AV学院

Your username, student ID number and AV学院 email address will be sent to the personal email address from your application for admission to AV学院. We refer to this as the “welcome” email. This email can take up to 48 hours to receive.

• If more than 48 hours have passed and you have not received your welcome email, please check your spam/junk folder or search your email for the word “Sierra.”
• If you are unable to find/access that email, contact Admissions and Records to inquire about the status of your application for admission.
• If you have not yet applied for admission to AV学院, please visit How to Apply.

You will need the information included in your welcome email to reset your password. Once you receive it, use our .听Please review the to change your password.

Below is a list of the top four most common issues current students experience when logging in to AV学院 systems and how to fix them:

1. Website shows “Session Timeout” or “Session Cannot be Established” or “CAS”
Follow the steps in the accordion below titled “Clear Your Browser Cache.”

2. Login says username/password is incorrect
If you are unable to log in to mySierra, be sure to using the minimum password requirements, which are:

• Must be 15 to 32 characters
• Include at least one uppercase and one lowercase letter
• Include at least one number
• Cannot contain your username, first name, middle name or last name
• Cannot be the same as one of your last 25 passwords

When you successfully reset your password, you will see a green checkmark on the screen that says “Get back into your account. Your password has been reset.”

3. If you successfully reset your password, but still see a “username/password is incorrect” error message, try the following steps:

• Manually type in your username and password 鈥� do not rely on what is saved in your browser
• Only use your username, not your full email address
• If you are positive that you are using your correct username and password, but still see “username/password is incorrect” error, follow the steps in the accordion below titled “Clear Your Browser Cache.”

4. If you are not receiving a Multifactor Authentication (MFA) code, please answer these questions:

• Have you recently switched to a new phone?
• Have you recently changed your phone number?
• Have you recently denied a log in on the authenticator app?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, your MFA account will need to be reset by a Student Tech Support specialist. Please use or 听for assistance.

If you have not attended classes at AV学院 for one or more semesters, you will need to reapply for admission to reactivate your account. Please visit How to Apply.

If you are attempting to order transcripts, there is no need to login to your former account. Please follow the instructions on Transcripts.

As a student at AV学院, you will be using a variety of technology. Safe computing starts with password security. Please consider the following tips to keep you safe from possible threats:

• 狈别惫别谤听share your password with听anyone.
• Create a complex password that you can remember and is unique to you.听笔补蝉蝉辫丑谤补蝉别蝉听are recommended when possible. For example:听滨濒辞惫别2飞补濒办颈苍迟丑别谤补颈苍颈苍惭补测!听
• Create different passwords for different applications.
• Update your password from time to time.
• Don’t forget to log out. Leaving your account open is just as dangerous as sharing your password. Take time to make sure you are fully logged out of all online applications and browsers.
• Test the strength of your password. LastPass, a leading password manager vendor, provides a secure utility to听 and provides suggestions for improving its strength.

Need to reset your password?

Passwords Requirements

• Must be 15 to 32 characters, including at least one uppercase and one lowercase letter, and at least one number.
• It cannot contain your username, first name, middle name, or last name.
• It cannot be the same as one of your last 25 passwords or passphrases.

Caches are small stores of temporary听data in your browser from the websites you visit. If they get too large, they can cause issues when you login or click on links in mySierra or Canvas.

Common issues include:

• Username/password not found error
• Session timeout error
• CAS screen (large letters across your screen)

These caches of data are essentially junk files and they can be safely deleted to free up storage space. Clearing the browser cache can also help to resolve issues and improve the performance of your device by removing temporary files. This process will not delete your passwords, files or settings.

Please use the for your preferred browser(s) on a PC, Mac or mobile device. Items to note:

• Google Chrome: Be sure to change the time frame to 鈥渁ll time鈥� when clearing the cache. This is the only browser that gives you a time range option.

  Mac Users: Be sure to 鈥渜uit鈥� the browser after clearing the cache.

  All Browsers: You must completely close out all browser windows for the cache to completely clear from your browser. Simply open a new session and try again once all windows have been closed (or 鈥淨uit鈥� on a Mac).

