Unified Digital Identity

Your digital identity at UWM is made up of three parts, your user name, password and multi-factor authentication. The combined use of these three items ensures the security of your account at UWM.

See the sections below for more information and if you have questions about your digital identity, contact the UWM Help Desk.

User Name (ePantherID)
Your UWM user name (or ePantherID) is assigned to you during the account activation process. User names are automatically generated based on your name and end with @uwm.edu.

If you are not sure what your user name is or are experiencing issues, contact the UWM Help Desk for assistance.

Password
UW System Administrative Policy 1030 requires that you change your UWM password every 365 days.

Making sure you have a strong, complex, password/phrase is essential to keeping yourself safe online. See the Password Complexity Requirements article for full details of the password requirement. Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing a strong password:

  • Use a passphrase- the more characters the better! For tips on how to create a strong passphrase, visit the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency’s webpage
  • Use special characters and be creative (“c@r”, “$hell”, “t!me”, etc.).
  • Use numbers but stay away from birthdays.
  • Never use the same passphrase twice.
  • Never use the same passphrase on several different platforms.

You will only see notifications of the expiration on official UWM login pages such as D2L or Canvas. Change your password only thorough an official UWM login page.

Self-Service Password Reset

If you do not set up the self-service password reset, you will need to contact the UWM Help Desk if you forget your password or for the yearly password update. Because the UWM Help Desk must verify your identity, this can be a time-consuming process. Once you configure the self-service password reset, you can quickly and easily update your password when necessary.

Follow our instructions to set up your self-service password reset.

Multi-Factor Authentication
All accounts at UWM are required to have multi-factor authentication (MFA) which is the combination of something you know (your password) and something you have (a mobile device).

Sponsored Accounts, Emeritus and Annuitants
If you have not previously enrolled in MFA, you will be prompted to upon signing in. See the Faculty/Staff MFA page for enrollment information and the Microsoft MFA Frequently Asked Questions.

More information about Sponsored Accounts:

Account information for Emeritus and Annuitants:

Identity Verification
In order to protect critical and sensitive information, UW System requires an additional level of assurance while authenticating into UW System applications. Users with access to sensitive data may be required to complete an Identity verification process. Identity Verification does not grant additional access within UW-System applications. Additional information on requesting access can be found here.