The U of S Network Services ID (NSID) is a unique identifier issued to all members of the University community. The NSID takes the format of three letters followed by three numbers (e.g. abc123). It is often used as a username to access University computer and network services such as PAWS, e-mail, computer labs, password protected webpages, etc. The services that you are eligible for depend on your role at the University (student, instructor, researcher, employee or alumnus). Systems that use the NSID for access recognize that members of the University community may have multiple roles.
Individual/Personal NSID
NSIDs are automatically created for students, instructors, researchers and employees of the U of S.
New students receive their NSID and a temporary password by mail once they are admitted to the U of S. New students must then log in to PAWS, change their password and should create secret questions that will allow them to change their password if they forget it. The NSID and password are needed in order to register for classes.
Instructors, researchers and employees are typically provided with their NSID when they begin working. Occasionally the process to create the NSID has not been completed by the time they start; if this occurs the account request form (46 KB PDF) can be used to request an NSID.
U of S Alumni who graduated prior to 2001 will not have been assigned NSIDs and should contact the University Advancement Customer Service Centre to obtain one.
Upon receiving an NSID and password, members of the University community should provide a mobile number, an alternate email address or create secret questions in My IT Services (MITS) in case they forget their password. MITS can be accessed by clicking the password icon in PAWS.
Students, instructors, researchers and employees should check with their local IT support staff or go to the ICT Help Desk (ID will be required) if they do not know their NSID. Alumni should contact University Advancement if they do not know their NSID.
Off-campus clients and organizations may be eligible for an NSID depending on their relationship with the University; they should contact the ICT Help Desk.
Service Eligibility
NSIDs provide current students, instructors, researchers and employees with access to a variety of services including:
Additionally, the NSID provides current students with access to:
- Computer Labs (their college lab and several Arts & Science labs)
For alumni, the NSID provides access to:
Retirees, including Professors Emeriti, can continue to use their NSIDs to access:
Special Purpose NSIDs
Special purpose NSIDs may be created to address the needs for a particular function or organization to access University computer and network services. Unlike individual/personal NSIDs, these special purpose NSIDs may be shared.
Special purpose NSIDs provide access to the required IT services, while at the same time storing data in a central location that can be accessed by multiple individuals if necessary. They provide an alternative to using a mailing list when multiple people need to have access to the same e-mail information. They can also provide joint access to voicemail and file storage.
Special purpose NSIDs can be created for a variety of purposes, such as:
- Colleges, departments and units at the U of S as defined by the institution
- Sub-groups within a unit not already defined by the University
- Inter-departmental or ad hoc groups
- Roles such as the assistant to a director/dean or a program manager
- Student societies
- Physical resources such as equipment or rooms that need to be booked
- Conference or special event committees
Special purpose NSIDs can be requested by contacting the ICT Help Desk.
Service Eligibility
The services the special purpose NSID will have access to will depend on functional requirements, but may include:
Security Concerns
Your NSID username and password is your "pass key" to many different campus services. Since one username and password is used for many different services, it is vitally important that you never divulge your password to anyone. This includes ICT personnel. You should never need to tell your NSID password to anyone in ICT.
You will be held responsible for all activities done using your NSID. (For more information see the Computer Use Policy.) This includes actions of other people with whom you have shared your NSID username and password.
For example, if you share your NSID username and password so your friend can build you a webpage, your friend will also have access to your e-mail, your assignments and other files stored in the network file server, and perhaps many other services. If your friend decides to use your e-mail to send abusive mail to the president of the University, that e-mail will be treated as if it came from you.
You should take care in choosing your password, in addition to keeping your NSID password private.
