IT FAQs for Staff
Adobe Acrobat Sign is a cloud-based e-Signature services that lets you send, sign, track, and manage signature processes using a browser or mobile device. Documents can be sent instantly to receive a quick turnaround on required signatures.
For more information, visit the听Adobe Acrobat Sign听page.听
ChatGPT can perform many tasks such as writing, coding, data analysis, translation, project management and more.听ChatGPT Edu is available to all active students, faculty, and staff.听Alumni are not eligible at this time. For听 more information, visit the听ChatGPT page.听
Q: How do I access the CSUN Portal for the first time?
A: Visit the听CSUN homepage听and go to听MyCSUN听> CSUN Portal听and log in with your听CSUN User ID and Password will be issued when you sign鈥搃n with Human Resources. If you have not already done so, bring your completed New Employee Sign鈥揑n Form to the Human Resources office located in Room 165 of the University Hall building. The sign鈥搃n hours at Human Resources are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Q: When does maintenance take place?
A: Wednesdays from 8:00pm through midnight and once a month on Sundays from 12:00am through 6:00am. During these times, access may be intermittently unavailable.听
Q: Where can I find how-to guides on using the CSUN Portal and SOLAR?听
A: Visit听SOLAR Support.
Q: Where can I obtain SOLAR Access forms?
A: Visit听SOLAR Support. The forms are located under "SOLAR Acess Forms and Procedures."
Q: I would like to purchase a computing system for my department, college or division. What do you recommend?
A: View IT's听Standard Desktop/Laptop Recommendations.
Q: How do I access staff email?
A: View听Options for Accessing CSUN Email (Webmail, Email Client, Smartphone)听
Q: Even though I鈥檓 using Internet Explorer as my browser, I鈥檓 still getting the "light" version of Webmail even though the checkbox isn鈥檛 marked when I log in.
A: If you selected the option to听Use the blind and low vision experience听when logging into听听the first time, you will automatically be set to use the "light" version of听Webmail听when you log in. To disable this setting, go to听Options,听Accessibility听and uncheck the box to听Use the blind and low vision experience. Once you鈥檝e saved the change, the next time you log in to听, you will be on the "premium" version.
Q: In Webmail, how do I select multiple messages to delete/move/copy at once?
A: Depending on what version of听听you use (premium vs. light), there are two different ways to select multiple messages, after which you can perform the action (delete, move, etc.). Locate the version you are using and complete the following steps:
Premium:听Hold down the ctrl key while selecting individual messages to select each message you click on. If you want to select blocks of messages in a contiguous block, you can hold down the shift key and click on the first message, then the last message. All of the messages between and including your first and last selections will be selected.
Light:听There is an empty check-box next to each message which can be filled in to mark the message as selected. Fill in the check box for every message you want selected. If you want to select all of the messages on a page, there is a check box at the very top of the column of check boxes which will select all messages on the page if used.
Q: I am using Webmail and my session keeps timing out. What should I do?
A: When you log in to听, the default听Security听setting is:听This is a private or shared computer. If this option is selected, your session will timeout after 15 minutes. To extend your session, select听This is a private computer听and your session will timeout after 60 minutes.听
Q: Can I forward my CSUN email to a personal email account?
A: Yes.听.听
Q: I am enrolled in classes 91传媒 and have a student Gmail account. Can I auto鈥揻orward emails from Gmail to my Exchange account?
A: Yes. Log in to听. Go to听Settings听and select听Forwarding and POP/IMAP. Enter your forwarding address in the听Forward a copy of incoming mail to听field.
Q: How do I change the way that my name appears in email?
A: View instructions on听. Please note that the听Last Name, First Name听format cannot be changed to听First Name, Last Name.
Q: Email that I send from my CSUN email account is not always delivered. What is wrong?
A: CSUN students, faculty and staff have the option to auto-forward their CSUN email account to a personal email address. A recipient鈥檚 personal email address may be invalid and this is why they are not receiving your email. All users who have established auto-forwarding should monitor their personal email address on a regular basis. Please note that email sent outside of CSUN鈥檚 email system is unprotected. For this reason, we do not recommend sending/forwarding email which contains confidential or sensitive information.听
Q: Is email that I send from my CSUN email account protected?
A: Email that is sent outside of CSUN鈥檚 email system is not protected. For example, if a recipient auto-forwards their CSUN email to a personal email address, your email will be routed to another system such as Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, or AOL. For this reason, we do not recommend sending/forwarding email which contains confidential or sensitive information.
LinkedIn Learning is a free training resource. Learn at your own pace from anywhere. Want to learn Photoshop? Or brush-up on Microsoft Office? All you have to do is log in with your CSUN credentials to get started.听
For frequently asked questions, visit the听LinkedIn Learning听page.
Like ChatGPT,听Copilot is a generative AI-powered assistant听that helps with tasks such as writing, coding, and searching. Copilot is available in both free and paid versions, both of which assist in automating repetitive tasks. The paid version integrates seamlessly with Microsoft's Office suite, enabling users to easily find and summarize Outlook emails, Teams chat and meeting history, analyze Excel data, transcribe and summarize Teams meetings, and prepare presentations. Copilot serves as a true virtual assistant.
