Creation of Alumni Account
A new Google alumni email account will be automatically created when the graduation flag is added in Banner. This may be weeks after the final date classes ended and grades posted. An email notification with steps outlining how to claim the alumni account will be generated to the active student account when the alumni account is available. Your student account will automatically disable after three semesters if you do not re-enroll in classes. Once your student account is disabled, no further access will be given.
Google Drive and Google Photo access will be removed for those accounts created prior to 2022 on November 1, 2023. This is due to changes in Google's free and unlimited storage plan. We remain committed to providing email, in accordance with the VCU Alumni Email Standard.
Claim and Secure Your Alumni Account
Claiming your alumni.vcu.edu account is a simple process.
- Go to the Google account recovery page.
- Follow these steps to reset your password when prompted.
- You must update your account recovery email if this was not done when you set your password.
We strongly recommend setting up a recovery phone number or email address and setting up 2-Factor Authentication to further secure your Alumni account. More information on choosing a strong password can be found here: Create a strong password & a more secure account - Google Account Help. In addition, we recommend using VCU’s eID Password Rules as a guideline, such as not using your eID, first name, middle name, last name, “VCU,” “Password” and/or “RAMS” in your password. A recovery phone number or email address will enable you to recover your account in the event you are unable to sign in due to a forgotten password or locked-out account. 2-Factor Authentication will protect your account in the situation your password is stolen by adding an additional layer of verification.
Contact the IT Support Center at 804-828-2227 or email drgee@vcu.edu for assistance.
You may log into your Alumni Account several ways:
- https://gmail.com using your @alumni.vcu.edu address
- https://collaborate.vcu.edu - use the link in the upper right
- https://www.vcu.edu/email/ - use the provided link
- Access directly at https://mail.google.com/a/
alumni.vcu.edu
Gmail and calendar (iPhone & Android)
- Open the Gmail app
- Tap on the profile picture located in the top right corner
- Scroll down to the bottom of the list and tap “Add another account”.
- Tap “Google”. If prompted, tap “Continue”.
- In the “Email or phone” field, enter your email address in this format: (eID)@alumni.vcu.edu, then tap “Next”.
- On the following screen, enter the password for your (eID)@alumni.vcu.edu. Complete the 2-Factor step if prompted.
- Note: If you have other Google apps on your device, your eID@alumni.vcu.edu account will be automatically added to them after completing this step.
- To remove an account, tap “Manage accounts on this device”
- Select account you wish to remove, tap “Remove from this device”. When prompted, press “Remove” to confirm removal of the account. This will also remove this account from other Google apps on your device.
Mail for iPhone
- Go to iOS Settings
- Tap “Search” and enter “Accounts”. Tap on the first result.
- Tap “Add Account”
- Tap “Google”. If prompted, tap “Continue”.
- In the “Email or phone” field, enter your email address in this format: (eID)@alumni.vcu.edu, then tap “Next”.
- On the following screen, enter the password for your (eID)@alumni.vcu.edu. Complete the 2-Factor step if prompted.
- On the following screen, select or deselect your desired services to sync (Mail, Contacts, Calendars.).
- To remove an account, tap on the account, then tap “Delete Account”
In accordance with the Alumni Email Standard and following the merge of the student and faculty/staff Google domains in Spring, 2021, data migration to an alumni account is not provided. Students have several semesters to transition to their new alumni account.
We've created a document that outlines options for transferring allowable data to your alumni or personal account. Specific links for each type of data are included below.
Gmail
Complete migration of this data is not provided. Individual emails may be forwarded as needed.
Google Drive
Google Drive folders related to student work may be downloaded and then uploaded to a personal account by following these steps. Google Drive is not available in the alumni.vcu.edu domain for accounts created starting with Spring 2022 graduates due to Google’s change to storage limits. If collaborators need to maintain access, this document provides tips on updating this prior to your active account closing.
Google Calendar
Google calendar entries may be exported from your vcu.edu account and imported into your alumni account following these steps.
Google Chrome Bookmarks
Chrome bookmarks may be exported and imported following these steps.
Google Contacts
Google contacts may be exported from your vcu.edu account and imported into your alumni account following these steps.
Google Maps
Please review our document for the options available to migrate your Google Maps data.
Google News
We've included some tips to configure your Google News.
YouTube
Follow Google's support steps to change ownership of your YouTube channel.
Where do I log into my alumni account?
You may log into your alumni account at https://gmail.com using your @alumni.vcu.edu address, visit https://collaborate.vcu.edu and use the link in the upper right, visit https://www.vcu.edu/email/ and use the provided link, or you may access directly at https://mail.google.com/a/
I am alumni but I am also a current student, do I need to take any action?
Students with active student accounts will continue to have email directed to their student account. Email addressed to eID@vcu.edu will still arrive in your active student account.
Will I have unlimited storage in my Alumni account?
Beginning in 2022, a storage quota of 10 GB will be in place for new email only accounts and accounts not yet accessed. This is necessary as Google moves toward a pooled storage model and no longer offers unlimited free storage. Active Google Workspace accounts created prior to 2022 have been notified of the elimination of Google Drive and Google Photo access effective November 1, 2023.
What should I do with my shared Google Drive documents so they remain active?
We have outlined several steps in this document graduates should take prior to the end of their re-enroll cycle to ensure shared Google Drive documents remain active. If this action is not taken, when your account is deleted, collaborators will lose access to the shared documents.
Will my account remain active if I don’t use it?
No. To keep your account active, please sign into your account via a web browser at least once annually. Reminders will be sent weekly in December, and accounts not accessed will be removed on the last day of January. This is in accordance with the VCU Alumni Email Standard.
I am graduating soon, when will email begin to arrive in my new account in the VCU alumni domain?
Email will continue to arrive in your active student account during the re-enroll cycle (three semesters). If you do not re-enroll, your student account will become unavailable and further access will not be granted. Email addressed to your eID@vcu.edu will then begin arriving in your alumni account. Active employees will continue to receive mail in their active vcu.edu account.
How long will my @vcu.edu email continue to arrive in my @alumni.vcu.edu account?
Email redirection will be put in place for the immediate future. However, any new subscriptions should be done using your @alumni.vcu.edu address. Any change in this redirection will be communicated well in advance.
Why can't I see my mail in the myVCU Portal any longer?
Alumni accounts use Google authentication and won't automatically open in myVCU Portal. You may click the link in the resources section to launch your account.
May I forward my Alumni account to a personal account?
Yes, you may do this in your settings by following these steps from Google support: https://support.google.com/mail/answer/10957?hl=en. Please update this should an account change to avoid unnecessary delivery failures. Even though you are not reading email in your alumni account, you are still required to log in once a year via a web browser for it to remain active.
What happens if I become employed at VCU or VCU Health?
An employee account will be created for you in the vcu.edu or vcuhealth.org domain. Incoming emails addressed to your eID@vcu.edu will arrive in your employee account. Email addressed to your eID@alumni.vcu.edu address will be delivered to your alumni email account. When you leave employment, email redirection will be updated to arrive in your alumni account.
My name has changed, how do I update my Alumni account?
Unless you become an active student or employee, your VCU eID/alumni email address will not be changed. You may update your display name in Google by visiting aboutme.google.com.
Will my student email be automatically migrated to my Alumni account?
No.