NetID & Email

The Office of Technology Services (OTS) maintains computing and email accounts, known as NetIDs, for all current faculty, staff and students.

NetIDs

A "NetID" is the core computing account assigned to each faculty member, staff member and student at Towson University. It consists of a username, email address, a password and provides access to TU’s computing services, including email, online file storage, Blackboard access, web publishing, chat, video conferencing, and wireless access services.

Who can have a NetID?

These individuals can have a NetID, each with various services: 

  • students 
  • faculty 
  • staff 
  • retirees 
  • faculty emeritus 
  • server administrators 
  • sponsored guests of the university  

Learn more about requesting NetIDs and see links to TechHelp Knowledge Base articles on the NetID Management webpage. 

Activating a NetID

New to TU?

One-time NetID activation and Duo set up is required

All NetID holders must set up TU's required Duo multi-factor authentication on device(s) and should follow TU’s Guidelines for Responsible Computing. If you need help, submit a TechHelp service request or contact the OTS Technology Support Desk. 

Students

Your NetID is automatically created if you are an admitted student or an English Language Center student, but you'll need to activate it. Once you've activated your NetID, set up TU’s required multi-factor authentication (Duo) on your device(s). 

Faculty and Staff

Your NetID is automatically created upon hiring and OTS will notify your supervisor (if identifiable) and your personal email (if on file). You'll need to activate it, then set up TU's required multi-factor authentication (Duo) on your device(s).

Sponsored Guests & other types of NetIDs

Request and manage a sponsored guest NetID for generally off-site or temporary vendors, contractors and other TU visitors through NetID tools. When the guest NetID is created, OTS will notify the sponsor of the NetID, who can inform the guest NetID holder. Learn more.

There are "non-employee" staff with a OneCard who have an extended presence on campus (e.g., visiting faculty/scholars, onsite research collaborators, Aramark) who are eligible for a NetID. A supervisor or other faculty/staff sponsor can request it after obtaining a TUID. Learn more. 

Student employees might need additional access to services to perform their job. They don't need a separate NetID for this. Supervisors and permissions group sponsors can update access using the Sponsored Group tool or see how to request student employee access to file shares. If you need assistance or have questions, please submit a TechHelp service request. Learn more.

Managing a NetID 

Once activated, you can reset a forgotten password and update your security info using the NetID Management tools. 

NetIDs after leaving the university

  • Students: you'll retain your NetID for a period of time after ending enrollment or after graduation and will be notified when your NetID is going to be deactivated. Learn more (login with TU credentials to view). 
  • Faculty/staff: when employment ends, your NetID will automatically be disabled in and later purged from the system. 
  • Retirees and faculty emeritus: you can continue to use your NetID after leaving the university, with a subset of services.
  • Guests: for some sponsored faculty/staff NetIDs, the sponsors will automatically receive an email prior to the NetID being disabled and will have the opportunity to extend the expiration date up to one year. 
  • Returning to TU? Students and faculty/staff will be given the same NetID and email address. 

Email

TU students, faculty and staff use Microsoft Outlook email accounts. Once you have activated your NetID, email is accessible through outlook.towson.edu or on a TU desktop (faculty/staff). See all the options for accessing email and learn more about using Outlook.

Email FAQs

Yes! See self-help articles for getting started with and using Outlook. Since Outlook is an app within your TU Microsoft 365 account (along with Word, Excel etc.), you can also see other M365 resources.


If you are using a non-Towson University email account, you could be missing assignments, time-sensitive financial aid information or other important campus correspondence. To make sure you're getting TU emails, set up auto-forwarding to your TU Outlook account. 

If you stop enrolling in courses or end employment at TU, you should let people know to stop sending email to your TU address, and send to a different or personal email address. See info specific to students leaving the university.