Below are some of the more common questions regarding Marshall University’s MUNet Account system. For further help with these questions, and others that may not be covered in this FAQ, please call the Service Desk at (304) 696-3200 or email us at itservicedesk@marshall.edu.

1. What is a MUNet Username and where is it used ?
2. What is an activation code and when is it used ?
3. How do I get an MUNet Account?
4. When can I begin using my MUNet Username?
5. Can I change my MUNet ID?
6. Will I have to change my MUNet password ?
7. What if I have forgotten my MUNet Username?
8. What if I have forgotten my password ?
9. What if I have two MUNet Usernames ?
10. What are the requirements for MUNet passwords ?
11. How do I change my password?
12. When I change my password, I get an error, what do I do?
13. How do I activate my account?
14. When I try to activate my account I get an error when I put in my MUNet Username, what do I do?
15. When I try to create my security questions and fill in the answers I get an error, what do I do?
16. I’ve forgotten my MUNet Account security questions, what do I do?
17. Why are the Security Questions so personal?

1. What is a MUNet Username and where is it used?

The MUNet Username is a login name that is normally the same as the first part of your Marshall email address that comes before the "@" mark. It will look something like "testsample23" (for a user with a Marshall email address testsample23@marshall.edu). It is used for logging into a variety of systems on campus such as email, Blackboard and myMU. It does not replace or change a person's email address.

2.  What is an temporary activation code and when is it used?

The temporary activation code is a one-time password for new MUNet Accounts.  It is used to activate new MUNet Accounts and is only used once. On certain occasions, such as when someone does not remember their password and security questions, a MUNet Account may need to be re-activated using a temporary activation code.

3.  How do I get a MUNet Account?

Students will be provided their MUNet Account after completing the application process. New faculty and staff members will be given a MUNet Username upon employment and registration with Human Resources. The MUNet Account can be activated at http://activation.marshall.edu and following instructions at that link.

4.  When can I begin using my MUNet Account?

For some systems, you can use your MUNet Account immediately after activating it, but other systems may require that you wait for overnight processes to provide access.  If you’ve just received your MUNet Account Username and cannot log into a particular system, please wait and try again after 24 hours before reporting a problem.  If you continue to have problems, please open a ticket with the Service Desk at http://www.marshall.edu/inforesources/.

5.  Can I change my MUNet Account?

No, not generally, MUNet Accounts are automatically generated and assigned and are not frequently changed. There may be certain extraneous situations that may require a MUNet Username change, but that is something that will only occur if necessary.

6.  Will I have to change my MUNet Account password?

Staff, faculty and student assistants are encouraged to change their passwords every 120 days. Students are not required to change their MUNet Account passwords at this time, but we strongly suggest that you do.

7.  What if I have forgotten my MUNet Username?

Your Marshall ID card displays your MUNet Account name, but you can also follow the links to recover your lost MUNet Username (http://www.marshall.edu/munet_reset/dolookup.php). If you cannot use the online self-service tools, you must go to one of the following places (bring your photo ID):

Huntington campus - the IT Service Desk is on the first floor of the Drinko Library. South-Charleston - call the IT Service Desk at (304) 696-3200.

If you are unable to travel or reach anyone at either of the above locations, please open a ticket with the Service Desk at http://www.marshall.edu/inforesources/.

8. What if I have forgotten my password?

If you have lost or forgotten your password, and you need to reset your password, use the MUNet Account self-service web site (http://passwordreset.marshall.edu/). Otherwise, if you've not yet registered your password, you can use the password reactivation service (https://www.marshall.edu/munet_reset/activation.php) to reset your password to a pre-registered state. If you cannot use the online tools, please open a ticket with the Service Desk at http://www.marshall.edu/inforesources/.

9.  What if I have two MUNet Accounts?

You should only be issued one MUNet Account even if you are a student, staff or faculty member at the same time.  Please report the problem to the Service Desk at http://www.marshall.edu/inforesources/.

10.  What are the requirements for MUNet Account passwords?

For students:

• 6 character minimum
• Passwords are case sensitive
• Cannot re-use last three passwords
• Cannot use MUNet Account, first or last names as password

Additional requirements for faculty, staff and student assistants:

• Required to reset your password every 120 days

11. How do I change my password?

Password changes are perfomed through the MUNet password change page (http://passwordchange.marshall.edu/). To complete a password change, you must have valid MUNet credentials. If you do not know your MUNet credentials, or you believe your account has been compromised, use the MUNet Reset process instad.

12. When I change my password, I get an error, what do I do?

There are a few things to check when you get an error on password reset. First make sure both password fields have the password typed in correctly. Second, make sure that you are following the guidelines for passwords, as detailed in this MUNet Account Password Policy page. If you are still encountering an error, contact the Service Desk.

13. How do I activate my account?

This is typically only for new students, faculty and staff members. You need your first and last name, birthdate, and the last 4 numbers of your social security number to activate your account through the First Time User registration process.  You may go to the MUNet Account page (https://www.marshall.edu/munet_reset/munet/munetid.php) and click the First Time User menu item, following the instructions afterwards. You will need to have avalid Marshall email address in your record in order to activate your MUNet Account. If you have not set this up yet, contact the Registrar at registrar@marshall.edu if you are a student; for faculty and staff please contact Human Resources at human-resources@marshall.edu.

14. When I try to activate my account I get an error when I put in my MUNet Username, what do I do?

You may contact the Service Desk where they can validate your identity and tell you what your MUNet Username is, or go directly to the MUNet Username Look Up webpage. You will then need to go to the MUNet Account Registration page (MUNet Accounts )page and activate your MUNet Account by clicking on the Activate Your MUNet Account menu item.

15. When I try to create my security questions and fill in the answers I get an error, what do I do?

There are a couple of things to check when you get an error answering your security questions. First, make sure your answer is longer than four characters. Secondly, each answer must be unique from all other answers you have provided. If you are still having issues contact the Service Desk..

16. I’ve forgotten my MUNet Account security questions, what do I do?

You will need to go to the MUNet Account page (https://www.marshall.edu/munet_reset/munet/munetid.php) and change your security questions by clicking on the Change Security Questions option. You will need your MUNet Account and password in order to change your questions and answers. Due to security standards, the system will also ask you to change your password after changing your security questions.

17. Why are the Security Questions so personal?

If you forget your password, the Marshall Self Service Password management system allows you to reset it yourself without having to wait for somebody else to do it for you. The security questions used for this process need to be personal to make sure you are the person you claim to be. As stipulated by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), it must be limiting enough that even relatives of the user may find it difficult to answer these questions and thus gain access to a user’s account . However, the answers to these questions also need to be memorable and unique enough to allow users to answer them naturally and not have to memorize or document them.

Having the ability to protect accounts from everyone outside the account owner while also providing an easy way to manage said account is paramount to complying with governmental policies and regulations and is a necessary component for any business or institution and its users and/or customers. Having users provide answers to security questions is one method to enact this requirement and is a widely accepted industry standard.

Security questions are designed with varying degrees of personal questions to protect the user from another person trying to access their account, while giving the user enough of a hint in the form of personal knowledge to be able to answer the questions and gain access to their account.

Passwords and security questions are protected and encrypted by the system. If a user does not answer the questions correctly, IT support staff can not access the answers to check for the right answer, but will instead go through another validation mechanism in the form sending a temporary password to the user’s personal email.

Marshall University understands and appreciates the diversity of its user community and has taken this into consideration when designing security questions.That is why questions vary in nature. Five questions are presented even though users are only required to answer three so users can choose not to answer certain questions.

Marshall University IT does not know and have no means to access or discover, and will not ask for, a user's password or security questions.