Changing Your PID

Virginia Tech continues work to make the PID a more flexible and independent logon credential. However, many online services require the PID as the key to your record for that service. Changing PIDs can create considerable hardship for the individual requesting it, as well as significant work for each service the individual uses. Therefore, PIDs will rarely be changed. Complications that may arise from changing your PID include:

• VT Mail accounts cannot be re-named. A new e-mail account must be established for each new PID, and mail cannot be transferred.
  
• A former PID is not available to become an alias to a new VT mail account until 30 days after the PID was released, so mail sent to [former_PID]@vt.edu during that time will be returned to the sender.
  
• Access to any system using PID-based authentication may be affected, and some services may cease to work temporarily. These services include (but are not limited to) WebMail, Hokie SPA, MyVT, Filebox, Web Hosting, Blackboard, and Modem Pool. Departmentally-based services can also be affected. Additionally, there is a potential loss of data within services.
  
• An individual’s Hokies account will also have to be renamed, with potential disruption in service.
  
• If an employee has a Banner/Oracle account, all existing permissions will be deleted and recreated to match the new PID.

Important:

If you are a student and you have an emergency situation (stalking, harrassment, threats), immediately contact the Virginia Tech Police and the University Registrar for assistance.

If you are faculty or staff and have an emergency situation (stalking, harrassment, threats), immediately contact the Virginia Tech Police and the Department of Human Resources for assistance.

Alternatives to Changing Your PID

The PID with its associated password is your logon credential. Although [PID]@vt.edu is the basic name of your e-mail account, it does not need to be the e-mail address that you share with correspondents and display in directories such as VT PeopleSearch or the printed University Directory.

You may use an e-mail alias for both VT Mail and Exchange accounts. For more information, see the following knowledge base articles:

• Adding and Removing E-mail Aliases
• Using E-mail Aliases With Your VT Mail Account
• Adding an Alias E-mail Address for Your Exchange Account
• Changing Your Return Exchange E-mail Address in Outlook
• Changing Your Displayed E-Mail Address in Webmail

You may also control the visibility of your PID and e-mail addresses. For more information, see the following knowledge base articles:

• Suppressing or Unsuppressing Your PID or E-mail Address in VT People Search
• Setting Your Preferred E-mail Address for Display in VT People Search
  
  Note: Faculty and Staff cannot suppress their e-mail address in VT People Search, but they may choose their preferred e-mail address to display.

Obtaining Further Assistance

If you need further assistance with your PID, such as a password reset, setting up and configuring your e-mail client, or accessing any of the many PID-based systems, contact 4Help by using the Help Request Form (http://4help.vt.edu/) or by calling (540) 231-HELP (4357).