Multifactor authentication (MFA) is a process where a user is prompted during the sign-in process for an additional form of identification, such as entering a code on their mobile phone or providing a fingerprint scan. Since Fall 2021, all AV学院 students are required to be enrolled in MFA, requiring a form of authentication for logging into mySierra, Canvas, DegreeWorks, etc. while off campus.

To set up MFA on your account, visit听

To access your student email, you will need to have a method of MFA on your account using either an authenticator app or your mobile number. You will not be able to access your AV学院 student email without one of these methods.

If you are experiencing issues with your MFA account, please feel free to use the Student Tech Support chat so we can help you. If we are unavailable or for assistance during off-hours, please review the following help articles:

• 听辞谤听
• 听辞谤听

奥颈-贵颈.听We can help connect phones and laptops to the AV学院 Wi-Fi networks. We can also help figure out the cause of an issue and provide advice on what steps to take to remedy an issue. Contact us via live chat听or email听studenttechsupport@sierracollege.edu听so we can help.

• Free Wi-Fi at AV学院
  Free public Wi-Fi is available at our Rocklin, Nevada County and Tahoe-Truckee campuses on the “Sierra Public” network. No log in required. This network is also available in parking lot S on the Rocklin campus and parking lots 7 and 8 at NCC. AV学院 students, faculty and staff can also join the secured “Sierra” network at all three locations. This network requires a log in. .

Students needing access to Adobe applications, such as Creative Cloud apps, have the option to purchase the software for their personal devices or to use a remote lab connection to access this software installed on campus computers.

Purchase Option: Student discounts for this software are available through the . Financial assistance may be available; please contact the Financial Aid office for voucher eligibility.

Remote Lab Option: Current students 鈥� please refer to the 鈥淩emote Computer Lab鈥� section in the accordion further below.

SPECIAL NOTE: Adobe requires all users to have an 鈥淎dobe ID鈥� to use their software applications. If you do not already have an Adobe ID, please use to create one using your PERSONAL email address. Please do NOT use your AV学院 email address as after you stop taking classes with us, you will not have access to reset any of your account settings/permissions with Adobe.

What is听Canvas?听听is our learning management system (LMS). It鈥檚 where you can participate in your classes online via a computer or mobile app.

Tech Tips

• If your class is not showing up in your Dashboard, check the term dates for the class on the Class Schedule (in the AV学院 menu). In most cases, classes will not show up on your dashboard until the start date. If the start date has already passed, please reach out to the instructor directly.
• . You will not be able to access all the content in your online classes until you allow third party cookies for the .
• You should always use the most current version of your preferred browser. Your browser will notify you if there is a new version available.
• . You might need to听鈥渇avorite鈥� your courses听for them to appear on your Canvas Dashboard. Do this using the full web/desktop version (not the mobile app). You can also听
• . Some content may not be viewable until you听disable pop-up blockers for Canvas.
• This is a tool for you to communicate with your instructor and classmates. To email with other AV学院 departments, such as Financial Aid, Counseling, Admissions, etc., please use the Check My Email link on the Home tab in mySierra.
• . Canvas has a built-in feature for you to record videos using your webcam, screen capture, or both. When you use Canvas Studio, your videos are saved in Canvas and can easily be submitted to a Discussion Board or Assignment by clicking on the Canvas Studio icon (looks like an octopus with a square “play button” head and four legs or tentacles)

• Don鈥檛 give up. You can always call the Canvas 24-Hour Hotline at听(833) 507-7235

How-to Guides

• – be sure to check which types of files are allowed by your instructor
• – be sure to check which types of files are allowed by your instructor
• 听(test proctoring extension)

Video Tutorial

• 听(Log in to Canvas to view)

Learn how to access Microsoft Office 365, an integrated experience, that includes access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS office downloads, cloud file sharing,听and more. These applications are updated monthly with the latest features and security updates.

Tech Tips

• Stay up-to-date with your AV学院 email by .
• Need to reset your password? Unfortunately, you cannot do that via Microsoft. It should only be done using the .
• Use your OneDrive.听If you鈥檙e still carrying around a flash drive, USB or thumb drive or any other portable file storage option, try using听听to save data to an offsite or remote storage system. AV学院 students have 1T (one terabyte) of storage in OneDrive through Microsoft Office 365.
• Submit your assignments in . Not sure how? Follow these .

