As part of our ongoing commitment to better securing our university systems and protecting the sensitive data of our community, we are moving forward with mandatory Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) requirements starting with all employees. This critical update allows us to maintain a secure environment so we can ultimately best serve our students.
Starting September 9, 2026, these requirements will be turned on for all university employees. While you will have the option to temporarily snooze the setup reminder for a few days, MFA will ultimately be required. We strongly encourage you to enable and set up your authentication method as soon as possible to avoid any interruption to your access.
If you prefer to configure MFA prior to Sept 9 so you are ready for this change, please click THIS LINK. Here you can review your current options or choose “Add sign-in method”.
Which Accounts Are Affected?
- Affected (Starting 9/9): All active Saint Mary’s employee accounts accessing tools tied to our Microsoft Entra single sign-on (SSO) portal. This includes daily tools such as:
- Google Workspace
- The Nest
- ArcGIS Online
- Astra
- Cayuse
- Emburse
- …and all other platforms integrated with our central login service.
- Not Affected At This Time:
- Canvas: You can continue to log into Canvas as normal for now. Canvas will be integrated into these new MFA controls over the coming months.
- Logging into your computer
Setup & Authentication Options
The most convenient and recommended way to complete verification is by installing the Microsoft Authenticator app on a mobile smartphone. Please remember that using a personal device for authentication is the most convenient option but it is voluntary, and Saint Mary’s does not provide financial reimbursement or stipends for personal cell phone usage.
Don’t have a cell phone or prefer not to use a personal device? If you do not have a cell phone or prefer an alternative method, physical hardware security keys are available. Please contact the HelpDesk to request a hardware security key that attaches directly to your keychain and allows you to log in securely.
If needed, detailed instructions can be found at THIS LINK.
What to Expect & Next Steps
- Prompts: Once active, you will be prompted to verify your identity via MFA at login. While using the same device/systems, this should only happen once every 12 hours.
- Take Action Early: You will be allowed to snooze the prompt however, we strongly recommend setting up the MFA as soon as possible by clicking THIS LINK.
- Students will be prompted to set up MFA starting 9/16.
Thank you for your cooperation and your shared commitment to keeping our university secure.If you need help setting up MFA or need to request a physical security key, please contact the HelpDesk at 507-457-7800 or helpdesk@smumn.edu.