For more information, visit the听Microsoft Copilot page.听
For frequently asked questions, visit the听myCSUNbox听page.
For frequently asked questions, visit the听myCSUNtablet听page.
For frequently asked questions, visit the听OnBase听page.
Q: How can I access CSUN's computing resources from an off-campus location?
A: Most resources such as the听, and听听can be accessed via an internet browser. Others, such as the听WebDrive听require a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection. The听VPN听creates a secure connection called a "tunnel" between your computer and the campus network.
Q: I am repeatedly being prompted for my CSUN User ID and Password when I try to connect. Why is this happening?
A: Make sure you are using your correct User ID and Password. To verify this information, view the听CSUN User ID and Password Instructions. If you continue to have difficulties, contact the听IT Help Center.
Q: When I try to connect to the VPN, I receive the message,听Initializing the connection. However, after a while, I am simply back at the connection screen where I get a听disconnected听message. Why does this happen?
A:听From the configuration screen, ensure that the听portal address听value is set to听vpn.csun.edu.听If you continue to have difficulties, contact the听IT Help Center.
Q: How can I protect my CSUN campus account?
A: The number one way to keep your CSUN account safe is to never give your CSUN password to anyone, including family and friends. Second, when using public computers to connect to campus services such as email or the myNorthridge Portal, always log off the computer before walking away. Finally, never download and install software from unknown/un-trusted sources, and only visit trusted web sites. If you believe that your CSUN password has been compromised, immediately听听and contact the听IT Help Center.
Q: How do I obtain Antivirus software for my computer?
A: Symantec Anti-Virus is available for students, faculty and staff at no additional cost. Visit the听CSUN Software Downloads听page and sign in with your CSUN user ID and password. Download Symantec Anti-Virus Corporate Edition for your computer.
Q: Which software programs help combat spyware?
A: We recommend installing听听or听.
Q: What is a STOP security plate and how do I obtain one for my laptop?
A: For $10.00, a STOP security plate is the most cost鈥揺ffective, anti鈥搕heft and recovery product available. Whether your laptop is lost or stolen, a STOP plate may increase the chances of your laptop being returned to you. For more information, view the听Personal Electronics Security听page.
Q: Will CSUN ever ask me for personal information via email?
A: No. Any email message asking for personal information such as user IDs, passwords, birthdates, and social security numbers is likely to be a phishing scam. Often, phishing scams will look like they're from banking institutions and other trusted organizations (such as the CSU). If you receive one of these messages, delete it immediately and never respond.听Learn more.
Q: What is IT's maintenance window?
A:听Wednesdays from 8:00pm through midnight and once a month on Sundays from 12:00am through 6:00am. During these times, access may be intermittently unavailable.听Any services that may be impacted are posted on Fridays under听Status.
Q: What if a service is interrupted outside of the maintenance window?
A: If a service should become unavailable outside of the maintenance window, a notice will be posted under听Status.
Q: What kind of software/hardware discounts are available to CSUN staff?
A: There are several options available to staff for obtaining software and hardware for professional and personal use. View the听Faculty & Staff 鈥� Software/Hardware Purchasing Options听page.
Q: Where can I find how-to guides on using SOLAR?听
A: Visit听SOLAR Support.
Q: Where can I find user guides, tutorials and other resources for software/applications used 91传媒?听
A: Visit the听IT Training Guides and Resources听page. LinkedIn Learning is also available to you.听To access the听library for free, log in听with your CSUN user ID and password.听
听
Q: Does IT offer any on-site training?听
A: Yes. View the听.
听
Q: How do I find my CSUN User ID and Password?听
A: Your CSUN User ID and Password will be issued when you sign鈥搃n with Human Resources. If you have not already done so, bring your completed New Employee Sign鈥揑n Form to the Human Resources office located in Room 165 of the University Hall building. The sign鈥搃n hours at Human Resources are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Q: How do I change my CSUN password?
A: Go to听. If this does not work, contact the听IT Help Center听by phone at (818) 677-1400,听online at () or in person in (Oviatt Library, First Floor, Learning Commons). For security reasons, the Help Center is unable to reset your password via email.
Q. Is there a guide to walk me through the password reset process?
A. Yes. Please review the听.听
For information about web conferencing, visit the听Zoom听page.
Q: How do I access CSUN wireless?
A: Connect to CSUN's encrypted wireless network,听eduroam. This network will require a one-time login using your CSUN email address and will not require a听VPN听connection for additional security.听Learn more.
Q: Where can I access CSUN Wireless?
A: CSUN's wireless connection works throughout the campus. Connections in the parking lots and away from academic or residential buildings my be intermittent.
Q: Which devices are compatible with CSUN's wireless network?
A: Most Wi-Fi capable devices purchased since the last quarter of 2006 are compatible; however, Gaming devices (e.g. Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox etc.) are not compatible.听
Q: Can I access the wireless network from more than one computer at the same time?
A: Yes.