Welcome to UMD!

Welcome to the University of Maryland, College Park!

UMD has many accounts and systems that may take some time to get used to. 
This guide covers everything you need to get up and running, including important information about how computers are managed under UMD's network and security policies. 

Key Items - Getting Started Checklist

We recommend completing the following in approximately this order. Check each item off as you go!

Activate your DirectoryID  — Your UMD username for most web-based systems

☐ Set up Duo MFA  — Required every time you log in through CAS

Log in to Gmail (@umd.edu)  — Required for all work-related communications

EIT--Onboarding Form — Your supervisor should submit this form so we can ensure you have all the access you'll need for your position  

UMD-owned computer assignment  — See the 'UMD-owned Computer' section below

Set up Zoom  — UMD-licensed account via CAS login

Set up desk Phone / WebEx  — Contact eit-help@umd.edu if not configured

Time Entry — WorkDay

Review data storage options  — Google Drive, Box, departmental file storage

Add printers via PrinterLogic  — Staff, Faculty, and Grad students in Engineering, Physics, Math

Key Item - Details

Directory ID

Campus IT creates a unique Directory ID (different than your UID number!) for logging into your IT services. This will also be the prefix for your campus email. 

  • Use this link to activate your Directory ID (username) and set your passphrase.

Note: If you lose access to your password, or are unable to login, you will need to contact Campus IT -- the EIT service desk is not able to correct issues with your account! 

DUO: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

In order to maintain a secure workplace, Multi-Factor authentication is required to ensure you are the person attempting to login to your device/service. For apps and websites that use your UMD campus login, such as your UMD gmail, you'll be prompted to authenticate with DUO. 

  • Use this link to read about how to set up your Duo Multi-Factor Authentication for use with your Directory ID.

Note: If you lose access to your DUO app, or are unable to authenticate for any reason, you will need to contact Campus IT -- the EIT service desk is not able to correct issues with your authentication app! 

UMD Email

  • Log in to Gmail with your UMD email address (directoryID@umd.edu) — it will automatically redirect to the CAS page with a Duo MFA request. You MUST use your UMD Gmail account for all work-related communications. 

Note: Student employees may need a sponsored @umd.edu (GAFE) account. Have your supervisor contact eit-help@umd.edu.

Per IT policy (IT-14): University employees must use a UMD Gmail account to send and receive business emails. University personnel are prohibited from transferring, forwarding or sending UMD business email to or from a TERPmail or personal email account. 

Access to EIT managed Resources

In addition to getting access to things from Campus IT, you'll likely also need access to department-specific resources for your position. This may include access to shared email accounts, network drives, or specific calendars that your team is using. 

  • Talk to your supervisor about what things you might need -- they'll be able to help you understand how your team uses the service. 
  • Your supervisor should submit the New Employee Onboarding Information Form to provide us with all the information necessary to get your access configured.
  • After the form is received, we will complete the access as soon as possible -- some access requires your Directory ID and UMD email to be fully activated before we can proceed, so if those steps have not yet been completed there may be delays. 

Note: If you are unable to access any EIT managed resources after completion, refer to our Support options.

UMD Owned Computers

What is a UMD-owned machine? Do I need one if I have my own laptop?

A UMD-owned machine is one purchased with departmental or grant funds (not personal funds) and is asset-tagged with a UMD asset label. 

All computers used for UMD work must be departmentally or grant-funded (UMD-owned). Personally-owned devices are not permitted on the wired network. If you need a computer:

Important -- Policy-Based Networking (PBN): Under UMD's Policy-Based Networking, only UMD-managed and fully compliant devices may access UMD wired network resources. Personally-owned computers are not permitted for UMD work, and may not be used on UMD wired networking. If you od not yet have a UMD-managed device, please reach out to your department business office, or contact us at eit-help@umd.edu and we can provide a quote for a new device. 

 
Your UMD Computer Assignment

Your department may provide you with either an existing (reassigned) device or a newly purchased computer, depending on availability and your role. Contact your Supervisor/Faculty Incharge about the same. 

If you are assigned an existing device:

  • This is a previously used UMD-owned computer that has been reassigned to you.
  • You can:
    • Laptop: Walk in to the EIT Service Desk (EGR 0123) for configuration. 
    • Desktop: Schedule a pickup/setup appointment by emailing eit-help@umd.edu
  • EIT will reconfigure and standardize the device to meet current campus security and compliance requirements before use.

If your department is ordering a new computer:

  • Your supervisor or department business office will coordinate the purchase. Perhaps, if you are given the access to purchase on your own, you can refer the attached article, HERE
  • If you'd still prefer that we create a quote for you, reach us out at  eit-help@umd.edu, and an admin can assist you forward
  • While your device is being procured and prepared:
    • Your may check for available spare devices for temporary use, or
    • EIT can provide a loaner device if needed.
  • Once the new device arrives:
    • EIT will configure and standardize it. You will be contacted by EIT when it is ready for pickup or deployment.

