Technology Introduction

Welcome to UCSF! Technology will be an integral component of your UCSF education. These how to page will help familiarize you with technology at UCSF and provides guidance on preparing your computer prior to starting your program. You will find information on the technology resources that are available to you, where to get support, how to setup devices, and information about email and accounts.

UCSF is a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) campus and requires all students to own and use personal devices for UCSF-related activities. These devices must be compliant with the hardware and software requirements included in the SOP Technology Requirements for Students. Before making any new purchases, it is important to review this policy in detail.

On this page

Student accounts

First-time login

The Registrar distributes login credentials; you should receive this in advance of your orientation. If you have not, please contact your program. Please follow these instructions the first time you log in. You need to setup the Duo Mobile App for two-factor authentication, enroll in the UCSF Password Management Tool, change your password, and setup Hitachi ID Mobile Access App.

  1. Visit email.ucsf.edu and log in using your full email address and new password.
  2. The first time you log in, you will be prompted to enroll in Duo. Follow the on-screen prompts to set up a new device—you will need to download the Duo Mobile app to your iOS or Android device.
  3. After enrolling in Duo, you can enroll in the UCSF Password Management Tool and change your original password. Enrollment in this tool will also enable you to perform password resets in case you are accidentally locked out of your account. Otherwise, it requires a call to the UCSF IT Service Desk.
  4. Since you are likely doing this off-campus, you will need to access the tool through the UCSF VPN Portal and log in using the Duo Mobile app. If you are on campus, the tool can be accessed directly at password.ucsf.edu.
  5. Once logged into the VPN Portal, access the tool by selecting the UCSF Password Management Tool link and log in using your UCSF email address.
  6. Follow prompt to create six security questions and answers to authenticate your account and enroll in the tool.
  7. From the main menu, click the "Change passwords" button and follow prompt to create a new password that meets all the requirements.
  8. To prevent being locked out of your account, immediately update your password on your mobile phone and all other devices. Change your password for WiFi, UCSF email, and any other apps that make use of your UCSF credentials.
  9. While you are in the UCSF Password Management Tool, you should setup the Hitachi ID Mobile Access and register a device. This app allows you access these password tools off-campus without being connected to the VPN.
  10. Download the Hitachi ID Mobile Access App to your mobile device (Android, iOS).
  11. From the main menu of the UCSF Password Management Tool, click “Register mobile devices” button and follow prompt to setup a new device.

Accounts

UCSF IT has consolidated most login credentials. The majority of applications only require single sign-on to MyAccess: myaccess.ucsf.edu. The landing page provides links to all UCSF applications and allows you to favorite your most commonly used links. There are a few exceptions to the single sign-on, including APeX credentials which are provisioned separately and some school-specific applications such as E*Value, ExamSoft, and Poll Everywhere.

UCSF email

Format: [email protected]

Example: [email protected]

Uses: MyAccess Single Sign-On, UCSF Email, UCSFwpa WiFi

Active directory username

Format: domain\first initial and last name

Example: campus\jsmith

Uses: Pulse Secure VPN, Duo Two-Factor Login, UCSFwpa WiFi

UCID

Format: 9-digit number starting with "02"

Example: 029876543

Username issues

Name changes

The name that appears in the Student Portal will appear on all official university records. If your name or email does not appear how you would like, at anytime after admission you can contact the Registrar to request your preferred first name to be updated. In addition, the Registrar can submit requests to update the name used in your e-mail address. To change your legal name in university records, please complete a Petition for Name Change in person at the Registrar's office.

Same and similar names

The Office of the Registrar will alert you when someone else has the same name but not when someone has a similar name. You can check the UCSF Directory for faculty and staff but not students. If a student has the same name or a similar name, there is no easy way for you to know. There a few ways you might discover this problem:

  • You receive e-mail that appears to be legitimate but obviously is not for you.
  • You hear that others sent you email messages that you never received.
  • You are unable to access your courses in the CLE and you have difficulty resolving this problem.

If you discover that you have the same or a similar name to someone else at UCSF, you should contact the Office of the Registrar to work on a solution.

UCSF WeID card

The UCSF Police Department handles WeID Services and WeID Cards. All UCSF students need a UCSF photo ID card. Students are required to display their UCSF ID card at all times while on premises that UCSF owns or operates. The ID card also will provide access to perimeter and interior doors. We strongly recommend that you upload a photo on the “My Photo ID” tab in the student portal before arriving on campus. See the Registrar’s WeID Card page for more info.

  • After about 6:00 pm the glass doors to Medical Sciences are locked and there is no cardkey reader there. To enter the building, use the unmarked metal door between 505 Parnassus and 513 Parnassus.
  • Replacement cards are $36. Your program’s administrative office does not cover this cost for you. The WeID team is more likely to replace your card for free if you report any failures soon after you first receive it.
  • Quickly report lost or stolen cards to the WeID team so that your card can be deactivated.

Technology requirements

UCSF is a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) campus and requires all students to personally own a device for UCSF-related activities. The Technology Requirements for Students is an extensive policy that establishes that provides minimum hardware requirements, dictates that certain software is installed, and ensures that you have an open line of communication with campus and that you can access all learning materials. Thorough review and understanding of these requirements is essential.

Technology support

If you are unsure of who to contact for your issue or where you should begin, please contact Alexa Tan ([email protected]) to assist in directing you to the appropriate Tech Support contact.

UCSF IT Service Desk (phone/web/email only)

First point of contact for assistance with all UCSF IT Services. Email, VPN, WiFi, MyAccess account. Supports UCSF student, faculty, and staff. 

Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Phone: (415) 514-4100 (have your student ID ready)

Chat, Tickets, Knowledge Base: help.ucsf.edu

Email: [email protected]

UCSF Library Tech Commons (onsite only)

Location: Parnassus Library, room CL-240

  • The Tech Commons is open to the UCSF community with ID
  • Drop in Monday – Friday from 11:00am to 1:00pm
  • Staffed by UCSF IT Services

Student Helpdesk (web/email only)

The Student Helpdesk provides student-run, student-focused educational technology support for the PharmD degree program.

Web: Submit a service request

Email[email protected]

Computer labs and printing

See the Kalmanovitz Library’s Use the Library for the latest info. Student Study Spaces remain available.

After computer labs reopen, to print from campus computers, you must first open a printing account. Your account is debited automatically for each page you print. Opening a printing account is optional, and you can do so at any time.