We recognize that the pursuit of an online certificate or degree requires just as much student support as that of a traditional on-campus student. That's why we provide the same student services for those who are on-campus and those who are pursuing their degree online.
Whether you are a new student or current student, the information below will help you navigate the university system and ensure you have what you need to be successful in your online program.
Activating your IU Computing and Email Account
To create your computing account, you’ll need your University ID number, which was included in your letter of admission. The computing account and email account are different than the account you created to apply.
Forgot your 10-digit University ID number? You can look it up on the Student Self-Service University Lookup Form.
Forgot your username? Contact the UITS Support Center.
Forgot your passphrase? Reset it here.
Please note: If you have ever previously been enrolled in or participated in a program at any IU campus and were given a 10-digit University ID number and username, you will use the same ID number and username to access your IU computing account (or use the steps above to set up your computing account if you have not already done so). Recently admitted students and any returning former students may need to re-run the Starter Kit (Create my first IU computing accounts) or log into Account Management Service and create other essential computing accounts (Manage my IU computing accounts) to restore full Active Directory Service access, generate an appropriate email account, and refresh mail delivery information.
If you have any questions regarding creating/reactivating your IU Computing account, you may contact the University Information Technology Services (UITS) Support Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 812-855-6789, ithelp@iu.edu or https://uits.iu.edu/.
After you have created your IU Computing account, a hold will be automatically placed on your student account. The hold is for verification of your citizenship. Two Indiana state laws require that Indiana University Bloomington collect verification of citizenship from every student who plans to attend. This website, https://studentcentral.indiana.edu/personal-information/update-information/residency-citizenship.html, provides more information about this hold, ramifications for not verifying your citizenship, and directions on verifying your citizenship.
To maintain the privacy of students’ Social Security numbers, the Student Information System (SIS) generates a unique ten-digit identifier for each student record called the University ID (UID). The UID serves as the key to the student record.
The Social Security number (SSN) can also serve as an important identifier for a student. As permitted by Indiana Code 4-1-10, the last four digits of the SSN may be used to uniquely identify admission applications, registrations, course enrollment documents, transcripts, certification requests, and permanent academic records. Access to the full nine-digit SSN is necessary to determine financial aid eligibility and the SSN is a required identifier for federal grants and loans, and other federal financial aid programs.
In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 and Indiana Code 4-1-8, applicants for admission and enrolled students are advised that the requested disclosure of the Social Security number is voluntary. The applicant or student has the right to refuse disclosure of this number or request its removal from records without penalty. Note, however, that refusal to disclose the Social Security number renders a student ineligible for participation in federal financial aid programs.
Find Your University ID Number
Currently enrolled students may obtain their University Identification Number (UID) via the University ID app at One.IU:
If you require technical assistance with One.IU, you may contact the University Information Technology Services (UITS) Support Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 812-855-6789, ithelp@iu.edu or https://uits.iu.edu/.
The university reserves the right to send official communications to students by e-mail with the full expectation students will receive and read these messages in a timely fashion. Official university e-mail accounts are available for all registered students. Official university communications will be sent to students’ official university e-mail addresses. For IU Bloomington, this is the @indiana.edu address.
You are expected to check your e-mail frequently and consistently to stay current with university-related communications. In addition to monitoring your university e-mail account, you may want to check for course-related e-mail within Canvas. The same user ID and passphrase is used for Canvas and the university e-mail system. For more information, visit Canvas.
If you have your e-mail forwarded from your official university e-mail address to another address, you do so at your own risk. The university is not responsible for issues that may impact proper or timely transmission of—or access to—e-mail forwarded to any other address. Any such problems will not absolve you of your responsibility to know and comply with the content of official communications sent to your official IU e-mail address. Instructions to set up or cancel e-mail forwarding are available using the Email Management task at One.IU.
All online students are assigned a faculty advisor from their program. Your advisor will give you individualized assistance as you navigate your program and help you meet your program (certificate, masters, or doctorate) requirements. Your academic advisor will help you meet degree requirements, choose courses, and explore your professional interests. You should meet with your academic advisor at least once per semester and talk with them before registering for courses.
All students must submit a Plan of Studies (POS). This is an electronic document of the courses taken to earn your credential or degree. It will route for approval to your advisor, committee if needed, the department chair, and the Graduate Studies Office (GSO). Certificate, masters, and Ed.S. students should submit the POS before the end of their second semester. Doctoral students should submit it before the end of their third semester. If you do not have an approved POS, it could delay future milestones or graduation.
If you are currently enrolled student at IUB, you should register during Early Enrollment/Registration (the first four weeks of registration period, except for Summer). Your registration appointment will be listed in your Student Center on One.IU. You may register at any time after your scheduled registration appointment through the first week of classes. Keep in mind that the earlier you register, the more likely you are to get into the classes you want.
If you are a new student, you should register during Open Registration/Schedule Adjustment (the remaining weeks of registration period starting with the fifth week, except for Summer). A registration appointment will NOT be assigned for you. You may register at any time AFTER Early Enrollment/Registration through the first week of classes. Keep in mind that the earlier you register, the more likely you are to get into the classes you want.
