Your network username and network password will allow you to login to University computers, and sign into the University website at www.westminster.ac.uk to access University news, services, applications and resources.

It is important that you set up your network password using the online Password Self Service at https://password.westminster.ac.uk.

Why do I need to change my network password?

You will be required to change your network password to prevent unauthorised access to your account. If you do not change your password regularly your account may not be secure.

How often do I need to change my password?

University policy is for staff to change their password every 90 days, and students every 180 days.
 

How will I know when my password will expire?

You will be sent notification of the expiry of your password. You will have two chances to change it, and if you do not change your password when notified to do so your account will be locked.

Are there any restrictions on the password I choose?

The password must be at least 8 characters, not a dictionary word and not previously used.  Staff and students using Apple-Macs should not use passwords longer than 8 characters.

What do I do if I forget my password?

If you forget your network password you will not be able to sign in to the University website and you wont have access to any network services like your email and H:Drive for instance. It is important that you create a password that you will remember. Use the Password Self Service to set up your password and choose from a selection of security questions and save your answers. This will enable you to gain access to reset your password if you forget it. In addition students can also request a Password PIN. If you enter a mobile number and email contact details in the Password Self Service you can request for a PIN to be sent to you. 

Why am I asked to change my password if I have just had it reset by the FixIT centre?

The FixIT centre staff will give you a temporary password which allows you access to the Password Self Service so you can reset your password. This is a security measure to ensure that no one else knows what your password is, including the system administrators. Your password is used to verify who you are and should not be known to anyone else, otherwise your account could be mis-used.

Why can't I use other programs to change my password?

The Change Password system synchronises your passwords on all University systems.
If you change your password using another program then the passwords will not get synchronised and you will not be able to access all resources.

Why do I have to logout of the Resource Login system after changing my password?

The Resource Login system allows you to enter your username and password once to access different resources. The system basically remembers your credentials and passes this information to the web servers. Because you need to login to the Resource Login system before changing your password the information would be out of date and pass the old password to the web servers.

Why do I sometimes get redirected to change my password when accessing a web resource?

When you try to sign in to the University network, the login system will check your account and see if you need to change your password. The University policy is for staff to change their password every 90 days, and students every 180 days. If you have not changed your password in the last 90 or 180 days you will be prompted to do so. You will have 2 chances to change your password before your account is locked.

After changing my password, why does my email stop working?

Email for most staff and Computer Science students is delivered to the UNIX email system which is then popped. Because this is using a different system you will need to update your email client to reflect the password change.
 

Why does the Change Password system not change the local user account password?

The Change Password system can be run from any browser anywhere in the world and changing the local user account password could change passwords on computers which are not owned by the University. Most computers within the University do not have local accounts.
 
Updated March 2011