Why did you receive an email from us about possibly needing an Academic Account?

Because until recently, members of the RRU workforce who accessed courses through Professional and Continuing Studies (PCS) used their work username and password - or a manually created account - to register and sign in to their system. This is because RRU could not support an Academic Account in the old non-credit system and we weren’t provisioning students in non-credit courses with a computer account.

Good news!

We needed to let you know that things had changed. Because of recent upgrade to the Student Management System in PCS and simultaneous changes in how we manage identities at RRU, we can now support a single student identity across RRU.

What that means for you

Now, if you wish to take courses through PCS, you must first have an Academic Account, which you will use as a student. The Academic Account is different (but similar) from the account you use to log in to things when you’re working. The advantage to you is that all of your coursework (credit and non-credit) will belong to one person - the student you. And even if you retire from RRU and no longer have access to the username & password you used for work, your student identity will live on.

Your questions answered

How can I tell if I have an Academic Account?

Many people have multiple relationships with RRU. They can be an employee, an associate faculty, a student in a credit program, and a student taking non-credit courses at the same time. Knowing which relationship(s) you have with us is essential to determining what you need to do to create an Academic Account.

Use this chart to find your number and color. Then follow the instructions below the chart.

Open

Find your color & number, then take the action listed in the right column.

Number/color	Action to take

Number/color	Action to take
Open Blue	You’re all set. No action required.
	You’ll need to validate your account by entering your Academic Account username with ‘@royalroads.ca’ (eg. j5smith@royalroads.ca) before enrolling in a non-credit course.
	You’ll need to validate your account by entering your Academic Account username with ‘@royalroads.ca’ (eg. j5smith@royalroads.ca) before enrolling in a non-credit course. Contact the Helpdesk if you cannot remember your Academic Account username.
	(a) You’ll need to validate your account by entering your Academic Account username with ‘@royalroads.ca’ (eg. j5smith@royalroads.ca) before enrolling in a non-credit course OR (b) Contact the Helpdesk for assistance
	We’re glad you’re interested in enrolling in an RRU course! You’ll need to create an Academic Account before you can enroll in a non-credit course. When asked for a personal email address: do not use the email address you have on file in CAMP. That is reserved for your work-self. It is best if you don’t take this opportunity to change the email address you have on file in CAMP as doing so will cause complications and delays do not use your work RRU email address to create an Academic Account. If you do not have another email address to use for this, it will be necessary to create one. We recommend creating a Gmail account.  If you cannot find or do not know the email address on file in CAMP, contact the Helpdesk for assistance.
	If none of the above options seem right for you, contact the Helpdesk for assistance

Table of Contents

Will I get an RRU email address with my Academic Account?

Students have an RRU mailbox & email address only while they are actively taking credit programs.

Whether your Academic Account is created through the credit program application process or through PCS, you will not get an RRU student email address. Once you are accepted/registered in the credit program, an email address will be provided. When you graduate, the email address ceases to function. If you go into a different credit program, you’ll get that same email address again. Etc.

Do I have the option of continuing to use my work account when I take courses through PCS?

No. Now that we can manage your workforce and student identities in a way that provides better service to all, everyone needs to access courses the same way.

What’s in it for me? Why should I create an Academic Account?

In short:

• ongoing access to records/information about courses you’ve completed (even after you retire)

• the satisfaction of knowing you helped your colleagues and other students

You were working at RRU when you completed some courses. But YOU completed them, and YOU learned new skills. You may win the lottery (we want you to!) and you’ll leave RRU. At that time, your work account will be deleted and you’ll lose access to the details about the courses you completed. BUT your student Academic Account will carry on, so you will continue to have a way to identify your academic accomplishments.

The other thing that’s in it for you… is knowing you helped your colleagues improve our systems and provide better service to our students (and that includes you). And honestly, we love that.

What happens to the courses I’ve already completed through PCS? Will my new Academic Account be aware of those?

Once you have an Academic Account (regardless of how you got it), you can sign into the PCS website student portal, view your Enrolment History and click on the option to submit a request to have your academic history imported into the new system and attached to your Academic Account.

If I log into Moodle as a student using my Academic Account, can I administer or teach a course?

No, your Academic Account – the student you - will only have access to courses or programs in which you are currently registered/enrolled.

To administer courses or teach, you must log in using the username & password you’ve been using all along, which identifies you as the person that works here. It is this person who has been given that level of access to the course(s) they teach or administer.