Working with People who do not have a UW NetID
Those outside the UW community can access many of the Catalyst Web Tools in one of two ways:
- ProtectNetwork ID - Individuals who wish to access Catalyst Web Tools can create their own ProtectNetwork accounts and then provide the new username to the owner of the tool they want to access.
- Sponsored UW NetID - Any current UW faculty or staff member can sponsor individuals for a UW NetID using the online self-service Sponsored UW NetID tool. Once sponsored, the individual becomes eligible to set up a new Personal UW NetID.
See below for more information on each of these options:
What is ProtectNetwork?
ProtectNetwork is an independent Identity Provider service. They provide open standards-based, federated, online user identities (ProtectNetwork IDs). ProtectNetwork IDs enable authorized access to Web applications, like the Catalyst Web Tools, that are protected with open standard technologies such as Shibboleth or OpenID. In other words, after registering with ProtectNetwork, they will vouch for you when another online service using the same technology wants to verify your identity.
What does a ProtectNetwork ID allow?
The Catalyst Web Tools—namely Collect It, GoPost, Group Manager, QuickPoll, ShareSpaces, UMail, and WebQ—are now accessible with a ProtectNetwork ID. You can grant ProtectNetwork ID users access as either a participant or a collaborator in these tools. For example, your co-instructor from another university can now comment on student papers in a Collect It dropbox; your research colleagues can collaborate on documents using SharedSpaces or download survey results from WebQ; or your guest lecturer can read and respond to student questions on a GoPost discussion board.
Get a ProtectNetwork ID
To register for a ProtectNetwork ID follow the steps below:
- Go to the Catalyst Web site at www.washington.edu/lst.
- Click Web Tools Login at the top of the page. You will move to the "Catalyst Tools Login" page.
- Select ProtectNetwork and click Next. You will move to the ProtectNetwork login page.
- Click Register Your UserID to get a ProtectNetwork ID. You will move to the ProtectNetwork ID registration page (shown at the right).
- Complete the registration form, entering the required information, such as your email address, desired username, and password information.
- From the "Self-Asserted Role" menu, select "Unaffiliated." Leave the "Sponsor Code" field blank.
- You must check the box next to the statement "I accept and agree with ProtectNetwork Terms of Service" to continue.
- Click Register UserID. A message will inform you that an email message will be sent to the address you provided.
- Check your email account for this confirmation message and either click the link in the email or copy and paste the URL into your Web browser.You will be taken to a page confirming that your ProtectNetwork ID activation was successful.
- To log in to Catalyst Web Tools, repeat steps 1 - 3. Enter your new ProtectNetwork ID and password on the ProtectNetwork login page. You will move to your Catalyst Web Tools account page.
You must enter through a Catalyst tools URL in order for ProtectNetwork to know that you wish to log into the Catalyst system.
Sponsored UW NetIDs
Individuals who are not otherwise eligible for a UW NetID may be sponsored by a current UW faculty or staff member. There are three methods for obtaining a Sponsored UW NetID. Each method has an assurance level established that will determine if a sponsored individual is eligible to access confidential data. An individual receives a UW NetID, password, and email forwarding upon completion of the sponsored process. Departments may also assign additional computing services for a monthly fee to anyone who has a UW NetID.
For more information about obtaining a sponsored UW NetID for someone, see http://www.washington.edu/itconnect/accounts/sponsored.html
What does a Sponsored UWNetID allow
The Catalyst Web Tools—namely Collect It, GoPost, GradeBook, Group Manager, QuickPoll, ShareSpaces, UMail, and WebQ—are accessible with a Sponsored UW NetID. Sponsored UW NetID users can create tools, and can be granted access as either a participant or a collaborator in your tools. For example, your co-instructor from another university can now comment on student papers in a Collect It dropbox; your research colleagues can collaborate on documents using ShareSpaces or download survey results from WebQ; or your guest lecturer can read and respond to student questions on a GoPost discussion board.

