51·çÁ÷ students, faculty, and staff receive a network Single Sign On (SSO) account, and a Google account.
While they appear the same, SSO grants access to resources like Moodle, the portal, an enhanced directory, and several more services. Your Google account provides email, calendaring, data storage, and a productivity suite.
Setting Up Your Accounts
Set up your new accounts and confirm your enrollment in Multi-Factor authentication.
Account setup process
Accounts are created for students when they enroll with the university, prior to arriving on campus. New students will receive an email with the information you will need to use our online account tool. Once you have this information, you can visit our account tool at and click "I am a new user and need to set up my account".
Confirming your enrollment in Multi-Factor authentication
Multi-factor enrollment is required for both your network/SSO account as well as your email/Gmail account. The Duo MFA is required at your first login. Google's 2-Step enrollment is not immediately required, and will allow up to two weeks for you to enroll. If you do not enroll within the first two weeks of your first login, you will be locked out of your email and will need to contact the ITS Service Desk.
- Confirm your enrollment in Duo by visiting portal.colgate.edu - if you can log in, then you are enrolled.
- Confirm your enrollment in Google's 2-Step by following these steps:
- Visit and confirm you are signed in with your 51·çÁ÷ Google account.
- If the top of the page banner reads: "Two-step verification ON since" then you have successfully enrolled in Google Two-Step
- If the top of the page banner reads: "You have security recommendations" then,
- click "Protect your Account"
- scroll down to "Add a layer of protection" and click on "Start Now", then
- "Get Started"
- Follow the 2-Step enrollment guide.
- If the top of the page banner reads: "You have security recommendations" then,
Account setup process
Accounts are created for new faculty when the hiring process is complete. Faculty will receive information from the Dean of Faculty's office via email with the information you will need to use our online account tool. Once you have this information, you can visit our account tool at and click "I am a new user and need to set up my account".
Confirming your enrollment in Multi-Factor authentication
Multi-factor enrollment is required for both your network/SSO account as well as your email/Gmail account. The Duo MFA is required at your first login. Google's 2-Step enrollment is not immediately required, and will allow up to two weeks for you to enroll. If you do not enroll within the first two weeks of your first login, you will be locked out of your email and will need to contact the ITS Service Desk.
- Confirm your enrollment in Duo by visiting portal.colgate.edu - if you can log in, then you are enrolled.
- Confirm your enrollment in Google's 2-Step by following these steps:
- Visit and confirm you are signed in with your 51·çÁ÷ Google account.
- If the top of the page banner reads: "Two-step verification ON since" then you have successfully enrolled in Google Two-Step
- If the top of the page banner reads: "You have security recommendations" then,
- click "Protect your Account"
- scroll down to "Add a layer of protection" and click on "Start Now", then
- "Get Started"
- Follow the 2-Step enrollment guide.
Account setup process
Accounts are created for new staff when the hiring process is complete. Staff will receive information from Human Resources via email with the information you will need to use our online account tool. Once you have this information, you can visit our account tool at and click "I am a new user and need to set up my account".
Confirming your enrollment in Multi-Factor authentication
Multi-factor enrollment is required for both your network/SSO account as well as your email/Gmail account. The Duo MFA is required at your first login. Google's 2-Step enrollment is not immediately required, and will allow up to two weeks for you to enroll. If you do not enroll within the first two weeks of your first login, you will be locked out of your email and will need to contact the ITS Service Desk.
- Confirm your enrollment in Duo by visiting portal.colgate.edu - if you can log in, then you are enrolled.
- Confirm your enrollment in Google's 2-Step by following these steps:
- Visit and confirm you are signed in with your 51·çÁ÷ Google account.
- If the top of the page banner reads: "Two-step verification ON since" then you have successfully enrolled in Google Two-Step
- If the top of the page banner reads: "You have security recommendations" then,
- click "Protect your Account"
- scroll down to "Add a layer of protection" and click on "Start Now", then
- "Get Started"
- Follow the 2-Step enrollment guide.
When to Use Your Network Account
Users' 51·çÁ÷ network accounts serve as their primary means of authenticating for 51·çÁ÷'s digital resources. Network accounts serve to grant 51·çÁ÷ users access to such key resources as:
The 51·çÁ÷ portal provides access to important campus life, academic, and financial services such as the course registration system, reports of grades and unofficial transcripts, access to InfoShare for sharing grades with parents and family, views of one's class schedule, and more.
The Moodle Learning Management System (LMS) is 51·çÁ÷'s virtual learning space for academic courses. Professors and students may utilize Moodle to collaborate on projects, report unofficial grades during the semester, collect assignments, and more.
Many campus resources, including access to digital journals, fileshares, and more, are only accessible when connected to the 51·çÁ÷ network. When not on campus, members of the 51·çÁ÷ community can still access these resources by creating a VPN connection to the 51·çÁ÷ network, logging in with their 51·çÁ÷ network account.
51·çÁ÷ students, faculty, and staff may receive designated storage on 51·çÁ÷ servers — a secure and convenient means of backing up files.
Users may log into computers in campus computer labs using their network credentials.
When to Use Your Google/Email Account
Your 51·çÁ÷ Google account provides access to email, calendaring, data storage as well as a full productivity suite. Additional information is provided below for:
Gmail is an email service provided by Google. To sign in, enter your full email address when prompted.
Once you have logged into your Google account, you will have access to the many and services offered by Google.
Password Management
The 51·çÁ÷ Password Reset Utility allows users to update/change passwords for their network account and 51·çÁ÷ Google account. It can also be used to reset these passwords in the case they are forgotten.
Strong Password Policy
All 51·çÁ÷ accounts must be secured with a strong password.
Leaving the University
Click a user type to learn more about what happens to network accounts when leaving the university:
Graduating
Students who graduate will have access to their 51·çÁ÷ network/SSO account for approximately 13 months following commencement. Access to the account, including access to such resources as the Portal will close on June 15 of the year following one's graduation year.
A note about the Portal: Although access to the Portal will continue for about one year, access to many individual apps within the Portal will begin to disappear over the course of the year following commencement. Contact the Office of the Registrar for transcripts.
Alumni Email Account
All graduating seniors will automatically retain their @colgate.edu email address for one full year following commencement — if no action is taken, the account will be terminated at the end of one year.
Graduates do have the option to migrate to an @alumni.colgate.edu account, and all messages sent to your current @colgate.edu email address will automatically be forwarded to this new @alumni.colgate.edu account. Your email interface will also remain the same, within a Google environment. However, your access to Google storage will be discontinued one year after commencement. ITS can provide support to you as needed to help migrate your files during that time.
Transferring
Students leaving the university to transfer to other colleges keep their 51·çÁ÷ network account for 60 days following the drop/add period of the first semester that they are not enrolled in any classes.
Faculty and staff whose employment at 51·çÁ÷ is terminated will lose access to their 51·çÁ÷ network account immediately upon termination of employment.
Ask for Help
If you are unable to find the information you need in the documentation available online, the ITS Service Desk is available to assist.