As students require access to University systems outside of the standard Service Desk hours, ITS have developed and implemented a password self-reset process. On the University of Waikato Web Login page there is now a “Have you forgotten your password” link. If you forget your password, or your password has expired, you can now click on the ‘forgotten password’ link, rather than having to phone ITS Service Desk to get your password reset. If you click this link, you are guided through the password reset process, which includes a security code being sent to your cellphone number as recorded in the University’s student management system. Thus, students are recommended to keep their contact details, particularly their cellphone number, up to date (this can be done by using the change of address link on the student start page http://www.waikato.ac.nz/landing/student.shtml

You can change your password here. If you do not know your password to start with the password changer will not work. You will need to contact the Service Desk on ext 4008 (we do not change passwords via email).

Your password must be between 6 & 16 characters long. It can (and should) contain letters, numbers, special characters (eg @!#^*$). Note: some special characters may not work. You can use upper and lower case characters. It should not be something that could easily be guessed, such as your name, username or birthday. If you forget your password we can not reset it via email due to security reasons. You will need to either call the ITS Service Desk on 838 4008 or go to the student lab (Level 4 in the Library). Be sure to have your Student ID card with you.

Your password is personal to you and only you and should not be revealed to anyone. Sharing passwords is against the Computer Regulations and can result in disciplinary action.

My Password Doesn't Work!

Ensure that you don't have a space at the beginning or end of your password, and that the Caps Lock key is not turned on. Passwords are case-sensitive, a & A are two separate characters to the computer.
If this does not work either see your local computer support person, or go to the student lab (Level 4 in the Library). Please bring your Student ID card. You can also phone the Service Desk on 4008 (for domain passwords).

If you need further assistance please submit your question via Ask Me