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Get Started at Northwestern

Welcome to Northwestern University! As a new member of the community, you have access to a multitude of technology tools to collaborate with colleagues, conduct research, teach, and manage your daily life at Northwestern.

Activate Your NetID

Your NetID is your key to the tools and resources Northwestern has to offer. Activate it by going to the NU Validate login page. Enter your NetID and click "Forgot Your Password." Follow the password creation guidelines and establish answers to your security questions. You'll receive your @northwestern email and Collaboration Services account when you activate your NetID.

NOTE: It is against Northwestern policy to share your NetID password with anyone, including managers or coworkers.

Access Your Email Account and Collaboration Services

Use the Outlook Web App or set up an email program like Microsoft Outlook to read email and manage your calendar. Additional tools connected to your Collaboration Services account include voice mail, instant messaging, and file sharing.

Find Technology Tools and Services

Northwestern IT offers essential services and tools needed for teaching, research, and administration at Northwestern including Canvas, the University's Learning Management System; file sharing using Box or SharePoint; conferencing; telephone services; and lecture capture. A list of University systems is also available in the Business Systems Directory.

Additional resources can be found on the Faculty/Staff and Researchers sections of the IT website.

Contact Tech Support

Contact the IT Support Center by phone at 847-491-4357 (1-HELP), email, chat, or by visiting the IT Support Center or the IT Service Point in Evanston. Some schools and departments also provide their own technical support.

Northwestern IT provides step-by-step videos on its YouTube channel to help you set up many common University services like email and wireless. You can also search the Knowledge Base to find answers to many common questions.

Stay Informed

Subscribe to the IT News RSS feed, follow NU1HELP or Northwestern_IT on Twitter for helpful news and tips, or sign up for a Tech Talk webinar to learn about technology topics at the University. Northwestern IT also hosts a variety of online and in-person events throughout the year.

And remember—keep security your top priority!

Information security at Northwestern means three things:

  • Protect your data – Securing sensitive information like NetID passwords, Social Security Numbers, academic information, purchasing details, credit card numbers, health, financial, or research data secure is crucial.
  • Protect your devices – Physical and electronic locks or codes on computers, tablets, smartphones, cell phones, etc. keep devices and the information on them safe.
  • Protect your Northwestern – Learning to spot email scams and stopping other damaging activity like malware goes a long way towards protecting the Northwestern Network, which connects you to the services you rely on 24/7.

Northwestern IT helps you stay safe by offering essential tools, resources, and support, but your security can only be achieved with your active involvement. By protecting yourself, you protect your department, your school, and your Northwestern.

Last Updated: 2 April 2018

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