How do I access my banner account? (PDF - Virginia State University

<strong>Virginia</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong> is committed to providing students with the latest<br />

information technology solutions. <strong>How</strong> to obtain <strong>access</strong> to all of these technologies is<br />

sometimes confusing to students, especially incoming freshman. The information<br />

contained herein is a summary of the basic technology <strong>access</strong> requirements needed<br />

for the entering freshman students.<br />

BANNER<br />

Banner is the <strong>University</strong> computer system that allows students to view their financial<br />

records (payment information, financial aid, scholarships and any other funds), midterm<br />

and final grades, holds that prohibit <strong>access</strong> to their <strong>account</strong>, class schedule and academic<br />

transcript. Registration, with the aid of an advisor, is also managed using this system.<br />

Banner <strong>access</strong> is granted to all admitted students. The Banner link is <strong>access</strong>ible by<br />

following the TROJAN link on the VSU homepage. Banner <strong>access</strong> requires a student ID<br />

number, user ID, (sometimes called a “V number”) and a Personal Identification Number<br />

(PIN). A PIN is required in order for an advisor to register a student for classes.<br />

Students, once accepted to the university, are assigned their V number and PIN. Both are<br />

sent through US mail to the student’s home address. The combination of the six<br />

numerical digits from the student birth date (00/00/00) is their initial PIN. They are<br />

prompted to change their PIN upon first login.<br />

Once a student declares a major, the student’s information is sent to the appropriate<br />

department Chair who will assign the student to an Academic Advisor. Students without<br />

a declared major are assigned to the Undeclared Majors Advisor within the Academic<br />

Support Center (ASC) (804-524-5562/6755). Other important services for freshman<br />

students can also be obtained from the Academic Support Center,<br />

http://www.vsu.edu/pages/330.asp. In most cases, the student is automatically registered<br />

for the freshman classes expected of their chosen major. Because students are preregistered<br />

by advisors using the PIN, the student should not reset their PIN until they<br />

meet with their advisor or are sure they have been pre-registered. Once on campus, the<br />

student must check with the advisor to make sure the classes for which they are registered<br />

are appropriate. A student must have their PIN with them during registration. In the event<br />

the PIN is either lost or stolen, the student can call the helpdesk at 1-800-630-8917.

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Initial fees such as Enrollment, Orientation and Housing must be paid in order to<br />

register. <strong>How</strong>ever, the student cannot pay their tuition bill until after they are registered<br />

for classes. It is very important to adhere to all guidelines or some technology <strong>access</strong> will<br />

be restricted until these obligations are fulfilled. Students with financial or other <strong>account</strong><br />

holds cannot register for classes.<br />

The student PIN is changed each semester and sent through US mail to students. Selfregistration<br />

beyond the student’s first term of enrollment at VSU can occur if a student is<br />

provided with a Student Registration Code from their advisor. The Student Registration<br />

Codes are sent to department chairs each semester.<br />

E-MAIL<br />

VSU student e-mail is assigned to all admitted students. The email link is <strong>access</strong>ible by<br />

following the TROJAN link on the VSU homepage.<br />

Using the VSU email system is very important as messages from the <strong>University</strong> and those<br />

generated through Blackboard are only sent to the official VSU e-mail <strong>account</strong>. Their<br />

username is derived from their last name and their V number:<br />

FLLLIIII (1st letter of first name, 1st three letters of last name, and the last four digits of<br />

their student ID).<br />

Example: Bob Harris V12345678 = bhar5678@students.vsu.edu<br />

Their password is initially the same as their username.<br />

UNIVERSITY COMPUTER ACCESS AND WIRELESS<br />

VSU university computer and unsecured wireless network <strong>access</strong> where available are<br />

granted to all admitted, enrolled and financially cleared VSU students.<br />

Almost all general <strong>access</strong> VSU computers require a username and password, together<br />

called Active Directory (AD) credentials. These credentials are also used for <strong>access</strong>ing<br />

the wireless network, Trojan WIFI, where available. An AD username is the same as the<br />

username used for VSU student e-mail. Some computer labs are enhanced with extra<br />

password credentials by the School or Department.<br />

To initiate <strong>access</strong>, the student must go to a computer station that requires AD credentials.<br />

The <strong>University</strong> Library and the Learning Resource Center (room 103 Harris Hall) are<br />

among several computer labs located on campus that require these credentials. Students<br />

must simultaneously press ctrl/alt/del to attempt to login and leave the password field<br />

blank at this computer. They are prompted to create a password that must have 10

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characters of mixed upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. The<br />

password change period is every 90 days. Students who have difficulty with this process<br />

should call the helpdesk at 1-800-630-8917.<br />

BLACKBOARD<br />

VSU student Blackboard <strong>access</strong> is assigned to all admitted and enrolled students.<br />

Freshman first login to Blackboard also requires that they are financially cleared. The<br />

Blackboard link is <strong>access</strong>ible by following the TROJAN link on the VSU homepage.<br />

Blackboard is Course Management System (CMS). A CMS is used as an electronic<br />

teaching/learning platform and communication tool. Several faculty members at VSU<br />

utilize Blackboard as <strong>do</strong> organizations such as the SGA. Blackboard sites can contain<br />

course notes, announcements from instructors or student leaders in organizations, grades<br />

and much more.<br />

The VSU Blackboard student user list is updated frequently during peak registration<br />

periods for all admitted and enrolled students. <strong>How</strong>ever, because the active directory<br />

credentials are also the login credentials used for Blackboard, the freshman student must<br />

also be financially cleared and create an active directory password (described above)<br />

before logging into Blackboard.<br />

More information about the login process or how to <strong>access</strong> individual course content is<br />

available on the Blackboard Login page. Students can call the helpdesk at 1-800-630-<br />

8917 for login help or with other technical questions.<br />

OFF CAMPUS LIBRARY LOGIN<br />

Complete VSU student Library <strong>access</strong> is assigned to all admitted, enrolled and financially<br />

cleared students. Students may <strong>access</strong> online databases and library electronic services<br />

from off-campus through the library proxy server using their Active Directory<br />

Credentials. From the library’s homepage at http://library.vsu.edu the student must clickon<br />

the off-campus link to gain <strong>access</strong> to the website.