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Microsoft Office 365

Ridgewater provides Microsoft Office 365 to every student free of charge. This gives you the latest version of the full Office productivity suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and more. Current Ridgewater students will be able to use the software for free as long as the program continues.

Microsoft Office 365 Benefits

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  • Install one up to five compatible PCs and Macs, plus five tablets (including iPad)
  • Use with OneDrive for automatic device syncing
  • Gain valuable skills on the world’s most popular productivity software
  • Use the same programs as your professors to ensure full file fidelity

Getting Microsoft Office 365 [PDF]

Need help downloading and installing Office 365? Check out these Office 365 installation tips.

Multi-Factor Authentication

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Multi-factor authentication is a powerful security tool to help you protect your accounts. It creates layered protection that requires users to sign in using more than one verification method. All students will be auto-enrolled this spring.

Once you’re auto-enrolled, follow these instructions to complete the setup process:

Microsoft OneDrive

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OneDrive is your personal storage file in the cloud. It allows you to store files and access them from virtually any device with internet access.

To access, log in to your Ridgewater College email. When you are logged in, a menu of blue tiles will appear. Click the OneDrive tile. To upload documents, click on Upload on the documents page, then drag your file and place it in Drop Your File Here. When the Choose File to Upload window appears, select the drive where your files are currently loaded.

To create a new document within OneDrive, select New from the OneDrive documents page. Then, select the type of document you want to create.

Email Setup

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Microsoft Outlook is the easiest way to add your College Email to your mobile device.

  1. Open a web browser and go to: https://login.microsoftonline.com/?whr=minnstate.edu
  2. Enter your username:
    • Employees: @minnstate.edu
    • Students: @go.minnstate.edu
  3. Enter your StarID password.
  4. If or when prompted enter Multi-Factor Authentication code or approve on Microsoft Authenticator App.

If you need further help setting up your account, review email FAQs or support@ridgewatercollege.samanage.com?subject=Email%20Assistance.

Student Email Common Questions

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What is my username and password for email?

Valid username and password for student email is:

UN: StarID@go.minnstate.edu

PW: StarID Password

My StarID and password don’t seem to be working when I try to log in to email. What should I do?

Visit the StarID homepage and change your StarID password. This will force a new password synchronization with Ridgewater’s network and should allow you to log on. Your StarID password will expire every 180 days. You should receive a notice when it gets close to expiring. Please don’t ignore those notices.

In some instances your web browser may have add-ons, plug-ins, or extensions that interfere with the login process. The simplest solution may be to try a different web browser; however, it may be necessary to perform a browser reset and/or disable or remove unused add-ons, plug-ins, or extensions. The instructions to reset and manage add-ons, plug-ins, or extensions for the most common browsers are listed below, along with links to download and install an alternate browser.

How long will my email remain available after I leave Ridgewater College?

About 120 days.

Multi-Factor Enrollment Automatic with Smart Phone or Tablet

Multi-factor enrollment requires a customer to switch back and forth between a computer and their mobile device. Sections labeled Computer need to be performed on a laptop or desktop computer (Windows or macOS).  Sections labeled Mobile Device need to be performed on the mobile device (phone or tablet).

A mobile device (iPhone/iPad or Android phone/tablet) is required for the setup procedure below. An app called “Microsoft Authenticator” needs to be installed as the first step.

Instructions

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Mobile Device

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1. Open the App Store (Apple iPhone / iPad) or Play Store (Android).

2. Search for and install Microsoft Authenticator.

Computer

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3. Click Next.

4. Under Step 1: How should we contact you?

  • the dropdown from Authentication phone to Mobile app.
  • the radio button that says Receive notifications for verifications.

5. Click Set up.

  • A QR code will be displayed.

Mobile Device

Section titled “Mobile Device”

6. Open the Microsoft Authenticator app.

7. Tap the three dots in the upper right corner.

8. Tap Add Account and choose Work or School Account.

9. Tap Scan a QR code.

  • Allow the app to use the camera if asked for permission.

10. Hold the phone up to the computer screen to scan the QR code displayed.

11. Close the Microsoft Authenticator app.

Computer

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12. Click Next.

13. Click Next.

  • An approve/deny message will be sent to the mobile device configured above.

14. Tap Approve.

Computer

Section titled “Computer”

15. Under Step 3

  • Select the correct country code for your phone under the Select your country or region drop down.
  • Type in or verify the phone number to receive a phone call or text message as a backup in case the authenticator app is not functioning.

16. Click Done.

If you see the Approve / Deny message on your mobile device, but were not logging in, click DENY.****

Multi-Factor Enrollment Automatic without Smart Phone or Tablet

If a user did not enroll in multi-factor authentication prior to the enrollment deadline, they will see the following message the first time they login to Office 365 after being forced enrolled into multi-factor.

Instructions

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Computer

Section titled “Computer”
  1. Click Next.
  2. Under Step 1: How should we contact you?
  • Click the radio button that says Call Me.
  •  Enter the phone number you would like to verification phone calls at.

3. Click Next

  • You will receive a phone call from Microsoft at the phone number entered above.
  • The message will prompt you to press the pound (#) key to finish your verification.
  • You should receive a voice message indicating your sign in was successfully verified.
The multi-factor process above must be completed successfully before the user can proceed to their Microsoft 365 account.  A multi-factor reset should not be needed unless the user has successfully verified their multi-factor authentication method and no longer has access to that authentication method.

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