Setting up your security question

Your security question lets you reset your own myWNC password without calling the Help Desk. You pick a question from a list on screen, then type an answer only you would know. If you forget your password later, you answer that same question at Forgot my password and a temporary password is emailed to you.

This is for your myWNC account, not your student email

• myWNC / WNSHEID — username is your student ID with a "w" in front, e.g. w1000423567. Canvas, PeopleSoft, and WNC Anywhere use this account. This guide is for that account.
• NetID / student email — firstname.lastname@wnc.edu, used for Outlook and Microsoft 365. That account does not use these security questions. See Setting up your WNC student email (NetID) instead.

When to set your security question

• First-time activation — Activate my account asks you to set a password and a security question in the same session. Do not skip the question step.
• After you sign in — if you never set one, WNC Anywhere redirects you to the security-question page right after you sign in.
• Any time you are signed in — use the account menu to review or change your question.

Set up during activation

1. Go to Activate my account.
2. Enter your username (w plus your student ID) and follow the prompts to verify with your activation code or library wireless password.
3. Set your first password when asked.
4. On the security-question screen, choose a question from the drop-down list and type your answer.
5. Select Continue and finish the remaining activation steps.

Set up or change after you already have an account

1. Sign in at WNC Anywhere with your myWNC username and password.
2. If you have not set a question yet, you will land on the security-question page automatically. Otherwise, open Change my security question from the account menu (or go directly to Change my security question).
3. Choose a question from the list and type your answer.
4. Select Save security question.

Choosing a good answer

• Pick something you will still remember years from now — not a detail you might forget or that could change.
• Type the answer the way you will remember it. When you reset your password later, spaces and punctuation are ignored and letter case does not matter, but you still need to know what you typed.
• Do not use information that is easy for someone else to look up — social media, public records, or answers shared with classmates.
• Never tell anyone your answer, including Help Desk staff. WNC will never ask you what it is.

After your question is set

You can reset your password yourself at Forgot my password. See How password resets work for the full walkthrough.

If you cannot set or use your security question

Call the WNC Help Desk at 877-269-0263 if you skipped setting a question during activation, forgot your answer, or no longer have access to the email address WNC has on file. Staff will verify your identity before making any change to your account.

Protect your answer

• WNC will never email, text, or call asking for your security-question answer.
• Only use Forgot my password on intranet.wnc.edu to answer your question. Type the address yourself instead of clicking links from email or text.
• If someone learns your answer, sign in and change your security question right away, then reset your password.

Back to sign in · How password resets work · Account help & contact information