OIT Accounts are provided at no extra charge to students, faculty and staff on the UMass Amherst campus. All students taking credit courses are required to activate their accounts and check their OIT-provided email (a.k.a. UMail) regularly.

Starting in May, new students will be receiving their NetID (OIT Account user name) and initial password via email. We encourage you to activate your account as soon as you receive your login information.

Once your account is activated, you can use it immediately. You will need your account during your New Students Program orientation and to receive informational emails before the semester begins. Once the semester starts, you'll be required to activate your account to receive official university email.

If you did not receive the account information email by the time you get to campus, please stop by A113 Lederle Graduate Research Center (LGRC), Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 4:45pm with a photo ID to activate your OIT Account in person.
More about OIT Accounts | More about OIT Services

Once you activate your OIT Account, you will be able to use email immediately. This email address is yours for the time you are at the University. Your account entitles you to 30MB of space on the UMass Amherst email system--UMail. Use your favorite email software or OIT's Web interface for UMail to check your email.

Note: Official UMass communications (e.g., excess check notices, emails from instructors, etc.) will only be sent to your UMail address. It is your responsibility to check your email frequently to ensure that you are staying current with important information.
More about UMail

SPIRE is the Web-based student information system for UMass Amherst students, faculty and staff. As a student, you’ll use SPIRE to register for classes, access billing information, view course descriptions and schedules, and sign up for on-campus housing.

You need your NetID (OIT Account user name) and password to log in to SPIRE.
More about SPIRE

Recommended & Minimum System Configurations

It is very IMPORTANT that you protect your computer against viruses before you arrive on campus. To protect the campus network, OIT will disable your Internet connection if your computer is not protected against viruses and security breaches, or if we find that your computer is infected with a virus.

We strongly encourage you to:

• Download free anti-virus software. Once you've activated your OIT Account, you can download free Windows, Macintosh and Linux anti-virus software from the OIT Web site. Remember to update your virus definitions regularly. Download Anti-Virus Software
• Update your operating system. Update your computer with the latest security patches and drivers:
  • Windows users, see the Windows Update Web site.
  • Mac users, see the Apple Downloads pages.

More about Viruses & Security

UMass Amherst is part of the Microsoft Select and Adobe Select programs, volume licensing agreements that give students at all five UMass campuses access to Microsoft Office and Adobe software at significant discounts.
More about Software Discounts

The USave program offers competitive discounts on computer hardware from manufacturers such as Apple, Dell, and Gateway. Discounts are available to UMass students, faculty and staff for desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and other peripherals.
More about USave

Once you arrive on campus, you'll want to get started using our network and accessing the Internet. Learn more about the three ways you can access the Internet on campus:

• Ethernet Access. High-speed (10Mbps) Internet access is available in all residence halls, and in most campus buildings and classrooms.
• Wireless Access. Wireless access is available in an ever-growing number of buildings and outdoor locations.
• Dial-up Access. Living off-campus? Use our 56K dial-up connection to access the campus network.

Looking for a computer? Stop by one of our computing facilities on campus. OIT manages nine Windows adn Macintosh computer classrooms, equipped with word-processing, spreadsheet, desktop publishing and Web development applications.

Need to print out a paper? Check out the Learning Commons in the W.E.B. Du Bois Library for library, technology, and other campus services.
More about OIT Computer Classrooms | More about the Learning Commons

Residence hall telephone services are provided through Residential Telecommunications. Features include voice mail, call waiting, call transfer, and conference calling. Don't forget to bring your own touch-tone phone!
More about Telephone Service