Research Guides: Connecting FAQ: Alumni

UCI Alumni

My graduation is upcoming OR just happened. When does my remote access with my UCInetID and password expire?

The answer depends on when the Office of Information Technology (OIT), which manages UCInetIDs, updates their student records. (Your UCInetID is typically the prefix to your @uci email address.) Once OIT updates their student records, you will no longer have access. If you have questions about when your record will be updated, contact the OIT Help Desk. Please see also the OIT Alumni Help page for more info.

Why don’t I have remote access to UCI's licensed electronic resources (databases, eBooks, journals, and periodicals) that I could remotely access as a current student?

You are not alone; graduates at colleges and universities across the country ask this. Vendors will only license resources to universities for current affiliates (i.e. students/faculty/staff), and in most cases other people who access resources while on their campuses.

The UCI Libraries also have a guide featuring Freely Available Resources.

How can I access UCI’s licensed electronic resources (databases, eBooks, journals, and periodicals)?

You are welcome to use a computer ON the UCI Campus (e.g. in Langson Library, Starbucks, etc.) to access most of our licensed electronic resources for personal, educational, non-commercial purposes. You do not need a library card to access these resources.
Some resources are restricted to UCI Authorized Affiliates (i.e. current students/faculty/staff with an active UCInetID and password). Those resources will be clearly marked.

What computer(s) can I use on the UCI campus?

You may bring your own laptop to UCI.
- You will need to register as a guest on UCI’s wireless network.
Because UCI is a public university, our libraries are open to the public. Alumni may use any open library computer terminals, and computers do not require a login to use.
- Get hours for buildings and service desks.
- Get locations, directions & parking information.

If you want to use the computer labs/resources that belong to the school you graduated from, please inquire with that school directly about the availability of those resources.

Can I download content that I access while I'm on the UCI campus?

It depends on whether a content provider allows downloading, and this is on a case-by-case basis. For example, many eBooks can't be downloaded, and videos usually can't be downloaded. But if content can be downloaded, then you can save it (i.e. using your own laptop, bringing a USB flash drive, or uploading it to your own storage account, e.g. Dropbox or Google Drive). Any content you save can only be used for personal, educational, non-commercial purposes.

Can I pay UCI a ‘membership fee’ or get a library card from the UCI Libraries to gain remote access to UCI’s licensed electronic resources?

Unfortunately, no. Vendors will only license resources to universities for current affiliates (i.e. students/faculty/staff), and in most cases other people who access resources while on their campuses. Providing remote access (for free, or for a price) to non-UCI affiliates would violate our license agreements with our vendors.

To have unrestricted remote access to a vendor’s valuable electronic information, individuals and businesses need to directly purchase or subscribe to a vendors’ products.

Library cards from the UCI Libraries do not grant any remote access privileges.

Can a current UCI affiliate (i.e. a UCI student/faculty/staff member) send content to me (e.g. email me a PDF), so I don’t have to come to campus?

Unfortunately, no. That would violate the license agreements we have with our vendors.

Where else can I find resources for my research?

You may be pleasantly surprised by the resources available (online too) through your local public library! Cardholders at public libraries can also use Inter Library Loan to borrow much of the content owned by other libraries too. Many public libraries let you sign up for a library card for free or a very low cost through their website. And if you visit them in-person, there’s often free parking!

Can I check out UCI’s print books after I graduate?

Yes, if you acquire a library card. If you join the UCI Alumni Association, you might qualify for a free library card, depending on the UCI Alumni Association’s current rules. You can also purchase a library card.

Library cards from the UCI Libraries are not linked with UCInetID accounts, so they do not grant remote access to our licensed electronic resources.

My alumni organization told me that I have access to “X” resource(s) from off campus. What do you know about that?

Please visit the UCI Alumni Association’s Membership Benefits page to see the resources they offer. Sometimes UCI alumni (or other) organizations sponsor resources specifically for their members, separately from resources sponsored by the UCI Libraries. Please direct access questions to the organization that is promoting that their members have access.

I’m a graduate of another UC campus. Does that grant me remote access privileges for UCI's licensed online resources?

Unfortunately no.

I'm now a researcher (i.e. current student or employee) at another institution. Can I register for remote access to UCI’s licensed electronic resources?

Regardless of your affiliation elsewhere, the answer depends on whether you are doing work in collaboration with a researcher at UCI. If yes, then you might be able to obtain a Sponsored UCInetID from the Office of Information Technology (OIT), the office that manages UCInetIDs. An active UCInetID and password is required to remotely access the UCI Libraries' licensed online resources.

Only UCI faculty, or management-level staff members, or their designees may sponsor someone. The UCI Libraries cannot grant sponsored UCInetIDs because that is outside of our jurisdiction. Please contact your research collaborator, or their UCI school/departmental IT office, and OIT.