Overview
Student accounts are usually created when a student is admitted to the university and deleted one year after graduation. This article provides information on the normal account lifecycle of a student account. Account management processes are managed through the Identity and Access Management services team at the university.
Warning
Accounts *must* remain actively used, with a sign-in event at least once every 180 days, regardless of their affiliation status. An inactive account will be disabled and marked for deletion.
Typical student account lifecycle:
- Account Creation - The account creation process can be triggered by Admissions, Registrar and Independent Study data.
- Registration - Once the student is admitted there is a two year grace period to register for classes. A student account can be active for 2 years between class registration.
- Graduation - Once the student has graduated there is a two year grace period to opt-in to having an @alumni.uidaho.edu account
- Account Deletion - Once affiliation ends the account deletion process starts.
- The student will be notified two weeks before the account is disabled.
- The account will remain disabled for 4 weeks before deletion.
- Account information can be restored for another 4 weeks after deletion.
Here is a visual representation of the typical lifecycle of a student account:

When an account is deleted the account contents will also be deleted. There is a short period of time where data is retained and can be recovered after an account is deleted.
- Exchange Online Mailbox
- 30 Day Restore
- Mailbox content, including Inbox, Calendar and Contacts, can be recovered for up to 30 days after an account is deleted.
- Active Directory Account
- 60 Day Restore
- The account itself can be restored for up to 60 days after an account is deleted.
- OneDrive Site and Files
- 90 Day Restore
- The OneDrive site, and all files, folders and permissions, can be restored up to 90 days after an account is deleted.