Issue or Question
How do I activate and set up my University of St. Thomas account for the first time?
New students, new employees, and returning community members need to activate their St. Thomas account before accessing university resources such as email, Canvas, Murphy Online, OneStThomas, and campus computers.
Environment
This information applies to: St. Thomas account activation and setup
- Any supported web browser
- New students, new employees, and returning university community members
- Graduate students, faculty, and staff returning after a previous enrollment or appointment
Resolution
Before You Begin
Important: You will need your St. Thomas ID Number to activate your account. See the steps below to locate your ID Number based on your role.
Step 1: Activate Your Account
Navigate to stthomas.edu/new to claim and activate your account.
To locate your St. Thomas ID Number, refer to the option that applies to you:
- New Students: Your St. Thomas ID Number is available in the Admissions Applicant Portal shortly after acceptance. You will also receive a Welcome email that includes your ID Number.
- New Employees: Your username and St. Thomas ID Number will be sent to you by email after you accept your position at the university.
- Returning Community Members (including returning graduate students, faculty, and staff): Use the same username and ID Number from your previous enrollment or appointment. Contact the Tech Desk for identity verification and assistance if you need help locating your ID Number, username, password, or Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) setup.
Important: Your St. Thomas account will automatically expire on the following schedule:
- Students: 365 days after your last active term or upon graduation
- Faculty: 30 days after university records indicate the faculty member is no longer an active employee
- Staff: Last day worked
Step 2: Create Your Password
When creating your password, it must meet all of the following requirements:
- At least 15 characters in length
- At least one uppercase letter
- At least one lowercase letter
- At least one number
- No more than 127 characters in length
- Must not include your first name or last name
- Must not include your username
- Must not include the last four digits of your Social Security number
- Must not include any of the following special characters:
# ` \
- Must not be any of your previous 10 passwords
You can reset your password at any time by navigating to stthomas.edu/password or by contacting the Tech Desk for identity verification and assistance. For additional password guidance, see Password Requirements and Management.
Step 3: Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) verifies your identity when you sign in and helps protect your personal information.
To complete MFA setup, you will need access to a computer and a smartphone or YubiKey. For full step-by-step instructions, see Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): First Time Setup or review the MFA Frequently Asked Questions.
If you need to set up MFA on a new device and no longer have access to your previous device, contact the Tech Desk for identity verification and assistance.
Step 4: Set Up Password Reset Options
Setting up your password reset options in advance allows you to recover account access at any time — including when the Tech Desk is unavailable — without needing to contact support.
- Navigate to Microsoft's Account Management Portal.
- Once signed in, add your phone number, alternate email address, and security questions to your account.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter issues during account setup:
- Confirm you are using the correct St. Thomas ID Number for your role (student, employee, or returning member).
- Verify your password meets all listed requirements before submitting.
- Clear your browser cache or try a different supported browser if pages do not load correctly.
- If you are unable to complete MFA setup or no longer have access to your registered device, contact the Tech Desk for identity verification and assistance.
- Record the exact wording of any error messages before contacting support.