Bear ID FAQs

1. What is a Bear ID?
2. How do I activate my Bear ID?
3. How do I change my Bear ID password?
4. Does a Bear ID have anything to do with the student ID card?
5. How do I reset my PIN Number on BearWeb (bearweb.baylor.edu)?

Common Questions & Solutions

1. Why won't the system let me log in?
2. I got a message saying my Mailbox is full, what do I do now?
3. Does Outlook Web Access (OWA) have a virus filter?
4. Does Outlook Web Access (OWA) have a spam filter?
5. I've tried everything on this page and I still need help, who do I contact?
6. Where can I create a homepage or website?

Exchange Email FAQs

1. What is Exchange?
2. How do I access my email?
3. What software or programs do I need to read my email on the web?
4. How can I check my email from home, even if it is off campus?
5. Can I have my Baylor email forwarded to another email account?
6. Can I get a copy of Outlook for my home computer?
7. What are the server names for the Student Exchange email servers?
8. Will there be POP or IMAP access to Exchange?

Online Directory FAQs

1. What is the Online Directory?
2. How do I update my information in the Online Directory?
3. Why should I update my information in the Online Directory?
4. How do I use the Online Directory?
5. Why do I need to login to the Online Directory?
6. The Online Directory & Your Right to Privacy -- Information

Bear ID FAQs

1. What is a Bear ID?

Each student at Baylor has his or her own unique Bear ID. Your Bear ID & password will allow you to log in to computers on campus, & also serves as you e-mail address & password. For example, if your Bear ID was Jane_Doe, then your e-mail address would be Jane_Doe@baylor.edu.

2. How do I activate my Bear ID?

You can activate you Bear ID over the web by clicking here. Please select OK or Yes on the security warning boxes that pop up because the Bear ID activation page is a secure page.

3. How do I change my Bear ID password?

You can change your Bear ID password by clicking here. Please select OK or Yes on the security warning boxes that pop up becuase the password change page is a secure page.

4. Does a Bear ID have anything to do with the student ID card?

No, your Bear ID is used to log into computers around campus, check your email, and other online activites. Your student ID card has your name and a nine digit student ID number on it that you need to access dorms and other buildings on campus, as well as eat in the cafeteria or use Bear Bucks. The only similarity is your Bear ID and your student ID card will both utilize your name.

5. How do I reset my PIN Number on BearWeb (bearweb.baylor.edu)?

Go to http://bearweb.baylor.edu & look at the third option on that page, "Set / Reset PIN". Click on that link & login with your vaild BearID & password. Follow the instructions on the next page & then click the "Submit Button". Your BearWeb PIN Number has now been changed & you will login with the new PIN Number from now on.

Common Questions & Answers

1. Why won't the system let me log in?

Is your Bear ID longer than 20 characters? If so, this is why you cannot log on. Enter only the first 20 characters of your Bear ID and your password, and the system should log you on. If you want to enter you entire Bear ID & it is over 20 characters you must add the @baylor.edu after your Bear ID. If this does not solve your Bear ID issue, please call the Help Desk at ext. 4357.

2. I got a message saying my Mailbox is full, what do I do now?

Your account is limited to 300 MB of storage space, when you reach or exceed 300 MB you will no longer be able to send or receive mail. You will receive a warning email when your mailbox is nearing the limit. To free up space, delete emails that you no longer need (from your Inbox, Junk Email, Drafts, & other folders) and empty your deleted items folder by selecting the Deleted Items Folder and clicking on the trash can icon (see picture below). If you have lots of emails with file attachments, it is suggested that you save those files to a disk and delete the emails. This will free up a considerable amount of space.

3. Does Outlook Web Access (OWA) have a virus filter?

Yes, Baylor's Exchange Server that runs OWA scans for and filters out viruses in your e-mail. However, no virus filter is perfect, so please be careful when opening emails and attachments that are from unknown persons or appear to be suspicious. When in doubt do NOT open the e-mail or attachment.

4. Does Outlook Web Access (OWA) have a spam filter?

No, OWA does not have a spam filter, but here are some tips to help keep spam out of your Inbox:
1. Do not use your Baylor email to sign up for offers on the Internet, use another email account like Hotmail for Internet offers.
2. Do not publish your email address on a website, unless absolutely necessary.
3. Do not use the "Unsusbscribe" or "Remove Me" links or instructions, many times by completing these processes all you have done is verified to that spam company that your email address is active, allowing them to sell you email address to more spam companies.

5. I've tried everything on this page and I still need help, who do I contact?

You will need to call the Help Desk at 710-HELP (4357). You may also email helpdesk@baylor.edu if you have a question.

6. Where can I create a homepage or website?

Open a browser & go to your Bearspace, located at Bearspace.baylor.edu. For further information on how to use Bearspace, including how to create a website inside your space see this document: Click Here. (You will need a PDF reader installed to view the document.)

