As a student at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC), you’ve had access to several services, including your GGC account and Microsoft 365 apps like Outlook (Claw Mail) and OneDrive.
As you prepare to graduate, it’s important to understand what happens to these accounts—and what steps you should take now to avoid losing access to important information later.
How Long Do I Keep My GGC Account?
After you graduate, you will continue to have access to your GGC account for three semesters (for example: Summer, Fall, and Spring). After that period, your account will be deactivated.
That may sound like plenty of time, but it goes by quickly—especially once you start a new job or move on to your next chapter.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
Many students use their GGC email address for more than just school communication. Over time, it often becomes the email address tied to personal and professional services.
Attention
Once your GGC account is deactivated, you will no longer be able to receive messages or reset passwords using that address.
That’s why it is very important to update your email address to maintain access to personal and professional services before deactivation happens, not after.
Key Considerations for When You Graduate
As mentioned above, you will not be able to receive messages, reset passwords, or reassign primary email addresses for your services after your GGC account is deactivated. Keep an eye on your Claw Mail inbox before and after graduation to catch any services you may have forgotten were tied to your GGC email address.
Some examples could be:
- Job and internship applications
- Professional tools and certification platforms
- Banking and financial accounts
- Social media accounts
- Streaming apps and other subscriptions
- Online shopping accounts
Another important consideration is whether you have any essential classwork, projects, portfolios, or resumes stored in Microsoft OneDrive. Make sure to download any documents you might need before your account is deactivated.
To see what documents you have in your OneDrive, review instructions for accessing OneDrive through Claw Mail.
Lastly, if you use Handshake for networking and applying for jobs, changing your email address associated with the account to your personal email will allow you to continue with uninterrupted access. If you are unable to update your Handshake email, contact GGC Career Services.
IT Is Here to Help
Account management is easy to overlook as you prepare for life after graduation. Spending a little time now to update your services and back up your important files can save you from lost data later.
If you have any questions about your GGC account, Information Technology (IT) is here to help.