Alumni computing accounts give Pitt graduates ongoing access to Pitt Email and several other University services — but unused accounts are a security risk, so they're deactivated after 180 days of inactivity. This article answers common questions about who gets an Alumni account, what it includes, and what you need to do to keep it active.
Critical: Alumni accounts are deactivated after 180 days of inactivity. Attackers frequently target unused Alumni accounts for phishing. Log in at my.pitt.edu at least once every 180 days to keep your account active.
Why This Matters: Account Security
⚠ Keeping Your Alumni Account Active and Secure
Alumni accounts have been used to send tens of thousands of phishing messages when left unused. Three things keep your account both active and protected:
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Log in at least once every 180 days. Sign in to my.pitt.edu using your Pitt credentials — this is what counts as "use" for keeping the account active. |
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Watch for the 28-day deactivation notice. Once an account reaches 180 days of inactivity, we send an email explaining that it will be deactivated in 28 days. Follow the instructions in that email, or log in to my.pitt.edu directly, if you want to keep the account. No action is needed if you're fine letting it deactivate. |
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Multifactor authentication protects active accounts. Since fall 2025, MFA has been added as an extra layer of protection on active Alumni accounts. |
Note: A deactivated account isn't gone for good. If circumstances change, you can re-establish it — see the Help Desk contact information at the end of this article.
What Services Can Alumni Use?
Beginning with spring 2015 graduates, alumni can use the following services:
- Pitt Email (Outlook) via outlook.office365.com — email access only; Office 365 apps and OneDrive are not included
- Enterprise Spam and Virus Filter
- PittNet Wi-Fi while on campus
- Eduroam wireless access at participating institutions worldwide
- Viewing grades online through the Student Information System (PeopleSoft)
- Ordering transcripts and enrollment verifications online
- Account management tools — updating your name and photo, changing your password, or resetting a forgotten password
- Technology Help Desk access via chat, phone, or email
- PittPAY
Who Gets an Alumni Account?
Your University email address doesn't change when you become an alumnus — the same address just keeps working. Eligibility for the automatic transition depends on your situation:
Automatic Alumni account eligibility by situation
| Situation |
Automatic Alumni Account? |
| Graduating student (spring 2015 or later) |
Yes |
| Eligible retiree |
Yes |
| Faculty or staff leaving for a reason other than retirement |
No |
| Graduating student who was also faculty or staff within 120 days of the student account's termination |
No — contact your school's Responsibility Center Administrator to request one |
Frequently Asked Questions
Select a question below to expand the answer.
How do I know when my account has transitioned to Alumni status?
University Computing Accounts for graduating students begin transitioning to Alumni status approximately 4 weeks after graduation. Students and eligible retirees receive email notifications throughout the transition.
⚠ Does my Alumni account expire? 180-Day Rule
Yes. You must log in via my.pitt.edu at least once every 180 days to keep your Alumni account active. Inactive accounts are a security risk and are deactivated.
When an account reaches 180 days of inactivity, we email you about 28 days before deactivation. If you want to keep the account, follow the instructions in that email or log in directly. If you don't respond, we deactivate the account — no further action is required on your part either way.
See the Why This Matters: Account Security panel above for the full picture, including multifactor authentication.
Will email forwarding continue on my Alumni account?
Yes, existing forwarding continues once your account transitions. You can also update your forwarding address using the same process available to primary accounts.
What happens to my Alumni account if I come back to Pitt?
If you return as a student, your account converts back to a primary student University Computing Account. If you return as faculty or staff, a new account is created for you, and you keep access to your Alumni account as well.
Can departments adjust Alumni access to their own services?
Some departments provide additional technology services and may choose to allow or restrict Alumni access to those services — for example, due to licensing requirements. Departmental IT staff can find technical details in the Enterprise Active Directory Frequently Asked Questions article.
Note: Terms can change.
The University may change the terms of Alumni entitlements at any time.
Need Help?
If you have questions about your Alumni account, want to re-establish a deactivated account, or need assistance with any of the services above, contact the Technology Help Desk: