General Changes

Beginning in fall 2024 we have to follow Smithonian rules for user accounts and password management. These rules enforce increasing the minimal password length from 8 to 12, and invalidating passwords 180 days after the last change. Thus, if your password is too short or you did not change your password in the past 180 days, you will be forwarded to the "Password change" page when trying to log in.

Simply change your password every 6 months, and everything will work as before. For those who have a cfa.harvard.edu email, we have an additional option to Log in with Google. Please do not use this feature the very first time you log in the first time for fall 2024! Instead log in normally and change your password if TDCApply asks for it. After that you are free to use either variant.

TDCApply accounts before September 2024

1. Please log in normally and change your password. Changing the password will ask you to relogin. Use your new password to make sure it works.
2. If you want to use "Log in with Google", make sure the email address in your account is your cfa.harvard.edu address. Change and save if necessary.
3. Log out or work on your proposals.
4. Next time you want to log in, you can use either "Log in" or "Log in with Google". The first time you log in with Google you will see what TDCApply requires from Google: email and external profile. TDCApply only uses the
   • Email address
   • First name
   • Last name
   Agree and you will be logged in with Google.

As long as you have a valid TDCApply password, the 180 day rule applies. In case you only want to log in with Google in future:

1. go to "My account" and make sure you are registered with your CfA-address.
2. if you have not done so, log in with Google in order to make sure this works.
3. Go to "My account" and invalidate your password, you will be asked to relogin, choose the Google option.

The system will stop asking for changing the password every semester. But remember: to log in with Google you must have a registered cfa.harvard.edu address.

If you invalidated your password and want to take this back, use "I forgot my password" on the home page (or "Change password" from the dropdown if you are logged in).

Sign up after September 2024

• If you do not have a cfa.harvard.edu address or do not want to register using it, sign up normally.
• If you do have a cfa address you may
  • either sign up normally and then use "Login with Google" or
  • use "Login with Google" directly and then add the additional information we need for TDCApply.
• If you are the person responsible for managing applications for an external institute, please sign up normally and check the Istitution box.
• If you are not a student, postdoc or researcher at CfA, you do not need a TDCApply account. Please find the person responsible for applications at your institute and ask for the procedure at your institute.