How long does a Bowdoin account stay active after leaving?

Questions

  • How long does my Bowdoin account stay active after I leave?
  • When will my Bowdoin account be disabled after graduation?
  • I graduated — when does my Bowdoin account get deleted?
  • How long do faculty accounts stay active after leaving Bowdoin?
  • When is a staff account disabled after an employee's last day?
  • When do student accounts get turned off after graduating?
  • Can I still access my Bowdoin email after I leave?
  • How long until my Bowdoin account is permanently deleted?
  • Will my account be disabled immediately when I leave the college?
  • How long do I have to move my files before my account closes?

Environment

This article applies to all Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students who are leaving or have recently left the college. Timelines differ by role. If you need additional time beyond the standard window, see Account Extensions in the Related Articles section.

Resolution

Bowdoin accounts are disabled and deleted on different schedules depending on your role at the college.

Faculty

Faculty accounts remain active for 30 days beyond the formal termination date provided to Human Resources. This grace period allows faculty to wrap up communications with students and administration after their departure. The account is disabled at the end of that 30-day window.

Staff

Staff accounts are disabled immediately on the date of termination. If you need additional time to move personal email or files, request an account extension before your last day.

Important: Account extension requests must be submitted before your account is disabled. Once an account is disabled, re-enabling it requires IT intervention and cannot be guaranteed same-day. Staff account extensions must be approved by Human resources.

Students

Student accounts follow a two-step schedule tied to the graduation year:

  • Disabled: October 31 of the graduation year. This provides time after graduation to export email, documents, and other personal data.
  • Deleted: February 1 following the graduation year. Deletion is permanent and non-recoverable.
Note: In some cases, student account types can be extended for a short period. Use the Account Extension Request service in the Service Catalog, or see Account Extensions in the Related Articles section for details on eligibility and the approval process.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

  • Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
  • Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
  • In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
  • Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.
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Related Articles (7)

Account Extensions
Explains what a Bowdoin account extension is, who can request one, and what access is provided during the extension period. Students are eligible for a one-time 90-day extension without approval; faculty and staff require prior approval. Extensions must be requested before the account is disabled and provide access to email and OneDrive only.
IT Checklist for Employees Preparing to Leave Bowdoin
An IT checklist for Bowdoin employees preparing to leave the college. Covers what to do with your accounts, devices, personal data, and technology before your last day to ensure a smooth departure and avoid losing access to personal services.
IT Checklist for Managers: When an Employee Is Leaving Bowdoin
An IT checklist for Bowdoin managers and supervisors when an employee is leaving the college. Covers technology inventory and return, unlocking Apple devices from iCloud, preserving file data and email before accounts are disabled, and coordinating with IT's offboarding process.
IT Checklist for Students Leaving Bowdoin
An IT checklist for Bowdoin students who are graduating or leaving the college before graduation. Covers DExC device enrollment verification, FileVault key retrieval, device return or release, account and data timelines, and steps to protect personal accounts and services that use a Bowdoin email address
IT Guide for Bowdoin Emeriti
Explains what happens to Bowdoin IT accounts, email, files, and technology for faculty and staff who have been granted Emeriti status. Covers the new Emeriti email address, what can be moved from the original account, Microsoft 365 access, VPN, data, equipment, and ongoing IT support.
Set Up Your Bowdoin Account as a Class Auditor
Step-by-step instructions for community members approved by the Registrar's Office to audit a Bowdoin class. Covers how to retrieve your auditor account credentials through 1Password and how to complete Okta MFA setup and first sign-in. A smartphone is required for multi-factor authentication setup.
Understanding non-standard Bowdoin accounts
Explains the types of non-standard Bowdoin accounts available for contractors, collaborators, and researchers who are not employees of the college. Covers what access these accounts provide, how long they last, and how department supervisors or coordinators can request them through the Service Catalog.

Related Services / Offerings (1)

Request Account Extension
Request an extension for a Bowdoin account.