Can I keep my email/dropbox/other UMICH access after I leave U-M?

Problem/Question

Can I keep my email after I graduate or leave U-M?

Overview

Your access to U‑M computing services after leaving the university depends on your affiliation status (alumni, retiree, former student, or former employee).

Alumni and retirees retain access to some services, most notably U‑M Google (Email, Calendar, and Drive) and Okta authentication, while access to many licensed and employment‑based services ends either immediately or after a short grace period.

For a complete overview of offboarding timelines, see:
Leaving U‑M

Solution

Alumni and Retirees

If you completed at least one term of a degree‑granting program or retired from U‑M, you keep:

• U‑M Google services (Email, Calendar, Drive)
  • Storage limit changes to 15 GB total across Google services
  • See: Google: Accounts for People Who Leave U‑M
• UMICH uniqname and MCommunity directory profile
• Okta authentication (Okta Verify / FastPass where applicable)
• Optional email forwarding from your @umich.edu address

​​​​​​​Access ends immediately when your active affiliation ends​​​​​​​:

• Adobe Creative Cloud
• Microsoft 365 (OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Office apps)
  • Access ends immediately.
  • See: Microsoft 365: Accounts for People Who Leave U‑M
• Dropbox at U‑M
• ​​​​​​​H: Drive / AFS
• UPRINT and campus printing
• AppsAnywhere and other licensed academic or departmental software

For a summarized list, see:
Alumni IT Services They Keep and Lose

Students Who Do Not Complete Their First Term

Students who leave without completing at least one term do not qualify for alumni status.

• Access to most U‑M computing services ends after a 30‑day grace period
• An automated email is sent when the student affiliation is removed from the MCommunity profile
• The uniqname and directory profile remain active for approximately one year to allow access to university records

Former students who later qualify may request non‑degree alumni status through Gift and Records Administration:

• Phone: 888‑518‑7888 or 734‑647‑6179
• Email: AlumniRecordsOffice@umich.edu
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET

Faculty and Staff

Faculty and staff whose employment ends and who have no other U‑M affiliation:

• Lose access to most U‑M computing services after a 30‑day grace period
• Receive an automated notice before access removal
• Retain their uniqname temporarily to allow:
  • Email forwarding
  • Access to Wolverine Access (e.g., W‑2 forms)

Faculty and staff who are also alumni or retirees retain services based on their alumni or retiree status.

Former employees who need temporary or continued access must be sponsored by their department. Sponsored access can be removed, extended, or reactivated if the individual later returns to U‑M in another role.

Important: Transition Your Data

Before your affiliation ends, you are responsible for:

• Downloading or transferring files from Google Drive, Microsoft 365, and Dropbox
• Transferring ownership of shared university data
• Exporting email or configuring email forwarding

Step‑by‑step guidance is available here:
Managing Your Digital Files and Information When You Leave U‑M

For additional information, check these categories in the Knowledge Base:

• What Happens to Your Uniqname, Directory Profile, and Computing Services After You Leave U-M
• Managing Your Digital Files and Information When You Leave U-M (ignore AFS section)

Still Need assistance? See the following related services:

UMICH Login Password Reset

Email and Calendar Services