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Information Resources and Technology

SacLink Password Management

Expired Passwords

Beginning February 16, 2011, all passwords over 12 months old will expire. Any user with a password over 12 months old will be locked out of their account and not have access to SacLink, My Sac State, SacCT or any other Sac State system. In order to prevent becoming locked out of your account, update your password to 12 characters immediately.

Update your Password

Once you have been locked out, you have 3 options to update your password: (This process may take up to 5 minutes.) In addition to changing your password you may have to update your mobile device, re-authenticate to the wireless network, or re-authenticate to campus services from a off campus computer.

Option 1: (If you have already set up your Security Questions)

  1. Go to the Password Manager at password.csus.edu to change your password.
  2. Enter your SacLink Username and click "Log in"
  3. Choose the option to "I have forgotten my password" and enter the answers to the security questions. Click continue.
  4. From the Main Menu, choose "Change Password".
  5. Enter a new 12 character password and click "Submit".
  6. Log off your current computer station and re-log in.

Note: If are unable to access the Password Manager, you must come into the IRT Service Desk with a Sac State One Card or a Government issued photo ID to have your password reset. 

Option 2:

  1. Go to an Open Computer Lab (AIRC 2004, AIRC 3008, Library 2000, MND 2004, MND 2008, and SLN 2001).
  2. Attempt to log in with your SacLink username and password. 
  3. You will be prompted to change your password.
  4. Enter your expired and a new 12 character password. Click "OK".
  5. Go to password.csus.edu and update your security questions. If you do not update your security questions you will be expired in April 2011.

Option 3: 

  1. Visit the IRT Service Desk in the AIRC building, room 2005. 
  2. Bring a Sac State One Card or a Government issued photo ID.
  3. A Service Desk Representative will help you reset your password and enter your security questions.

Note: It is possible that there will a long wait for in person password resets, plan accordingly. The IRT Service Desk will not reset a password remotely. Click here for the IRT Service Desk Hours of Operation. 

Password Manager Information

  • Answers to questions about the Password Manager are available at the IRT Service Desk's Password Management FAQs.
  • If you have questions or need information about what it means to update your password, visit the IRT Service Desk's Change Password FAQs.

Update Mobile Device Connection

Users typically save their password on different devices such as smartphones, because of this it is important to update these devices with a your new password to complete the Password Change process. Other common devices to be aware of are iPods, PDAs, Laptops, etc. 

Once you have changed your password in Password Manager, make sure to change your saved password on your mobile device.

Back to Expired Passwords

Re-authenticate Wireless Connection

Another common way users save their passwords is to automatically connect to the SacLink Secure wireless network. If your SacLink password is enabled to allow you instant connection to the SacLink Secure wireless network here on campus, make sure to update your password on your laptop or smart device before you try to access the internet. If you do not update your password, you will not be able to access the internet.

Back to Expired Passwords

Re-authenticate Campus Services from Off Campus

After creating your new password, it is important to remember to update your information on your home computer or laptop. This can include email, off-campus access to shared drives (Ex. U:drive), and any saved web browser passwords. Without updating these passwords, off campus email will not sync with the campus servers preventing any new emails from coming into your mailbox and blocking any messages from being sent, you will no longer have access to your shared drives, and may experience an error message when trying to access on-line campus services.

Remember to update all your saved SacLink passwords!

Back to Expired Passwords

Account Home

A SacLink account is required for students, faculty, and staff to access many online University related services. Services include on-campus computer labs, wireless networks, free software download, dial-in access, personal web pages, off-campus Library databases, My Sac State, SacCT, and on campus printing.

Activate Account

Welcome to Sacramento State, to gain access to student, faculty, and staff resources like My Sac State, email, and wireless you will need a SacLink username and password. All eligible users can create a SacLink account at www.saclink.csus.edu.

  1. From the SacLink homepage, locate the box “Set up SacLink” on the left side of the page. This box will contain the ‘register’ button. Click on the ‘register’ button.
  2. The SacLink registration page will appear asking for personal identification information to create a SacLink account.
  3. You will then be directed to a SacLink user agreement page. Review this page carefully then click “agree.”
  4. Next, you will be given username choices with pound (#) signs that will become numbers at the end of the process. If given multiple username selections, select one and click ‘next.’
  5. After your username selection, a password will need to be created. Pay close attention to the password requirements. Select ‘next’ when you have chosen your password. When you are done choosing a password, the final page will provide you with your SacLink e-mail. The first part of the e-mail address will be your SacLink username used to access My Sac State.
  6.  You have now successfully created your SacLink account.

Account Types and Eligibility Rules

There are different SacLink account types that determine your access to My Sac State, SacCT, and campus resources.

Sac State ID #

Your Sacramento State identification number (Student or Employee ID number) is a personal number used as your campus identity. This is number is not your Social Security number. This number is used when creating a SacLink account, filing for graduation, and much more.  If you are a new student you find you Sac State ID number in your Sac State admissions letter.

If you have already created your SacLink account, you can retrieve your Sac State ID number by logging into my.csus.edu. From your My Sac State homepage select the ‘Student Services’ tab or 'Staff Services' tab. Then locate the ‘Personal Information’ box where the ‘Sac State ID’ link will be found.

Password Home

The role of a password is to prevent unauthorized access to data just as a key prevents unauthorized access to a house or apartment. A password should be guarded with the same care as the key to a house or apartment. The hardest part of choosing a password is making it difficult for others to guess but easy for you to remember. Writing down passwords or saving your password/passphrase within an application are dangerous practice and should be avoided.