If you've already been assigned a:

  • Laptop, you can walk-in to our Service Desk at EGR 0123, to configure and standardize it.
  • Desktop, you can choose to schedule an appointment with our technician to pick it up. You can do that by emailing at eit-help@umd.edu.

If you've just ordered your machine with your Department's Business Office:

  • We'll be notified when it arrives, and our technicians will pick it up and reach out to you for some configuration preferences. We'll get back to your once it is ready to be deployed. 

What is EIT's Standardization Process for UMD-owned computers?

The table describes what are the key processes EIT manages and what does that mean to users

Requirement

What This Means To You

OS Central Management & Security Updates

With the new Microsoft Windows 10 End-of-Life (EOL), CampusIT requires all machines to be on Windows 11. Thus, we ensure your machine runs a UMD-licensed copy of Windows 11 and that all required security patches are current and applied. You can read more about Windows 10 EOL, here.

For Apple devices, Campus requires macOS 14 Sonoma or newer as of February 2026.

You can read more at our Minimum Computer Support Requirements article.

Required Security Software

We install campus-required security tools, including CrowdStrike antivirus and any department-specific software mandated by UMD. 

Campus Active Directory (AD) Join — IT-20 Compliance

Your computer must be joined to the UMD campus domain so you log in with your UMD DirectoryID credentials. This is required by campus IT-20 policy. You can read more about it, here

Device Naming Convention

We rename the computer to match the Campus and EIT/departmental naming scheme required for network registration and inventory tracking.

Central Management Enrollment

Devices must be enrolled in centralized management tools (Intune for Windows, JAMF for Mac) so that security policies, software updates, and compliance checks can be applied remotely.

Admin Access

Rather than running as a local administrator full-time, you use:

Using this, you request temporary administrative when needed. This keeps the device secure while giving you flexibility.

OnGuard / Network Check-In

Your device must successfully check in with OnGuard (the campus network compliance tool) before it can access UMD network resources.

Hardware Asset Management (HAM) Tag & Record

All UMD-owned assets under $5k require a yellow tag and a corresponding HAM record per USM policy. We'll ensure this is completed.

Ongoing Expectations for UMD-Owned Computers

Once your device is configured, here is what you should know about day-to-day use:

  • Always log in with your UMD DirectoryID credentials — no local or personal accounts should be used as your primary login.
  • Use MakeMeAdmin (MMA) for any tasks requiring administrator access — do not request or use a permanent local admin account.
  • Keep your operating system up to date. Required OS versions include: Windows 11, macOS Sonoma/Sequoia, Ubuntu LTS 18+, RHEL 8/9.
  • Do not connect unauthorized devices or switches to UMD network jacks. One jack per device is the campus standard.
  • IoT and peripheral devices (printers, webcams, etc.) must be registered in the UMD Networking System separately from computers.
  • Questions or issues? Contact us at eit-help@umd.edu and we will assist you.

Zoom

  • Read about how to log in to Zoom here. Use your UMD DirectoryID credentials through CAS and verify using DUO Push.

Work Phone

  • Your department should have provided a desk phone for you. If not, or if your desk phone is not correctly associated with you, have your supervisor reach out to eit-help@umd.edu for assistance.
  • If you would like to use the soft phone features (making phone calls with your UMD extension from your computer), read more here.

Workday - Time Entry and Reporting

Storage Options

UMD provides several storage options. Choose the right solution for your needs: 

Printing

  • UMD Staff, Faculty, and Graduate students: Engineering college, Physics, and Math departments have access to their respective unit printers via a program called PrinterLogic. You can read more about it at this article - PrinterLogic - Adding a Printer - Start Here.
  • Mechanical Engineering Printers: Printer name - MECHPTEGR2181LEFT or MECHPTEGR2181RIGHT, requires further actions. You can read about them here
  • Undergraduate students and anyone on campus: You may use printing kiosks called WEPA. You can find more about using WEPAs at this article: Printing at a WEPA Kiosk

Resources

Support

Walk-in Support

Our main office is located in Martin Hall, room 0123, open Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 5:00PM -- except on UMD holidays and campus closures

Email Support

Contact us at: eit-help@umd.edu -- we monitor our email line during our regular business hours, and make a best effort to respond to new emails within 1 hour during daily operations. 

Chat Support

rhelp.umd.edu is our virtual service desk. Please visit us at this site to join us in remote support sessions, between 9am-5pm, Mon-Fri when the University is open and operational.

Phone Support

Phone support from the EGR 0123 Service Desk is available from 8am-5pm, Mon-Fri when the University is open at 301-405-1634.

 

Further Questions? Contact Engineering IT at eit-help@umd.edu



Keywords:
welcome umd new onboard on board onboarding on-boarding how to zoom directory id directoryid uid duo mfa dual factor gmail login zoom phone webex timesheets uhr prds conference rooms reservations directory search booking printing data storage handbook 
Doc ID:
158673
Owned by:
Adityaraj P. in Engineering IT
Created:
2026-02-17
Updated:
2026-04-01
Sites:
University of Maryland Engineering IT