Passwords

Once you are an OU student you will be given a unique username and password so that you can sign in to your own protected area. This will give you access to services that are only available to registered students, so always have your student details to hand.

You will find that the more web services you use, the more usernames and passwords you may need. Although the University does try to keep these to a minimum, if you need a handy way to record your details, make a list of the following:

• Your OU Personal Identifier
• Your OU computer username
• Your OU email address

These are all sent in your registration letter. Also make a note of the OU Computing Helpdesk contact details in the current Computing Guide and the new Computing Guide (both require login details).

If you are working in a private area where those details are safe, display the list near your computer - but never display any passwords, for any computer system you use.

When you get your registration confirmation letter

Find your username and default password. You will need these to sign in to the resources that are available only to OU students.

You will be asked to change your password when you first sign in to the OU system, so think of something that will be easy for you to remember but difficult for others to guess. You should not tell anybody what your password is, and you should not write it down or save it in a document on you computer.

Here are some other tips on best practice in choosing your password.

Note also that, to protect the interests of all our staff and students, the University has a strict Computing Code of Conduct (PDF, 31KB) and Code of practice for student discipline (PDF, 99KB) and that

• you are responsible and accountable for all activities carried out under your username
• you must never divulge your password to another person.