Center for Information Technology

FAQs

ObieID

What if I never received my initial ObieID email or have lost my temporary password?

Contact the CIT Help Desk at support@oberlin.edu or 440-775-8197. The staff there can resend your initial email or reset your password.

What does my ObieID allow access to?

The list below is not exhaustive. Visit oberview.oberlin.edu to see all services that can be accessed using your ObieID. As an added bonus, once you’re logged in to OberView, you won’t need to log in to each service individually; you’ll already be logged in!

What does an ObieID look like?

Your ObieID will normally follow the form: first initial of first name, followed by first seven characters of last name. Thus, if your name is Martha Washington, your ObieID will be mwashing.

All ObieIDs are unique forever, so if two people on campus whose ObieID should be “mwashing,” the second person’s ObieID will have a digit appended with letters of the last name included to equal a total of eight characters.

Thus, Martha Washington and Mark Washington would be assigned mwashing and mwashin2, respectively.

If my ObieID is mwashing, why do I also have a martha.washington@oberlin.edu email address?

Each person whose ObieID was created before February 2, 2022 was also assigned an alias in the form of firstname.lastname@oberlin.edu.

You cannot use this email address to log in to Gmail, Blackboard, or other websites that require your ObieID, but you can use it to receive and send email.

Do I have to change my ObieID password?

For security reasons, ObieID passwords expire every 122 days. You will receive an email message 10 days prior to expiration to remind you to change your password.

If your password has expired, you can use Okta to reset it.

I legally changed my name. How can I get my ObieID to match?

Send an email to support@oberlin.edu containing the details of the change, and, if you have not already, notify the Office of the Registrar (for students) or the Department of Human Resources (for faculty and staff).

CIT will contact the appropriate office and ensure that the name has formally been changed with the college. Then, we will contact you to let you know that the ObieID change has been completed.

See more details about the process:

ObieID and Email Address Change Policy

How do I get an ObieID for an organization or group?

If you need to have an account created for an organization, complete the Group Email Request form.

How do I change my ObieID password if I know my current password?

Read the instructions below or view a short screencast on How to Change Your ObieID Password using Okta.

  1. Visit OberView. Search for and launch the Manage my ObieID Account task or go directly to okta.oberlin.edu.
  2. Log in using your existing ObieID and password. If you’ve set up multi-factor authentication, respond to the MFA challenge when prompted.
  3. Click on your name in the main menu bar.
  4. Click Settings.
  5. Click the green Edit Profile button.
  6. Enter your current ObieID password and click Verify.
  7. If you’re enrolled in multi-factor authentication, respond to the MFA challenge.
  8. In the Change Password module located in the upper right:
    • Enter your current ObieID password.
    • Enter your new password.
    • Enter your new password again.
    • Click Change Password.

When you’re finished, make sure to log out completely.

How do I change my ObieID password if I’ve forgotten my current password?
  1. Visit OberView. Search for and launch the Manage my ObieID Account task or go directly to okta.oberlin.edu.
  2. Below the username and password fields, click on Need Help? Then click on Forgot your Obie ID or Password?
  3. Enter your ObieID. Click on one of the reset options below to receive an SMS message, voice call, or email to your secondary address containing a verification code.
    Note: If you have not established a password reset phone number or secondary email address, this step will not work. Contact the CIT Help Desk at 440-775-8197 for assistance.
  4. Use your secondary email account or phone number to retrieve the code Okta sends you. Enter that code on this page. Click Verify.
  5. Set a new password using the onscreen guidelines. Click reset password.
When I log into Okta, I see a message that reads, “You don’t have any apps. Please contact support@oberlin.edu for assistance.”

You should not have any apps assigned to you in Okta; this is normal. To access your Okta settings page from this view, click on your name in the upper right portion of the main menu bar and click Settings.

Multi-Factor Authentication

What is multi-factor authentication?

MFA, powered by Okta, protects your ObieID account by verifying your identity with two forms of ID:

  • Something you know, such as your password.
  • Something you have, such as a passcode, a phone, or even a mobile app.

Some services, like your bank or healthcare portal refer to this as multi-factor login, two-step authentication, two-step verification, or login verification.

What is a factor?

An authentication factor is a category of credential used for identity verification. For MFA, each additional factor is intended to increase the assurance that an entity requesting access to some system is who they are declared to be. The two most common categories are often described as something you know (the knowledge factor) and something you have (the possession factor).

When setting up Okta, Oberlin College will ask you to establish a relationship between your knowledge factor (your password) and a possession factor: the Okta Verify app, Google Authenticator, or a hardware token such as a YubiKey.

Why do I need MFA?

Passwords are not enough. They can often be stolen, guessed, or hacked, and you may not even realize your password has been compromised. With Okta MFA on your account, a compromised password doesn’t have to mean a compromised account.

Do I have to use MFA?

