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UMass Amherst People Finder

Account Services

Your OIT Account gives you access to a wide variety of technology services. These include:

1. Access to the Internet

  • On Campus: You can access the Internet via Ethernet from most campus buildings and all OIT Computer Classrooms. You can also access the network via wireless in an ever-growing number of buildings on campus.
  • Off-Campus: You can connect to the UMass network and the Internet with a modem and dial-up PPP from all other locations and from off-campus.

Learn more about the UMass Network.

2. Email

OIT's primary email system is called UMail. UMail is an IMAP-based service, which means that your mail is stored on a remote server rather than downloaded to your computer's hard drive as in a POP-based service.

UMail service offers several advantages:

  • Enhanced security for your mail
  • Access to your email via a browser any place you are connected to the Internet
  • Spam filtering and tagging
  • Access to your mail from several locations (such as at home and at your office)

Students have 30 MB of storage for email messages on the IMAP servers. Faculty and staff have 100MB.

Email may also be accessed at the email kiosks located in several buildings on campus, including Whitmore and LGRC.

Learn more about UMail.

3. Access to SPIRE

SPIRE provides online access to the student information system. Students use SPIRE to register for classes, access grades, check their Bursar account and financial aid and view housing assignments. SPIRE gives everyone, including prospective students, access to the online course schedule and catalog.
Note: To log in to SPIRE, students may now use their NetID (OIT Account user name) and password.

Learn more about SPIRE.

4. Access to SPARK

SPARK is the online learning managment system used for on-campus courses at UMass. When you are registered for a class that uses SPARK, your NetID (OIT Account user name) and password will give you access to SPARK.

For more detailed information, go to the SPARK Help Page.

5. Space for a personal Web site

Each account is allocated 100 MB of file space which may be used to store your Web site or other files.

Learn more about Web site hosting.

6. Blogs at UMass Amherst

OIT’s blogging service is open to all students, faculty, and staff at UMass Amherst.

To activate your blog, go to http://blogs.umass.edu/ and log in using your NetID (OIT Account user name) and UMail password - your blog is waiting for you.

7. Access to OIT Computer Classrooms and email kiosks

OIT maintains computer classrooms on campus which are accessible to faculty, students, and staff with an OIT Account.

Several classrooms are in LGRC lowrise and the W.E.B. Du Bois Library; others are in buildings across campus.

Learn more about Computer Classrooms.

8. UDrive

UDrive is a Web-based system which allows you to access your files from on and off campus, using any computer with an Internet connection.

UMass Amherst faculty, students, and staff have 250 MB of space in their UDrive folders.

To log in to your UDrive space, go to: http://udrive.oit.umass.edu.

9. Free anti-virus software

OIT protects the integrity of your computer and files from email viruses in two ways:

  • OIT scans all inbound email before delivering it to your mailbox. This service has detected many viruses and protects our clients from potential catastrophes!
  • OIT provides free anti-virus software you can install on your own computer.

Learn more about viruses and anti-virus software.

10. Remote access to library databases

Your OIT Account also allows you remote access to the extensive collection of databases in the library reference section. Online databases available from the UMass Amherst Library

11. Consulting support on all of the above services

The OIT Help Desk and other specialized staff provide consulting support on these and other aspects of computing on campus.

Last revised February 12, 2008