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myCVCC Multiple Factor Authentication Frequently Asked Questions

This page will answer the most frequently asked questions about setting up and using Multi-Factor Authentication for the VCCS/myCVCC.

To keep your accounts safe in a hacker-infested world, all Virginia community college students are required to use multiple-factor authentication.

Multiple factor authentication [MFA] uses multiple devices, steps, or methods to verify users' identities when they log into a platform.

If you do not setup one of the MFA options, you will automatically be enrolled in the Alternate Email option below. Dual Enrolled students will be automatically enrolled in the Pictograph MFA option .

Alternate Email option for Students

  1. The preferred email will be considered first and override other addresses.
    1. The preferred email cannot be your VCCS Gmail address.   If the preferred email is set to your VCCS Gmail account, the address will be ignored.
  2. If you have not set the preferred email, it will use the alternative email addresses in SIS.   The email it uses is dependent on the last course for which you were registered.  For example, if you last registered for NON CREDIT courses, the email will be sent to the alternative address set in the WES application (SIS Email attribute "WES").  If you last registered for CREDIT courses, the email will be sent to the alternative address set by the XAP application (SIS Email attribute "OTHR").
    1. Only the "OTHR" or "WES" SIS addresses are considered for alternative email.
      1. The XAP online application sets "OTHR".
      2. The WES application sets "WES".
      3. The Home address is not used to determine alternative email.

The VCCS has provided alternative options that do not require a smart phone. All options can be viewed on the VCCS site.

Yes, if you do not finish the setup of MFA it will cause you to have login issues later.

The VCCS recommends the Push MFA option (using the Rapid Identity App) as being the most secure, but any of the options can be used.

  1. Verify that the phone’s date and time are automatically syncing.
    • If the time and date on your device is not set to automatically sync the time may be incorrect and that will cause authentication to fail for all MFA methods. Here are the locations of this setting on iPhones and Androids.
      • iPhone – Settings, General, Date & Time, the Set Automatically toggle box should be turned on.
      • Android – Settings, General Management, Date and Time, the Automatic date and toggle box should be turned on.
      • The location for the Date & Time settings may vary depending on the version of your phone’s operating system. If the paths above do not work for your phone, you will need to do a web search for the correct location.
  2. Verify that you are allowing the Rapid Identity App on your phone to send you notifications.
  3. Verify that your phone is not in Do Not Disturb mode.
  4. Some Android phones and OS combinations seem to have issues with using the PingMe Options in the Rapid Identity App.
    • Some devices on 9.x and 8.x, have issues, no higher versions have reported issues. In those cases, you will need to switch to one of the TOTP MFA options.

  • Try closing and reopening the app.
  • Turn the device that has the Rapid Identity app on it off and back on.

Instructions for adding or updating your phone number and email address.

Note: When adding the phone number make sure you select the Phone Type of Mobile. Other phone types will not be recognized by the MFA system.