MFA will be required for all ObieID accounts by the end of the Fall 2020 semester.

Network

How do I connect to the network?

For detailed instructions on connecting to the network, please visit our network connection page. Kindly note that the procedure is subject to change.

Projects

What are the benefits of PMO support?

Our office provides strategic guidance and support throughout the lifecycle of technology-related projects. We add value in a variety of ways including: 

  • Working closely with our campus partners to prioritize projects and allocate CIT resources
  • Ensuring that projects align with both your business needs and Oberlin's long-term strategic and financial plans
  • Maintaining a register of current and proposed technology projects to streamline the process and identify any dependencies, benefits, and risks within and between projects
  • Ensuring that new software meets the required security standards and does not duplicate existing functionality
What can I expect after submitting the technology project request form?

Please visit the Project Governance Guide to learn more.

What should I do if my request does not meet the definition of a project?

If your request is estimated to take fewer than 40 hours of staff time or involve fewer than three staff members, then it’s not a project—it’s operations. These efforts are not required to follow the full project management methodology. Use the CIT Tech Support Portal to open a ticket or a service request.

How do I access my student’s records?

Go to OberView . Search for ‘‘proxy’’ and look for the Parent/Guest Access to Student Records task. Enter the email address that was registered by your student and the PIN you established.

Keep in mind that your student must grant you permission and can revoke that permission at any time. The may or may not give you access to any combination of the following: Student Accounts Information, Financial Aid Information, and Grade/Transcript Information.

I never received the email my student said I should have received to set up my Proxy access. What should I do?

Check your spam email folder. If the email is not there, ask your student to resend it to you. 

Will I receive access to my student’s billing information so I can pay tuition and fees?

Yes. Ensure that your student has authorized you to see Student Accounts pages.

What is a PIN?

PIN is the acronym for Personal Identification Number and is a “password” made up of numbers or letters that is used to login to Proxy Access.

What should I do if I have forgotten my PIN?

Go to OberView . Search for “proxy” and look for the Parent/Guest Access to Student Records task.

Enter the email address used to establish your account and click on the Forgot PIN button. An email will be sent to your email address with a unique link and temporary password. You will use this temporary password as the “Old PIN” in the PIN reset process.

If I have forgotten my PIN, can Oberlin staff provide it to me?

No. College staff and the CIT Help Desk cannot send the PIN. Follow the instructions above to reset it or ask your student to log into Banner Web Proxy and click Reset PIN link.

Can an email address be assigned as a proxy for multiple students?

Yes. Proxies are identified by email address, and that address can be assigned as a proxy for multiple students. This is particularly useful in the case of siblings both attending Oberlin College.

Why would only one child’s name appear as a selection for a proxy with more than one child attending Oberlin?

For each student that has identified a person as a proxy, there will be a tab with each student's name. When you select a name, you will see the listing of the items that that student has authorized you to see.  

The student has complete control over what information can be viewed by each user.  If the student's name does not appear, they have not granted access to the account information. The parent should contact the student with questions regarding access.

Can multiple proxies use the same email address?

No. However, if parents share an email address and a student wishes to grant proxy access to both using that address, the student can do so. If this is how the student wishes to set it up, we ask that when completing the first name field, the student enters both first names (example: Mary and David).

In the relationship description field, enter “parents” or “mom and dad” so that it is clear to any administrator reviewing the permissions that this email address is for multiple persons.

The lock is displayed until the student clicks on the Proxy’s name and selects a relationship. The functionality on the Authorization web page, where you select the items that you want your proxy to see, saves your selection immediately upon each click.

There is no Save button.

To view activity, a student should select the ‘‘History’’ tab to see the most recent actions made including authorizations.

When a proxy is given access to multiple students, can the access granted be different for each student?

Yes. Each student who grants proxy access to an email address has complete control over the access for their account, including start and stop dates.

I used to be able to see my student’s information but now cannot. What happened?

The student is in control of the information that a designated Proxy can view. If the proxy can no longer see information, the proxy should contact the student.

I have a new email address. How do I ensure I still have access to my student’s records?

Go to OberView . Search for ‘‘proxy’’ and look for the Parent/Guest Access to Student Records task.

On the profile page, update the email address and click Save. The system will send an email message to the new address. Click on the the unique link email to confirm the change is correct.

An informational email will also be sent to the old email address to indicate that a request for a change from this address has occurred.

Why doesn’t the Exit link on the Banner Web Proxy home page work?

Click on the Profile tab to use the Exit link or close the browser to exit.

Why can’t I access Banner Web Proxy while I’m at work?

Some employers’ firewall settings block the ports that our website uses. Try accessing Banner Web Proxy from home instead.

Who can I call if I have questions?

ID Card

Can I have both a physical ID card and a Mobile ID?

When using the MobileID, it will deactivate your physical card. We appreciate your understanding.

Box

What is Box?