Password Manager

SacLink Password Manager is an easy to use, web-based 24/7 self-service program used to change passwords. It uses security questions to verify identity so users can reset a forgotten password. Setting up your security questions takes just a few minutes. To set up security questions or change your password, go to password.csus.edu and login with your SacLink username. If you don't know your password and you haven't set up your security questions, call the IRT Service Desk at 916.278.7337 for assistance.

Managing your SacLink Password:

  • Set up your Security Questions at password.csus.edu
  • Choose a passphrase
  • Change your password at password.csus.edu

PassPhrase

We encourage you to use a Passphrase. A passphrase is a short common sense phrase or sentence that simply has to be at least twelve (12) characters long, using any characters on a standard English keyboard.

Examples of good, simple-to-use passphrase are:

  • I will graduate in 2010
  • Writing teacher
  • Wisconsin gets cold
  • Me gusta Sacramento
  • I like Dr Pepper
  • Thirty three trees

The only don't for creating a passphrase are:

  • Don't use your SacLink Username or any part of it, or the word "password"
  • Don't use the examples provided.

Be creative and use a simple phrase of at least twelve (12) characters that is unique and meaningful to you. To obtain more information about how to create a secure password, please visit the Accounts and Password FAQs.

Annual Password Change

You should change your SacLink password annually (at least once every 12 months) and whenever any of the following scenarios apply:

  • Your password doesn't currently meet the SacLink Password Guidelines (See Passphrase information).
  • You have told your password to anyone.
  • You have written your password down anywhere.
  • You have logged in with your SacLink information to a system that does not have a firewall, may be infected with a virus or spyware, etc.

Set up Security Questions

As part of ongoing enhancements to improve your SacLink on-line experience, we are implementing self-service processes for managing your account. This includes resetting your password, unlocking your account, and even resetting a forgotten SacLink ID. The first step is to complete your security questions (similar to your financial institutions online access).

Take a few moments right now to enter information for your personal account that will allow these improvements to be implemented. The information you provide is completely secure and will never be sold or published.

Please take the following simple steps:

  1. Go to Sac State's home webpage at www.csus.edu and click on the Manage Account button next to the login button at the top.
  2. Enter your SacLink Username in the designated box and click Log In.
  3. Click on Answer Questions/Change Password and then enter your SacLink password to identify yourself.
  4. Complete the following three easy steps to update your security information:
  5. Choose two of the security questions in the first section to provide personal answers to.
  6. Enter an alternate email address (non-campus) where you can be contacted for both verifying your identity and contacting you for emergency communications.
  7. Enter a personal question and answer of your choosing that only you will know (e.g. A childhood friend? A: Veronica).
  8. Press the Submit button and you’re done.

Change Password

Now that you have updated your SacLink account security questions, it's time to also update your password to our new easier-to-use passphrase format. The process takes just a few minutes, but does require that you re-login to your computer after updating. For that reason, it's often best to schedule the password change process for a time when your computer desktop is relatively clear so you won't have to close down applications you're working on.

Just follow the steps below to change your password:

  1. Go to the Sacramento State homepage at www.csus.edu and click on the Manage Account button at the top of the page to open Password Manager. Note: If you have a smart cell phone that links to your campus email, turn that phone to airplane mode before you begin.
  2. Enter your SacLink ID and click Log In (or just hit Enter).
  3.  Click on “Use Current Password”, enter your current SacLink password and click Continue (or hit Enter key)
  4. Click on the Change Password link on the main menu that appears.
  5. Follow the simple passphrase instructions to enter an easily typed and memorable phrase of at least twelve (12) characters.
  6. Confirm the passphrase you entered and click on Change My Password; if the phrase you entered has at least twelve (12) characters, including spaces, you’re new password is complete. You won‘t have to update again until this time next year.

Your SacLink password is now updated, but you have just one or two steps to complete the process on your computer devices:

  1. Use the new password to re-login to your computer. Remember to use your new password when prompted for your SacLink Username on other computers (e.g. second computer or home computer linked to your files)
  2. If you have a smart phone that links to your campus email, turn airplane mode off, find the email account settings on your phone and update the SacLink password the phone uses to connect. Most smart phones have an Account Settings menu where you can easily update your password. If you miss this step, your phone will continually send the wrong password as it tries to synchronize email. This could result in your account becoming locking.

Reset Forgotten Password

If you have forgotten your SacLink password you have two options to reset it.

  1. If you have created security questions, login to password.csus.edu and select “I have forgotten my password.” You will then be prompted to answer two of your security questions before resetting your password.
  2. If you have not created security questions, contact the IRT Service Desk at 916.278.7337 or visit AIRC 2005 to have your password reset. To create your security questions after resetting your password login to password.csus.edu.

Annual Change

All SacLink passwords older than 1 year must be changed. Don't get left behind! All you need is 12 seconds and 12 characters to update your password. Join the effort, go to password.csus.edu and change your password to at least 12 characters today!

What do I do once I have changed my password?

  • Log off your current computer station and re-login.
  • Change your password on your mobile device.
  • Change cached/saved passwords on your machine or multiple PC's.

Do you need additional assistance?

Have questions or need more assistance, please contact the IRT Service Desk at 916.278.7337, servicedesk@csus.edu, or visit us in Academic Information Resource Center (AIRC) room 2005.

Wireless Connection

If you have saved your SacLink Password to allow you instant connection to the SacLink Secure wireless network on campus, make sure that you update your saved password on your computer under network connections.

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