New Student Computer Account

Your computer account is created shortly after you either register for classes or make your orientation deposit.

Your username and password can then be retrieved through the RAIL system. This is the system you used to register for classes or handle business with the University. Step-by-step instructions for this process follow.

Here is what you need to do to get your username and to change your password.

1. 1. Click on the RAIL link here.
   2. Click on the Login to RAIL link with the wording in black and the yellow background on the RAIL page.
   3. Enter your SID (Shepherd ID) and your PIN on the User Login screen.
   4. Click on Personal Information on the Welcome screen.
   5. Click on Password Management at the bottom of the page.
   6. Click on Look up your username. You will need to read and accept the Acceptable Use Policy. Your Username will then be displayed.
   7. Click on Back to Password Management Menu in the upper right corner.
   8. Click on Change password.
   9. Enter your new Password twice (See notes below before continue these instructions) and click on Change Password. A confirmation page will state your password has been changed.

Notes about changing your password.
This change will take up to 10 minutes to synchronize with all of our systems. If you change your password in RAIL and then immediately try to use the new password on our systems, it probably will not work on some or all systems. Please give the systems time to synchronize the new password.

Rules for your new password:

At least 8 characters but no more than 15 characters long
Must contain at least one of each of the following: an upper case letter; a lower case letter; a number; and a special character (!, $, #, @ are examples).
There are certain special characters which it cannot contain, which are shown on the password change screen.

1. To protect your privacy, click on EXIT in the upper right corner and close your browser when you have finished viewing.

Your username and password allow you to access:

• Campus owned computers
• Internet access in residence halls
• Wireless network
• Email
• Personal network disk space
• Shared network disk space
• Learning Management System – Brightspace

For more information, visit ID, PIN, Username and Password FAQ’s.