How to Guides

Video Tutorials

Microsoft 365

Microsoft Cloud Storage and One Drive

Rocklin Campus

The Learning Commons Computer Lab at the Rocklin campus is located on the second听floor of the Library (LR building). The lab has more than 80 computers, including several iMacs, for student use.

• View library hours
• Printing machines available to students in the Learning Commons Lab (black and white prints only)

Nevada County Campus

The Learning Commons at the Nevada County Campus is located in the Library (N6 building).听The lab has more than 35 computers, including some iMacs, for student use.

• View library hours
• Printing machines available to students in the Learning Commons Lab (black and white prints only)

Some classes at AV学院 require the use of Microsoft Office 365, Adobe Creative Cloud or other software. Most course-required software is installed on the computers in the Learning Commons labs.

• If you have a Mac or Chromebook, you may not be able to access the version of software required for your classes.
• If you are not able to come to campus to use our software, connect from home using the听.

While using the remote lab, please be aware of the following:

• Each time you login to the remote lab, you will be connected to a remote computer at random. Please do not save your files to the remote computer. Use your OneDrive (see instructions in the Microsoft Office 365 accordion above) or Adobe Library to save files, or submit them directly to Canvas.
• Microsoft Access database files do not save properly to cloud storage, like OneDrive. It is best to physically use a PC (non-Mac, non-Chromebook) for Microsoft Access.

To access your student email, you will need to have a method of Multifactor Authentication (MFA) on your account by using either an authenticator app or your phone number. You will not be able to access your AV学院 student email without one of these methods.

• If you have not added a method for MFA to your account, please follow the .
• If you have added a method for MFA to your account, but cannot access your email, please .

You can access your AV学院 student email a few ways:

1. and click on first link that is called “Check My Email” on the Home tab
2. directly using your AV学院 login information
3. Add the Outlook app to your mobile phone, which you can download from your app/play store. Add your AV学院 email in this format: username@student.sierracollege.edu

Email Forwarding

We do not recommend forwarding your AV学院 email for a few reasons:

1. There is no guarantee that forwarded emails will be received by your personal email carrier; oftentimes they are blocked or the forward doesn鈥檛 complete.
2. The official form of communication at AV学院 is via your student email as it is a more secure way of communicating with students.
3. If you reply to an email that was sent to your student account but forwarded to your personal email, replies can only be accepted via your student email, not your personal account.

Canvas Inbox

Canvas has another communication tool for you using the Inbox. There, you can send and receive messages from your instructor and classmates. Other AV学院 departments, such as Financial Aid, Counseling, Admissions, etc., will use your AV学院 email that you access through mySierra to communicate with you.

What is Zoom?听It is a remote conferencing tool that AV学院 uses to conduct instruction remotely, as well as appointments with counselors and other support services.

Tech Tips

• No audio?听If you are having trouble connecting to the audio, call in to your Zoom meeting so your voice can be heard. Ask your instructor/counselor for the dial-in information to attend. You will need the phone number and meeting ID.
• Slow internet?听If your internet is slow at the time of your meeting, consider turning off your video for better results.
• Use your phone.听There is a Zoom app that works great for video conferencing, and you can use your mobile network or Wi-Fi connection.
• Be sure to听communicate with your instructor听or counselor ahead of time if you do not have all equipment needed for your Zoom/ConferZoom session.
• For more solutions to common issues, please visit the听

How to Guides

• Get Zoom on your Android:听
• Get Zoom on your iPhone/iPad:听

Video Tutorial

What is a file type?听A file type is a name given to a specific kind of file. For example, a Microsoft Word document (.doc, .docx) and an Adobe document (.pdf) are two different file types. While these file types are associated with individual applications, other file types, such as rich text RTF files and MP3 audio files are standard file types that can be opened by multiple programs.

Tech Tips

• Back up your files. It is a great idea to back up your files to prevent losing your work
• No scanner?听
• Want to preserve your formatting? Please first verify that a PDF file is acceptable for your assignment, then review these steps to听
• Need to change the file type?听听is a great Web app that lets you convert audio, video, images, and other kinds of files without installing software

AV学院 is not charging for pay-to-print during the Fall 2023 semester.

Students can print on campus in the Learning Commons Lab (black and white only).