Resetting Your St. Thomas Password

Issue or Question

How do I change or reset my University of St. Thomas account password?

Your St. Thomas account password does not expire. However, you can change or reset it at any time using the options in this article.

Environment

This information applies to the following St. Thomas account types:

  • Student accounts
  • Faculty, staff, affiliate, and student worker accounts
  • Secondary accounts, including XST, IPC, XTRA, XADM, and CWB accounts
  • Emeritus and courtesy accounts

Resolution

Before You Begin

Important: When prompted for your User ID, enter your full St. Thomas username in the format username@stthomas.edu.

Reset Your Primary St. Thomas Account Password

  1. Navigate to the Microsoft password reset page (opens in a new window).
  2. Enter your full St. Thomas username in the format username@stthomas.edu.
  3. Follow the prompts to verify your identity and create a new password.

To register or change the authentication methods used for account recovery, navigate to the Microsoft security information setup page (opens in a new window).

Get Help When Self-Service Password Reset Does Not Work

Select your account type to show or hide the available identity-verification and password-reset options.

If you cannot use self-service password reset, contact the Tech Desk and complete one of the following identity-verification options.

Visit the Tech Desk
  • Visit the Minneapolis campus Tech Desk in TMH 203B or the St. Paul campus Tech Desk at the first-floor service desk in the O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library.
  • Present a valid photo ID, such as a passport, driver’s license, state ID, government-issued ID, or St. Thomas ID.
  • The photo must reasonably match your face, and the name on the ID must match the university’s records.
Call the Tech Desk
  1. Call the Tech Desk at tel:+16519626230651-962-6230.
  2. Verify the three pieces of personal identity information requested by the technician.

The specific identity-verification information is not published to help reduce social-engineering and impersonation attempts.

Request Live Video Verification
  1. Navigate to Tech Desk remote support.
  2. Request live video identity verification.
  3. Use the Zoom link or BeyondTrust remote-support session provided by the technician.
  4. Show your face and a valid photo ID during the live video session.

The photo must reasonably match your face, and the name on the ID must match the university’s records.

Review Tech Desk locations and hours before visiting or contacting the Tech Desk.

If you cannot use self-service password reset, you must verify your identity in person or through live video by showing your face and a valid photo ID.

Visit the Tech Desk
  • Visit the Minneapolis campus Tech Desk in TMH 203B or the St. Paul campus Tech Desk at the first-floor service desk in the O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library.
  • Present a valid photo ID, such as a passport, driver’s license, state ID, government-issued ID, or St. Thomas ID.
  • The photo must reasonably match your face, and the name on the ID must match the university’s records.
Request Live Video Verification
  1. Call the Tech Desk at tel:+16519626230651-962-6230 or navigate to Tech Desk remote support.
  2. Request live video identity verification.
  3. Use the Zoom link or BeyondTrust remote-support session provided by the technician.
  4. Show your face and a valid photo ID during the live video session.

The photo must reasonably match your face, and the name on the ID must match the university’s records.

Review Tech Desk locations and hours before visiting or contacting the Tech Desk.

Important: If you need a new secondary account, ask your supervisor or hiring manager to authorize your access and submit the secondary account request.

Change the Password from an On-Campus Computer
  1. Sign in to an on-campus Windows computer connected to the St. Thomas network.
  2. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete.
  3. Select Change a password.
  4. Enter and confirm the new password.

Your secondary account password is changed after the new password is accepted.

Get Help from the Tech Desk

If you cannot change the password from an on-campus computer, verify your identity in person or through live video.

  • Visit the Minneapolis campus Tech Desk in TMH 203B or the St. Paul campus Tech Desk at the first-floor service desk in the O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library.
  • Call the Tech Desk at tel:+16519626230651-962-6230 or navigate to Tech Desk remote support and request live video identity verification.
  • Show your face and a valid photo ID.
  • The photo must reasonably match your face, and the name on the ID must match the university’s records.

Important: Password-reset completion times depend on the account type:

  • XST, IPC, and CWB accounts: The Tech Desk can normally reset these passwords on demand Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Requests made on nights or weekends may take up to one business day after identity verification.
  • XADM and XTRA accounts: These requests require escalation to the Information Security team after identity verification and cannot be completed on demand. The average completion time is one business day after identity verification.

Review Tech Desk locations and hours before visiting or contacting the Tech Desk.

Emeritus and courtesy accounts have limited access to St. Thomas resources. Register challenge questions before you are locked out so that you can use the password-reset service when needed.

If you cannot use the password-reset service, verify your identity in person or through live video.

  • Visit the Minneapolis campus Tech Desk in TMH 203B or the St. Paul campus Tech Desk at the first-floor service desk in the O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library.
  • Call the Tech Desk at tel:+16519626230651-962-6230 or navigate to Tech Desk remote support and request live video identity verification.
  • Show your face and a valid photo ID.
  • The photo must reasonably match your face, and the name on the ID must match the university’s records.

Review Tech Desk locations and hours before visiting or contacting the Tech Desk.

Caution: The Tech Desk cannot reset a password through email, text-only chat, an intermediary, or a third party. You must complete an approved identity-verification process directly with the Tech Desk.

Password Requirements

Your new password must meet all of the following requirements:

  • Contain at least 15 characters.
  • Contain at least one uppercase letter.
  • Contain at least one lowercase letter.
  • Contain at least one number.
  • Not contain your first name or last name.
  • Not contain your username.
  • Not contain the last four digits of your Social Security number.
  • Not contain the following special characters: #, `, or \.
  • Contain no more than 127 characters.
  • Not match any of your previous 10 passwords.

Troubleshooting

If you cannot reset or change your password:

  • Confirm that you entered your full username in the format username@stthomas.edu.
  • Confirm that the new password meets every password requirement listed above.
  • Confirm that you are using the reset process for your account type.
  • Record the complete wording of any error message.
  • Contact the Tech Desk and complete the required identity-verification process.
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