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Northern Illinois University

Information Technology Services

GroupWise Retiree Accounts

A retiree account is a GroupWise e-mail account that can be requested by any employee who is classified as being retired from the University. (Retirees also receive an AccountID that can be used for dial-up access to the University modem pool.) Initial accounts are free, but renewal of an account requires membership in the NIU Annuitants Association.

Get a Retiree Account

To request a retiree account, complete the on-line Computer Access Request form:

  1. Process any paperwork required by Human Resources to confirm your planned retirement
  2. Open a web browser and go to http://www.its.niu.edu/its/apps/car
  3. Select "Retired Faculty/Staff" from the Classification pick list
  4. Do not request any Service Area(s) by checking their checkboxes. (These boxes are for requesting specific services that do not apply for the retiree classification.)
  5. Select "Continue ->"
  6. Complete all fields in the User Information section. If you have a current AccountID, please provide this in the AccountID field so that your existing mailbox contents can be transferred.
  7. Select "Continue ->"
  8. Proofread the request to ensure all information is accurate. If you notice any mistakes, select "<- Back" to correct them. If the request is accurate, select "Continue ->".
  9. Your request has now been submitted. If you wish, you can print a copy of the request for your records.

The request can be made as early as two months before the retirement date (provided that the proper paperwork has been processed with the University). An informational packet will be sent to your home address when the account has been set up. It will include your new AccountID and how to access your retiree mailbox off campus.

How does a retiree account differ from a faculty/staff account?

Employees with a current GroupWise mailbox will be transferred to accounts associated with a new AccountID upon retirement. This means that the current mailbox contents (messages, address book, etc.) will transfer from the employee GroupWise account into the retiree GroupWise account. (Note that collaborative features such as proxy access, resource ownership and access, etc., will not transfer from employee account to retiree account.)

The new account status will be "Retiree" (as reflected under the "Department" field in the GroupWise Address Book). The password and contents within the mailbox will remain intact.

The existing e-mail alias will be redirected to your new address automatically. However, please note that the actual e-mail address will change. For example, the employee GroupWise address of a10veh1@wpo.cso.niu.edu will no longer work, but the existing e-mail alias of vhuskie@niu.edu will work and now point to the new retiree GroupWise account of vhuskie@wpo.cso.niu.edu .

Retiree accounts remain active for one year. You must join and retain a valid membership in the NIU Annuitants Association or the account will be deleted. Contact the Annuitants Association for more details.

How do I keep my retiree account active?

Each year, renewal of your retiree account will be assessed on July 1st. All active members in the NIU Annuitants Association will retain their accounts. If membership dues are delinquent, the mailbox will be expired for 30 days. If membership dues remain unpaid at the end of this period, the mailbox and its contents may be deleted. Please note that membership in the Annuitants Association is required for renewing a retiree account, not for requesting an account.

Questions regarding the NIU Annuitants Association or activating your membership can be sent to annuitants@niu.edu.