Congratulations on your graduation! We've organized answers to common questions about accounts and access after graduation. There are a few key dates to remember as well as some tasks you will need to perform to retain access to some accounts. Please read through this page and if you have any questions or concerns, please reach visit http://helpdesk.law.yale.edu and submit a help request.
You may also view the IT at Yale information for graduating students.
When does my access to Yale email expire after graduation?
Your Yale email account will remain active until June of the year after graduation. For example, if you graduate in May 2026, your Yale email will remain active until at least June 1, 2027. The exact date is set a few months before closure, and you will receive a communication with the exact end date a few weeks before the account is closed.
If your affiliation changes, such as taking on a role as faculty or staff, or continue at the university as a student in another department, this will affect your account closure date. Your account will remain open while actively affiliated with Yale.
Students generally choose to add an auto-reply message to their account so that individuals who email them are notified that they have graduated. You can also set up an auto-forward so that all of your incoming messages are redirected to a different email account. Please note that auto-replies and auto-forwards are removed when the account is closed (on or around June 1, 2027).
When does my NetID expire?
Your NetID does not expire, you will continue to be able to use the NetID to log in to several services after graduation. You will need to retain your DUO access to continue to log in with your NetID, so if you change devices please remember to activate your DUO on your new device. You will continue to be able to log on to those services indefinitely (e.g. Career Options Assistance Program (COAP), Student Information Systems (SIS)).
Yale VPN and Yale Box access will end on or around October 1 after graduation for May graduates, or April 1 for December graduates. Please see information below on converting your Yale Box account to a personal account prior to this date. In addition, access to Adobe Creative Cloud products will end around August 1. Please save any files in your Creative Cloud account prior to then.
How do I preserve my Yale email messages prior to account deletion?
The recommended method to preserve your emails is to create an archive file of your emails If you would like to archive your email, view the instructions to create an email archive.
How do I set up my Alumni (AYA) forwarding email?
As a service to Yale graduates, the Association of Yale Alumni runs a service called Yale Mail, a Yale-branded service for alumni on the Google Apps for Education platform. You can find more information at the Yale Alumni Association's website. You can expect to receive information about the account in June or July from the AYA with information on how to create your AYA email account. You must wait to receive the information from AYA before you can create the account.
How can I convert my Yale Box account to a personal account?
If you plan to keep your Box.net account after graduation, Yale Box accounts must be converted to personal accounts before October 1. Instructions for converting your Yale Box account to a personal account can be found here.
I am graduating from YLS but continuing my affiliation with Yale in another degree/role? Will my account be deleted?
If you have an active affiliation with Yale after completing your YLS degree, your email account will not be deleted.