Eligibility for an Account
Account Creation Form
Notification of Account Creation
Initialization of your New Account
Password Changes
A valid user I.D. is required to gain access to Illinois State University's Financial Information System. The Financial Information System is a secure system and only validated users will be permitted access. For information regarding Illinois State University's policies on data security and confidentiality, please review the documents below, which have been prepared by the Illinois State University Data Security Administrator. Your user I.D. and password are to be used only by you. Do not give anyone else access to your account by letting that individual know your user I.D. and password.
Code of Responsibility for Security and Confidentiality of Data
Electronic Communications Guidelines
Guidelines for a Secure Computing Environment
Main Security Web Page
The remainder of this page details the steps necessary to obtain an account, how to activate that account, and how to change your password.
Eligibility for an Account
The first step in the account creation process is determining your eligibility for an account. Given the sensitive nature of the information stored on Illinois State University's Financial Information System, only certain members of the Illinois State University community are permitted access to the system. You are eligible for an account if your Dean/Department Head/supervisor has determined that you need access to the Datatel system.
Departments/units are responsible for determining which staff members have access to the financial system and which departmental accounts are required. When a staff member no longer requires access, or leaves the University, there are two ways to remove that staff member's access to the system. To do this, either fill in the line on the Account Creation form (download below) labeled "Replaces user" or send an e-mail to .
Once your Dean/Department Head/supervisor determines that you need to have access to the Datatel system, you will need to fill out the Account Creation form. This form details the various pieces of the system to which you may need access. You and your Dean/Department Head/supervisor should evaluate these needs and send the completed form to: Shirley Murphy, Hovey 105 (Campus Box 1200). Over the course of a few days, the various pieces of your account will be created.
Notification of Account Creation
As soon as your account is created, you will be sent an e-mail message with the subject: Datatel Logon ID. This e-mail message will contain your new user ID (based on your ULID: University Logon ID) and your temporary password. Before you can use this new user I.D. within Datatel, you must initialize your account. Details concerning this process will be included within the e-mail message or you can read the next section on initialization to learn how to do this.
Initialization of your New Account
Once you have received e-mail notice of your new account, you will need to initialize that account.
Following are instructions for changing your password in User Interface 1.5 :
To logon to Datatel the next time, click the Datatel icon on your desktop (or select Programs > Datatel > Datatel) and a dialog box will appear. Enter your User I.D. and new password, then either hit the <Enter> key or click on the OK button.
If Datatel has been newly installed on your desktop when Datatel is run for the first time in a NEW installation, the application defaults to "UT", which will be displayed on the left side of the title bar (upper left corner of screen) after Datatel -R18_Production - . You must be in "CF" for the mnemonics to which you have access. Click on "Apps" on the Colleague menu bar (upper left corner) and select "CF" for access to Colleague Financials. You may need to click on this twice. This is necessary only the first time after a new installation.
If you have difficulty accessing various areas of Datatel’s Colleague Financials and you are sure you are in the "CF" application, please contact , (309) 438-7613.
Password Changes
Passwords may be changed by following the instructions above.