Email FAQs

1. What is Exchange?

Exchange is a robust messenging service from Microsoft. It offers email, calendaring, easy web access for the students, faculty, and staff of Baylor University.

2. How do I access my email?

The easiest way to check your Student Exchange email is through Outlook Web Access, or OWA. Simply open Internet Explorer or another web browser and type mail.baylor.edu in the Address box at the top of the window. Enter your Bear ID and password into the box that pops up, and voila! you're accessing your email. Please be sure click the "Log Out" button & then close the browser window when you are finished checking your email so that no one else can access your account.

3. What software or programs do I need to read my email on the web??

The only software you need is an updated web browser - Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Apple's Safari will all load OWA. Simply type mail.baylor.edu into the Address bar, enter your Bear ID and password, and click the Okay button.

4. How can I check my email from home, even if it is off campus?

The easiest way to check your Student Exchange email is to use Outlook Web Access by typing mail.baylor.edu into the address bar of your web browser. You can also set up the full version of Outlook -- not Outlook Express -- to check your email. Please be aware that Baylor offers support for Outlook 2003 only. Outlook is only available on Windows operating systems. You can obtain a full version of Outlook, together with the rest of the Office Suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.), at the Baylor Bookstore for an extremely low price. In addition, the Baylor Bookstore will also offer the current Windows Operating System install CD for an extremely low price. You must have your Baylor ID card with you when purchasing Office Suite or the Windows OS from the Baylor Bookstore.

For basic instructions on configuring Outlook to check your Baylor email click here.

5. Can I have my Baylor email forwarded to another email account?

Email forwarding is no longer be provided. Any communication via your Baylor email account is considered official university correspondence. However, it is very easy to check your Student Exchange email using the web. Simply type mail.baylor.edu into the Address bar, enter your Bear ID and password, and you're accessing your inbox.

6. Can I get a copy of Outlook for my home computer?

Absolutely. Outlook packaged with the rest of the Office suite -- Word, Powerpoint, Excel, etc. -- is available to purchase for $15 at the Baylor Bookstore. You must have your Baylor ID card with you when purchasing the Microsfot Office suite or the Windows OS from the Baylor Bookstore.

7. What are the server names for the Student Exchange email server?

Click here for Outlook setup instructions,

8. Will there be POP or IMAP access to Exchange?

There is no POP access to your email from on or off campus.
Accessing your email using IMAP is not as secure as Outlook in Exchange Mode or Outlook Web Access (OWA).

We strongly recommend that you use only Outlook in Exchange Mode or OWA located at mail.baylor.edu. .

Online Directory FAQs

1. What is the Online Directory?

The Online Directory is a list of contact information for all students, faculty, & staff at Baylor University. It located at www.baylor.edu/directory. You can also find a link entitled "Directory" in the black bar at the bottom of Baylor University Webpages, clicking on this link is another way to access the Online Directory.

2. How do I update my information in the Online Directory?

To update you information in the Online Directory:
1. Log into the Directory with your BearID & password.
2. Once you are logged in, the yellow box on the right hand side of the screen will have a link that says "Update My Info" (it should be the second link, right under the "FAQ/Help" link)
3. Click on the "Update My Info" Link
4. The default settings allow only Baylor Faculty, Staff, & Students who are logged into the system to view your contact information.
(If you want to make certain information, such as your permanent address private, click on the "Information Release Settings" Link & set the box next to the information to "Private". This will prevent anyone access the Online Directory from seeing that information.)
5. To change some of your contact information through BearWeb at bearweb.baylor.edu, any information that you cannot update through BearWeb yourself, please contact Academic Records at AcademicRecords_Office@baylor.edu or call 710-1181.

3. Why should I update my information in the Online Directory?

The reason you should update your contact information in the Online Directory, is this information is the address Baylor University will use to send out information & it can be used by instructors to contact you with class information.

4. How do I use the Online Directory?

To use the Online Directory you will need to log in, as much of the information is not available to you if you have not logged in to the system. Once logged into the Online Directory, you can search by last name (any portion of the last name will work, so if you are unsure of the spelling, typing in smit will find Smith, Smithy, Smiths, etc).

5. Why do I need to login to the Online Directory?

Requiring the log in, makes sure that your information is only available to Baylor University Faculty, Staff, & Students. This helps maintain your privacy.

6. The Online Directory & Your Right to Privacy -- Information

The Baylor University Online Directory allows you to control which of your information is available and which groups have access to view that information. Each individual faculty, staff, or student can control what is released via "information release settings." Information release settings can be accessed once you are logged in to the system by clicking on "Update My Information" and following the directions found there. Each piece of information in the directory can be controlled. Potential audiences for directory information include: General Public; Faculty, Staff & Students; Faculty & Staff; and Private.