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.

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

• Need to change your password? View the password change instructions in the UWM KnowledgeBase.
• Password expired? Take a look at the steps in the UWM KnowledgeBase article about password expiration.
• Forgot your password? Follow the instructions in the UWM KnowledgeBase for password recovery.

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.

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).

• Faculty and Staff – Visit the Faculty and Staff – MFA page for more information about configuring MFA.
• Students – Visit the Student – MFA page for more information about configuring MFA.
• Microsoft MFA Frequently Asked Questions

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:

• Sponsored Account Information
• Creating a Sponsored Account
• Microsoft 365 Services by Account Type

Account information for Emeritus and Annuitants:

• Resources for Retirees
• Microsoft 365 Services by Account Type

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.

Students

Students will have access to their accounts two semesters after they are no longer enrolled in classes. After this time, you will be notified of the date of your account closing and when you will lose access to your email and files.

If you were a UWM employee (TA who is instructing classes, academic staff, university staff) while you were a student at UWM, you will lose access to your email and files immediately after leaving. If you had a student hourly job or a student assistant job (such as a TA assisting in a class) you will have access to your account for two semesters after you are no longer enrolled in classes.

For more information about what steps to take if you have email or files you want to keep before your account closes, review the UWM KnowledgeBase article: Account Closure.

For questions and assistance with account closure, contact the UWM Help Desk.

---

Employees

Employees will lose access to their accounts immediately after leaving. At this time, your data will be deleted and cannot be recovered.

If you are an instructor in at least one class, you will retain your account for 90 days after the last semester you taught.

For more information about what steps to take if you have email or files you want to keep before your account closes, review the UWM KnowledgeBase article: Account Closure.

For questions and assistance with account closure, contact the UWM Help Desk.

---

Retirees/Annuitants

Retiring faculty and staff may request continued access to their account upon retirement. Review the UWM KnowledgeBase article Annuitant Account Terms of Service for more information about what services you can access and how to request an annuitant account.