Faculty and staff are assigned usernames and passwords to access various secure systems at Mercer University. Each of those systems are described below, including how to change the password for each. Mercer IT recommends that individuals change their passwords immediately when assigned and approximately every six months, using “strong” passwords that include alpha-numeric characters, upper and lowercase characters, and symbols (if available).
In this section:
- Active Directory (AD)
- ADVANCE
- Blackboard
- Faculty and Advisor Services
- FRS
- HRS
- MercerConnect (faculty/staff email)
- SIS
- SmarTerm
Active Directory (AD)
The Active Directory (a.k.a., system, AD) password permits access to a Mercer email account (via MercerConnect), a Mercer computer, and VPN (virtual private network).
The AD password can be changed within MercerConnect (use the Options link on the home page) or by pressing CTRL + ALT + DEL on a Mercer computer and choosing Change Password. Note that when you change your AD password in one system (i.e., your MercerConnect account), it is also changed for the other systems (i.e., your Mercer computer).
ADVANCE
The ADVANCE password allows access to alumni information, university gift records, and donor information.
Employees must contact University Advancement to have their ADVANCE passwords changed.
Blackboard
The Blackboard password allows access to supplementary course materials and websites.
The Blackboard password can be changed by visiting the My Settings link on the Blackboard home page.
Faculty and Advisor Services
The Faculty and Advisor Services password allows access to class lists, the course grade entry system, and other student advising resources (depending on user permissions).
The Faculty and Advisor Services password can be changed by visiting the Change PIN link on the home page within Faculty and Advisor Services.
FRS
The FRS password allows access to departmental budget information (depending on user permissions).
Employees must contact the Accounting Office to have their FRS passwords changed.
HRS
The HRS password allows access to employee records (depending on user permissions).
Employees must contact Human Resources to have their HRS passwords changed.
MercerConnect (faculty/staff email)
The MercerConnect email system is controlled by the Active Directory (AD) password. See that section (above) for more information.
SIS
The SIS password allows access to student records (depending on user permissions).
Employees must contact the Registrar’s Office to have their SIS passwords changed.
SmarTerm
The SmarTerm password allows access to HRS, SIS, SISTEST, FRS, and ADVANCE (depending on user permissions).
The SmarTerm password can be changed using the CP (Change password) link on the menu page within SmarTerm.