ɬÀï·¬

For your Information Technology (IT) needs

ɬÀï·¬'s IT Services website is your one-stop shop for all central IT services at ɬÀï·¬. Visit www.mcgill.ca/it to:


  • Get IT service descriptions and read FAQs.
  • Find detailed information such as service cost and service availability as well as instructions on how to access the service and get IT help and support.
  • Find system availability, down times and new service announcements posted under Announcements and Events.
  • Search the ɬÀï·¬ IT Knowledge Base.

Some of the basic IT services to get you started are: Logging In, myɬÀï·¬ (the University portal), myCourses, Getting Connected and Safe Computing.

Logging In

You need to use your ɬÀï·¬ Username (usually in the form of firstname.lastname [at] mail.mcgill.ca) and ɬÀï·¬ Password to access many central IT services including: myɬÀï·¬, myCourses, email, wireless, Virtual Private Network (VPN), and ɬÀï·¬'s dialup access service (DAS).

To find out your ɬÀï·¬ Username and set your ɬÀï·¬ Password:


  1. Log in to Minerva (using your 9-digit ɬÀï·¬ ID number and your PIN).
  2. Go to Personal Menu > Password for ɬÀï·¬ Username.
  3. Follow the onscreen instructions.

myɬÀï·¬ (the University portal)

myɬÀï·¬ is the central access point where you:


  • Read your email.
  • Check myCourses.
  • Get direct links to Minerva to view and update your student records and account information.
  • Search the ɬÀï·¬ Library Catalogue.
  • Keep abreast of the latest ɬÀï·¬ news.
  • And more.

Click myɬÀï·¬ at the top-right corner of any ɬÀï·¬ website (www.mcgill.ca) and sign in using your ɬÀï·¬ Username and ɬÀï·¬ Password.

Browser compatibility

myɬÀï·¬ currently supports the latest versions of the following browsers:


  • Internet Explorer (IE) (Windows).
  • Firefox (Mozilla) (Windows/Macintosh).
  • Netscape (Windows).

myCourses

Many of your courses will have online materials or activities such as assignments and readings, the syllabus, project guidelines, discussion forums, calendars, etc.

Access your online course content via myCourses at www.mcgill.ca/mycourses or through myɬÀï·¬.


  • Sign in using your ɬÀï·¬ Username and ɬÀï·¬ Password.
  • Click myCourses (WebCT Vista) to enter the site.
  • Verify your browser settings using the Check Browser utility at the top-right corner of the page.

Find more information on myCourses for students at: www.mcgill.ca/it.

Email

Your ɬÀï·¬ Email Address (usually in the form of firstname.lastname [at] mail.mcgill.ca) is the official way the University communicates with you by email. For information on the policy see Email Communication. Access your email at or through the myɬÀï·¬ portal using your ɬÀï·¬ Username and ɬÀï·¬ Password. View your ɬÀï·¬ Username, ɬÀï·¬ Email Address and set up your ɬÀï·¬ Password on the Minerva Personal Menu.

Online Student Directory

Opt in to the student directory and make it easier for your fellow classmates to contact you. Find more on this service at www.mcgill.ca/directory/students.

Getting Connected

Access to the following services is through your ɬÀï·¬ Username and ɬÀï·¬ Password. You can find more details on the following services at www.mcgill.ca/it:

Wireless: Access the Internet using your laptop or other mobile device from virtually anywhere on campus, through the ɬÀï·¬ Wireless network. Log in to the Wireless network using your ɬÀï·¬ Username and ɬÀï·¬ Password.

Virtual Private Network (VPN): If you connect to the Internet with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) other than ɬÀï·¬'s DAS, you need to establish a VPN connection to access ɬÀï·¬ restricted sites and resources (e.g., Library databases). Log in to VPN using your ɬÀï·¬ Username and ɬÀï·¬ Password.

Dialup Access (DAS): If you do not have a high speed ISP, use ɬÀ﷬’s dialup service and connect to the Internet using your telephone line and a modem. Log in to DAS using your ɬÀï·¬ Username and ɬÀï·¬ Password.

ɬÀï·¬ Residences Telecommunications: For students living in ɬÀï·¬ Residences and ɬÀï·¬ Off-Campus Residences, there is a Voice and Data (wired and wireless) service.

Computer Labs: Many faculties and departments provide computer labs for students in their programs. For lab locations, computer availability, software/peripheral availability and more, see .

Connectivity@ɬÀï·¬ iCare Clinic: Attend this free, hands-on clinic and learn how to configure your computer to connect to the Internet via wireless or modem, and how to set up a VPN connection. Find out how to register for IT Training at www.mcgill.ca/it.

Safe Computing

Computing Safety iCare Clinic: Attend this free clinic and learn how to prevent viruses, spyware, adware and other malicious programs from infecting your computer. Find out how to register for IT Training at www.mcgill.ca/it.

Free software: Download free antivirus and other software from ɬÀï·¬'s Software Licensing site at www.mcgill.ca/software. Find out more about software licensing and protecting your computer at www.mcgill.ca/it.
Note: Be sure to uninstall any previous antivirus software from your computer before installing new antivirus software.

Ten tips for keeping information secure: Read the University’s information security tip sheet found at www.mcgill.ca/infosec/tips.

Set up your security questions in myɬÀï·¬

Setting up your security questions and answers for your ɬÀï·¬ Password allows you to use the Forgot Password? link found on several ɬÀï·¬ applications, should you forget it.

Once you have set up your ɬÀï·¬ Password in Minerva, log into myɬÀï·¬ () and click the ɬÀï·¬ Password Security portlet. Follow the onscreen instructions to set up your own security questions and responses.

Need Help?

Welcome New Students: Take an interactive guided tour of IT services: at www.mcgill.ca/it, go to Welcome New Students.

ɬÀï·¬ IT Knowledge Base: Search the Knowledge Base at for answers to commonly asked questions about IT.

Getting Help?

Contact the ICS Service Desk by submitting your request via a web form at , or find ICS Service Desk information at www.mcgill.ca/it.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2009-2010 (last updated Mar. 31, 2010) (disclaimer)
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