If you are a student who has taken time off but still active in your program, you should register during Open Registration/Schedule Adjustment (the remaining weeks of registration period starting with the fifth week, except for Summer). A registration appointment will NOT be assigned for you. You may register at any time AFTER Early Enrollment/Registration through the first week of classes. Keep in mind that the earlier you register, the more likely you are to get into the classes you want.
NOTE: In order to register, you will first need to be term activated. Please contact the School of Education Graduate Recorders at gsorecdr@iu.edu to request term activation.
The following websites provide detailed instructions on how to register and the registration process (which one you use is up to you):
The following websites provide detailed instructions on how to drop/add DURING the Open Registration/Schedule Adjustment period (which one you use is up to you):
The following websites provide detailed instructions on how to drop/add AFTER the Open Registration/Schedule Adjustment period (which one you use is up to you):
The following websites provide detailed instructions on how waitlist a course:
If you plan on taking on taking time off from your program, unexpectedly have to take time off from your program, or completely withdraw from your program, please contact both your department and the School of Education Office of Graduate Studies recorders at gsorecdr@iu.edu.
The following websites provide detailed information on holds/registration issues you may encounter and how to resolve them:
Textbooks are generally required for your online course(s), and the cost is not part of your tuition payment. Check for required text titles from the course Canvas web page, from the course syllabi, and/or from the course instructor.
Titles are generally available from the IU Bookstore. To order, you can use their online book order system. If you have questions about this system, call 812-331-2963 and tell them you are an online graduate student and identify your course number for them.
If you are in Bloomington, you can purchase books and course packets at the bookstore in the Indiana Memorial Union.
Students are not required to purchase their books from the above bookstore and can shop around through other online bookstores.
Canvas is IU's learning management system used for online and on-campus courses. Canvas is known for its user-friendly online environment and ability to easily connect instructors and students both in and out of the classroom.
Canvas includes most of the standard tools found in open source and commercial management systems (assignments, discussions, announcements, quizzes, sharing documents, syllabus, etc.) as well as enhanced tools and features for communication, collaboration, assessment, and personalized features for individual students.
The Canvas website will be available approximately 24 hours after your IU Computing account has been created. The course site on Canvas is not visible to students until the instructor publishes the course site. To know when your course will appear on Canvas, please contact the instructor.
A variety of online resources are available to help you learn how to use Canvas such as:
You are responsible for paying tuition, fees, and all other charges by the due date on your Bursar bill. The Office of the Bursar will email you when you have a bill to review. Make sure you are checking your IU email account—that is where the Bursar will send your billing notices and other official communications.
Your tuition, fees, and amounts owed to university units are added together to represent the total amount due on your student account.
Bills are created monthly, usually around the third Thursday of the month (all dates of bill availability are subject to change-please consult the Due Dates (Billing Calendar) website. The payment due date is always the 10th of the month.
Each month, the Bursar will create an electronic bill that shows new activity and the amount that is due by the due date. (Want to see activity that has occurred since your most recent bill? Choose the “Statements” tab. Any activity since your last statement will be listed first.). This video will show you details about the bursar bill.
You can access your bill online through One.IU.
Choose the PDF for the bill that you want to view.
The following links from Student Central you will find to be very helpful:
Please contact Student Central with any questions: by email or by phone at 812.855.6500, weekdays from 8:30 am to 6:45 pm EST/EDT Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 6:45 pm EST/EDT on Friday.
Indiana University has financial aid counselors who will assist you in finding the best available options to help finance your degree. Various types of aid including scholarships, grants, loans, corporate or military assistance are options.
For information regarding financial aid, visit the Student Central Paying for College website. Please contact Student Central with any questions: by email or by phone at 812.855.6500, weekdays from 8:30 am to 6:45 pm EST/EDT Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 6:45 pm EST/EDT on Friday.
One.IU was created to bring a modern app store experience to finding what you need to at IU. With One.IU, you search for what you want to do, and click to launch it. Check your email, course offerings, grades, bursar account, unofficial transcripts/view grades, change your address, etc. through this portal for student services.
As a student, you have access to your student information in the Student Information System (SIS) through the Student Center in One.IU. This provides easy access to all that you will need on a regular basis. The information is grouped under the logical headings of Academics, Finances, Personal Information, and Admissions. Student Center allows you to view your advisement report, grades, unofficial transcript, class schedule details, registration holds, and enrollment date/time. Additionally, you can use your academic planner and shopping cart here, plus register and drop/add classes.
University Information Technology Services (UITS) have created two job aids that will help you navigate Student Center:
Graduate Education Management System (GEMS) is a portal designed to assist in the academic management of graduate students. GEM’s functions to help manage all tasks related to the major milestones in a graduate student’s academic career. With GEMs, faculty and staff will have more information available to them that will allow them to make better decisions in a timely fashion, as they advise students from application through graduation.
