Frequently Asked Question

Your Jersey College account is the key to your email, Canvas, grades, and personal information. A strong, well-protected password is your first line of defense. Here are the habits that keep your account safe.

1. Use a long passphrase instead of a short password. A passphrase is several words strung together, like a short sentence only you would think of. Longer is stronger - aim for something easy for you to remember but hard for anyone else to guess.

1. Make it unique. Use a password for your Jersey College account that you do not use anywhere else. If another website is ever breached, a unique password keeps your school account safe.

1. Never reuse old passwords across accounts. Reusing the same password for your bank, social media, and school account means one leak can expose all of them.

1. Never share your password. Jersey College staff and the Help Desk will never ask you for your password. No real support person needs it. If someone asks, it is a scam.

1. Turn on and use Microsoft Authenticator for multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA adds a second step when you sign in, so even if someone learns your password, they still cannot get in. You can set up or manage Microsoft Authenticator at https://aka.ms/mfasetup, or from https://office.com by going to Security info.

1. Watch out for phishing. Scam emails and texts try to trick you into typing your password on a fake page. Always check that you are signing in at a real Microsoft address, and never enter your password after clicking a link you did not expect.

1. Do not save your password on shared or public computers. When using a library, lab, or any computer that is not yours, decline any offer to save your password or keep you signed in, and always sign out completely when you finish.

1. Change your password if you suspect it has been compromised. If anything feels off - an unexpected sign-in prompt, a strange email from your own account, or a warning - reset your password right away at https://passwordreset.microsoftonline.com/?whr=jerseycollege.edu.

Tips and warnings:

• Your Jersey College password covers both Microsoft 365 and Canvas. When you change it, Canvas updates with the new password in about 5 to 10 minutes.

• A good passphrase you can remember is safer than a complicated one you have to write down. Avoid sticky notes near your computer.

• The Help Desk will never call, email, or text you asking for your password or a verification code.

If you're still having trouble, contact the Jersey College Help Desk at 201-645-1164 or itsupport@jerseycollege.edu.