Last Updated : August 12, 2011 As part of preparation for the Legislative Audit of IT services at UMBC we are requiring all faculty and staff to change their password by October 11th, 2011. In the last audit UMBC had a finding due to password management. UMBC utilizes the password model developed by the National Institute of Standards, 800-63. Over the last three years we have streamlined and improved this process. However, DoIT wants to make certain that we are in compliance and the best way to ensure that is to require a password change prior to the fall semester. We anticipate that for most people the password change process will take a few minutes of time. Starting the week of August 15th, when you access myUMBC or any web-based resource requiring your password, you will be notified that you must change your password. We know that there may be times you are trying to get something done quickly and have built into the password change process the option of deferring to change your password up to ten times. After the tenth time you will be placed in the password change process automatically. NOTE: If you changed your password in the prior 180 days you will be exempted from this mandatory password change. Also, as part of the password change process you will be required to select additional security questions that will be used in the event you forget your password and need to get it reset. We will also be asking for your cell phone number. As a precaution, we use your cell phone number to alert you via text message if your password is being reset. In addition, we will allow you to call into our user support from that phone number to get your password reset. This is very helpful for faculty and staff that may work off-campus and need there password reset. To support campus users we have developed two resources: How do I change my myUMBC password? https://wiki.umbc.edu/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=1867939 How do I setup my security questions to recover a forgotten password? https://wiki.umbc.edu/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=1867908 We appreciate your cooperation in this important audit activity.