The Enrollment & Student Academic Information Bulletin is updated each semester with the most recent information regarding registration essentials and information, financial information, computing information, general information, policies, services, calendars and more.
University Information Technology Services (UITS), IU’s central IT organization, is dedicated to helping students succeed academically by providing an extensive and varied computing environment and nationally recognized computing support.
If you require technical assistance, you may contact the University Information Technology Services (UITS) Support Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 812-855-6789, ithelp@iu.edu, ITHelpLive or https://uits.iu.edu/.
University Information Technology Services (UITS) provides online documentation and job aids of specific interest to students. Job aids cover a wide range of topics such as: Class Search, Common Questions, Unofficial Transcripts, Student Center (and Quick Guide), Student Registration via One.IU (and Condensed Instructions), and Student Bursar Account Tutorials
The Indiana University Knowledge Base is a repository of thousands of answers to common questions about computing at IU. The Knowledge Base menu organizes only a small selection of the Knowledge Base, with links to about 1400 introductory documents. To access all Knowledge Base content, us the full-text search.
IUB Distance Education Library Services will send you books from the IU Bloomington Libraries and articles from anywhere, if you meet the criteria below:
The Office of the Registrar maintains the official and unofficial academic record for all courses taken while at Indiana University.
For information regarding transcripts (accessing unofficial transcripts and ordering official transcirpts), visit the Student Central Transcript website. Please contact Student Central with any questions: by email or by phone at 812.855.6500, weekdays from 8:30 am to 6:45 pm EST/EDT Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 6:45 pm EST/EDT on Friday.
IUware is a software distribution service for Indiana University students, faculty, and staff. IUware offers a wide variety of software packages at no charge, including site-licensed products from Adobe, Microsoft, Thomson Reuters, and others. Software packages include programs for reading email and web browsing, as well as antivirus and office applications. The university pays for the relevant licenses through agreements with vendors; this allows students, faculty, and staff to use the programs available through IUware, most free of charge. The IUware server is regularly updated, so patches and upgrades for IU-supported software are consistently available.
Eligible individuals with valid IU credentials and compatible web browsers can download, install, and, in some cases, execute applications from the IUware website. For eligibility information, see At IU, how can I get university-licensed software? Some applications distributed via IUware are reserved for use by individuals in specific courses, departments, or roles.
Technically, you do not own the IUware applications installed on your computer. As long as you meet the eligibility requirements, you are entitled to use an installed IUware application, subject to the terms and conditions specified by IU and the software publisher. When you are no longer eligible, you are required to uninstall any IUware applications stored on your personal computer.
Student Central is IU Bloomington's point-of-service office for class registration information, student accounts (bursar), transcript requests, schedule adjustment, and student financial aid. Student Central on Union opened in February 2013 as a collaborative customer service organization featuring the combined expertise of the offices of the Registrar and Student Financial Assistance. All students are encouraged to check out our web site at studentcentral.indiana.edu for registration assistance, help understanding your grades or the financial aid process, updating your personal information, and upcoming academic and financial deadlines.
The Student Advocates Office can help you resolve personal and academic problems so that you may maintain progress towards earning a degree.
The Student Advocates Office team is made up of retired IU faculty and administrators who will help you navigate the many complexities of a large academic institution such as Indiana University.
The mission of the Student Advocates Office is to assist students in resolving personal and academic problems so that they may maintain progress toward earning a degree. We achieve our mission by helping students foster skills that will positively influence your academic experience as well as their life after IU.
The Student Advocates Office can help you:
If you require assistance, you may contact the Student Advocates Office at 812-855-0761 or advocate@iu.edu. They are open Monday through Friday from 9 am – 12 pm EST and 1 pm – 4:30 pm EST.
Veterans Support Services is here to support your academic success from day one to graduation. They can help you use your Veteran Education Benefits and ease your transition from the military to campus life.
Their job is to help you stay on track, draw on your skills, and maximize your educational experience. Veteran Support Services is here to serve as a launching pad for your IU experience and whatever your academic and co-curricular interests might be.
If you require assistance, you may contact the Veteran Support Services at 812-856-1985 or vetserv@iu.edu. They are open Monday through Friday from 8 am – 5 pm EST.
The following websites provide information graduation process (completing program requirements, submitting plan of studies, applying for graduation, and commencement-only for degree seeking students):
Indiana University Bloomington holds two Commencement twice a year (May and December). In addition to the IUB Commencement, the School of Education holds two convocation ceremonies each year the same weekend as Commencement. Information about convocation will be sent to student’s IU email account at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semester.
If you require assistance regarding the Application for Graduation process, you may contact the School of Education Graduate Studies Recorders at 812-856-8504 or gsorecdr@iu.edu.
If you require assistance regarding Commencement, you may contact the Office of University Events and Commencement Services at 812-855-3762 or iudegree@iu.edu or https://commencement.indiana.edu/contact-us/index.html.
If you require assistance regarding convocation, you may contact the Office of Teacher Education at 812-856-8500 or uteevent@iu.edu or education.indiana.edu/convocation.
