Computer Account Requests - New Processes as of Sept 2, 2008

In the past, we have had different account processes and services for many different types of employees and volunteers. We now have streamlined the account process down to two divisions. We will follow one process if the employee is paid by Penn State, and follow a second process if the person is not paid by Penn State.

One of the most significant changes in the process is that the College of Ag IT Unit will no longer play a role in applying for or receiving a Penn State Access Account. Computer security policies no longer allow us to receive an employee’s confidential account information. New employees will file the access account application form directly with the Accounts office at University Park, and will need to visit any campus of the university to receive their password. We used to provide an intermediary service for these account procedures, it is now against policy to do so.

If the person is paid by Penn State, he/she will need to apply for a Penn State Access Account. This username and password combination will grant the employee access to manage their Penn State benefits online, to access Penn State Library information, to connect to authorized Penn State wireless services, to use Penn State campus training computer labs, and to login to CASPAR. Additionally, the employee will need to apply for a College of Ag domain account to gain access to other needed services – to use Enterprise computers, to send and receive e-mail using the College’s Outlook/Exchange system, and to connect to SharePoint services.

Account request process for Penn State paid employees can be found at - http://it.cas.psu.edu/1207.htm

Everyone else NOT paid by Penn State - county paid staff, student interns, and dedicated volunteers who need access to college computers (office computers or SharePoint Sites) to perform their duties - do not receive a Penn State Access Account. They must apply for a “Friends of Penn State” account and the College of Ag Domain Account. Depending on the services requested when the account is created, the domain account will enable this person to use Enterprise computers, send and receive e-mail through the College’s Outlook/Exchange mail system and connect to SharePoint services.

Account request process for County paid employees can be found at - http://it.cas.psu.edu/386.htm

Thank you for your cooperation and patience as we help to make these new processes more routine.