Box is a cloud content management tool, allowing you to access your content securely anywhere, on any device.

Why should I use Box?

Box enables you to collaborate and share content between multiple departments in one simple tool. It’s also secure, a great place to store college-related files.

Who is eligible for a free Oberlin Box account?

Active Oberlin faculty, staff, and students are eligible to use Box. Departmental or group accounts are not eligible.

What happens to my files on Box when I graduate?

Upon graduation, you will receive an email notifying you that Oberlin will be migrating your account to a personal account.

We recommend adding a secondary non @oberlin.edu email address on your account before your account migrates to a personal account. 15 days after you receive this email, your account will be automatically migrated to a personal account with a 10 GB quota. If your account contains more than 10GB, it will become read-only until you delete enough content that you are below this quota or you purchase additional space from Box.

After your account has been migrated, we recommend changing the primary email address so that you continue to receive notifications from Box. For further questions, please open a ticket using CIT’s Tech Support Portal.

I’m a faculty member or staff member. What happens to my files on Box if I leave?

Upon leaving the college, you will receive an email notifying you that the contents of your Box account will be transferred to your immediate supervisor on your departure date. This data will stay with Oberlin. For further questions, please open a ticket using CIT’s Tech Support Portal.

Can I use Box abroad?

You should be able to access your Box account anywhere you have full access to the internet. In countries where internet access is restricted Box may not be available. In restricted areas, using VPN (Virtual Private Network) may enable you to access Box.

What’s the difference between Oberlin Box accounts and free Box accounts?

Oberlin Box accounts:

  •  1TB storage in the cloud
  •  Maximum upload size of 15 GB for a single file
  •  File versioning
  •  Password protected sharing

Box Free accounts:

  •  10 GB of free cloud storage 
  •  250 MB maximum upload size for a single file
  •  You cannot do password protected sharing
  •  No detailed file version history
Can I use my Box for personal content?

Box is intended for college data only. If you are a faculty or staff member, you should not store any personal content in Box. Upon your departure from the college, all content of your Box will be transferred to your immediate supervisor. 

If you are a student, you are encouraged to use Box primarily for school-related work, but you may also store personal content in Box. If you take a job with Oberlin College after graduation, you will be expected to remove personal content and use your Box account only for college data.

Can I use my Box for sensitive content?

Sensitive college data should always be stored in secure systems and replicated as little as possible. If the data you're storing already exists in a database or system with a designated purpose, you should not also store it in Box. 

If the sensitive data you’re storing does not yet have a secure system in which it’s being stored and you need to share that data with colleagues, you may put it in Box. Box is secure for FERPA-subject data. If you would like to store HIPAA-subject data in Box, please contact the Help Desk.

If you have any additional questions about what data should be stored in Box or the best place to put your content, please contact the CIT Help Desk at 440-775-8197.

How do I learn how to use Box or get help?

CIT Tech Support Portal Knowledge Base

Your first stop for Box help should be the CIT Tech Support portal. Once logged in, visit the knowledge base and search “Box” to see all of the available how-to guides.

Inside Your Box Account

You can also log in to your Box account and look for the Getting Started with Box folder. This folder appears in each user’s account and contains a complete user guide, helpful video tutorials, and links to download Box software.

Open a Support Ticket

If you still have questions or would like to set up an appointment to meet with you, your department, or organization about how to use Box, open a ticket using the CIT Tech Support portal.

We’ll get in contact with you to address your questions or set up a time to meet for additional training.

Other

I’m a new student/faculty/staff member. Where can I find information that’s relevant to me?

Welcome to Oberlin! Here are some resources to get you started:

These links will guide you through setting up your digital life at Oberlin and provide support along the way.

Where should I store my files?

Currently, the storage solution can vary, including options such as Box, OneDrive, Google Drive, or on-campus file share. We’re actively considering ways to streamline this process in the future. Thank you for your patience.

How do I get a phone?

If you require a phone or need changes to your existing phone setup, please submit a request through our Telephone Repair & Change Order page.

How can I find out which software and systems I have access to?

CIT provides a variety of software and enterprise systems tailored to different roles within Oberlin College to support teaching, learning, and administrative functions. To see the software and systems you can access, visit our Devices and Applications page. There, you can use the filter tool to find applications available to your specific role, such as faculty, staff, or student.

Who can assist me with technology-enhanced teaching resources?

For support with technology-enhanced teaching, refer to the Educational Technology/OCTET page. The Oberlin Center for Technologically Enhanced Teaching (OCTET) collaborates with faculty and students in areas such as science research, digital arts, high-end computing, and online teaching tools.

Where can I find support for audiovisual resources?

For audiovisual support, including equipment checkout and assistance with technologically enhanced classrooms and events, visit our Audiovisual page.

How can I access and download the software provided by the college?

We provide a selection of software for academic and administrative use. To view the available software and download what you need, please visit our Software Downloads page.