Strong Passwords
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 14:50:17 -0400
From: Rick Miller <miller@kutztown.edu>
To: faculty <faculty@kutztown.edu>
Subject: Password Requirements for Student Accounts
Dear Colleagues:
This email contains important information regarding student computer
Accounts and passwords for the Windows-based computer labs and is intended to
Alleviate disruptions when using the Windows-based computer labs for the first
time this fall semester.
Kutztown University's Information Technology Division is implementing
The practice of strong passwords to correspond with the password policy of
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and to enhance
The security of Kutztown University's information and technology.
Students were notified that strong passwords are required for students'
Windows accounts effective Tuesday, August 22, 2006. When students
log onto Windows-based computers in the labs, they will need to change their
password to a strong password, if they have not already done so. If your class
encounters a problem, please call the help center at ext. 31511 for
assistance.
The new strong password requirements previously communicated to the
students:
* Must be at least 8 characters in length (127 characters
maximum)
* Must contain at least 3 of the following 4 types of characters:
- upper case letters
- lower case letters
- numbers
- special characters, such as _ # @ $ ^ *
* Must not be the same as any of the previous 3 passwords
* Passwords will expire after 120 days
If the student already has an account:
All that needs to be done is to log onto a Windows computer. When
logging in, the prompt to change your password appears. The student must type in a password that meets the above requirements.
If the student does not have an account or forgets their password:
Go to https://secure.kutztown.edu/StudentAccountSystem and follow the
instructions. During this process, the creation of a strong password
is required. The student must choose one that meets the above
requirements.
If the student is in a lab and needs to log in to activate their Windows
account:
The "Setupmy" account will no longer allow students to log in to create
Their Windows account due to the change to strong passwords. The account
Listed below has been created for students to log into the lab computers to
Activate their Windows account:
Username: newaccount
Password: Fall-2006
Domain: students.kutztown.edu
The password for this account also needs to be changed on a regular
basis to comply with the strong password requirements. Each semester the
password will change to reflect the current term and year. For example, during the spring semester the password will change to Spring-2007 and in the summer
sessions the password would be Summer-2007. Please notice the password starts
with a capital letter to help it meet the complexity requirements.
For guidance in picking a strong password, please refer to
http://security.kutztown.edu <http://security.kutztown.edu/> and click
the link "How to Pick Passwords" on the left.
Rick Miller
Director of Academic Technology & Information Security
Kutztown University