Howdy!
Welcome to Texas A&M! We are happy to have you here. Below is all the information you need to get started. If you have any questions about this information, you can contact Help Desk Central:
Phone: (979) 845-8300
Email: helpdesk@tamu.edu
Online Chat
Account Setup and Details
Your NetID and Password
Your NetID will allow you to access many university resources, so it is important that you claim yours as soon as possible if you have not done so already. Please note that the NetID you choose will become your TAMU email address. Follow this link for help setting it up!
If you have forgotten your NetID password, or it has expired, please follow this link to get started on a password reset. Your password will expire every year, unless it is 16+ characters in which case it will never expire.
You can see more details about your NetID account here.
DUO 2-Factor Authentication
If you have not enrolled in DUO, please proceed to duo.tamu.edu and log in with your NetID credentials. Then, click Enroll in DUO to get started.
If you have a new phone, need to reactivate your DUO app, or want to add a backup device (highly recommended!) please follow these directions.
Click here for more information about how DUO adds an extra layer of security to your TAMU NetID account.
Your Mailboxes
TAMU Google Apps Account
You have a TAMU Google Apps (Gmail) mailbox that can be accessed by logging into gmail.com with your TAMU email address (YourNetID@tamu.edu) and your NetID password.
If you have never used this before, you may need to activate it through your Email Settings in Gateway. Please see this article for more information.
This mailbox is separate from your departmental Exchange mailbox. However, you can set up forwarding rules to ensure all your mail is received in one place.
Departmental Exchange Mailbox
You will have an Exchange mailbox which is managed by the department you work for. Your Exchange email address is YourNetID@exchange.tamu.edu.
You can access this mailbox by logging into exchange.tamu.edu with your NetID and NetID password.
This mailbox is separate from your TAMU Google Apps (Gmail) mailbox. However, you can set up forwarding rules to ensure all your mail is received in one place.
Please search our Knowledge Base for directions on adding your Exchange mailbox to Outlook, Mac Mail, and your phone.
Using Zoom for Online Learning
As a Faculty, you have a Pro Zoom license. To activate this license, you must log into the Zoom website first:
- Go to tamu.zoom.us.
- Select Sign In.
- Log in using your NetID and NetID password.
- Authenticate with DUO.
- Click on your profile icon in the top right corner and ensure you see the word licensed in rainbow letters.
- If you do not see the word licensed, this indicates your TAMU Pro license is not activated correctly. Please see the directions at the bottom of this section.
Follow these directions to log into the Zoom app or desktop client:
- Launch the Zoom application.
- Click Sign In with SSO.
- Enter tamu in the company domain field.
- Click Continue.
- If you have already logged in using your web browser, it will give you the option to redirect back to the app automatically by asking if you would like to Open Zoom Meetings. Otherwise, please log in with your NetID and NetID password, then authenticate with DUO.
- Click on your profile icon in the top right corner and ensure you see the word licensed in rainbow letters.
- If you successfully logged in with SSO but do not see the word "licensed", or if your Zoom meetings are ending after 40 minutes, please contact Help Desk Central.
If you previously created a free Zoom account using your TAMU email address, you will have troubles using Zoom with your Pro license. In this case, please follow these directions:
- Go to zoom.com.
- Log in using the credentials you created.
- Go to the Profile tab on the left side of the page.
- Scroll down to Sign-In Email and click Edit.
- Change your sign-in email from your TAMU email address to an unaffiliated personal email address.
- Log into your TAMU email account to confirm the email address was successfully changed.
- Log into your personal email account to confirm the email address was successfully changed.
- You should now be able to follow the directions above
If you have followed all the directions above successfully but still do not see the word "licensed", or if your meetings are ending after 40 minutes, please contact Help Desk Central.
For more details about Zoom accounts, please see this article.
If you have any questions with proctoring exams please head over to our Keep Teaching website for more information!
Keep Teaching | Learning Management System
Connecting to the TAMU VPN
The Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a method of providing a more secure network from public or untrusted networks. Follow this link for directions on how to install the VPN on your device.
You can also connect via L2TP, although this is not the preferred method for most campus members.
If you are experiencing trouble using Cisco Secure Client (formerly AnyConnect) on your machine, try these troubleshooting tips.
OAL and VOAL Machines
Open Access Lab machines are on-campus computers that are free for you and your students to use. You can see a list of OAL computer locations here. A list of software available on these computers can be found here.
Be sure to log into these computers using your NetID and your NetID password. If you are having troubles logging in, please perform a password flush.
The VOAL is a Virtual OAL computer. You and your students can essentially use an on-campus computer from the comfort of your own home. Please follow these directions to access it.
If an OAL computer or the VOAL seems to be acting "glitchy", please contact Help Desk Central to have your OAL profile reset.
Canvas
Software and Hardware Support
Software
You and your students can purchase a variety of software through software.tamu.edu. You can click the Eligibility tab at the top of the website to view what software is available to campus members of different affiliations.
You and your students also have a free Microsoft Office 365 account. You can log into office.com with your TAMU email address (YourNetID@tamu.edu) and will have the option to download the Office 365 Suite which includes applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
If assistance with accessing or downloading any of this software is needed, you and your students can contact Help Desk Central. Keep in mind that Help Desk Central cannot help students actually use software, as this may constitute Academic Dishonesty.
Hardware
Help Desk Central is available for software help (such as Windows and Mac OS corruption) and can help troubleshoot to determine if a device is experiencing a hardware or software problem if it is not clear.
If you or a student have a device in need of hardware repairs, or if you are looking for a good place to purchase new technology, please check out 12th Man Technology.
Campus Life
Where is This Building?
The Texas A&M University Aggie Map website is the best place to find any building located on the TAMU Campus. It provides information on how to make it from one building to the other by walking, biking, driving, or taking the Aggie Bus!
Campus Directory
If you are looking to contact a Texas A&M campus member you should be able to find their contact information in the Aggie Directory Search.