Guilford College has rolled out a new security-question requirement for its Okta login system, a change that has drawn mixed reactions from students and staff.
For many, Okta already feels cumbersome—too many screens, too many steps and too many identity checks. Adding another layer prompted worries that logging in will take even longer.
Members of the college’s IT department say that’s not the intent. The update is meant to simplify password resets and reduce visits to the IT help desk.
“It was a decision made here in IT,” said Elvis Erazo-Ambrocio, an IT technician at Guilford. “Eventually, students will be able to reset their passwords without having to come to IT or make a phone call.”
IT officials say the extra question should decrease the frequency at which students must fully authenticate. “You’ll be required to log in less often, and it makes login issues easier to solve without coming to Bauman,” Erazo-Ambrocio said, referring to the campus help desk.
Password resets are one of the biggest frustrations with Okta. If someone forgets a password, gets locked out or encounters a login glitch, students typically must call the help desk or visit in person. During busy periods, that can lead to long hold times or lines—and, for some, missed deadlines.
Not all students are convinced the change will help.
“When they first added Okta, it sounded helpful, but it just means clicking more buttons,” said junior Alex Wang. “I get why they’re doing it, but Okta already takes forever.”
Others are cautiously optimistic. Freshman Jesse Sekyema called the setup “annoying but fine” if it ultimately prevents long waits at the help desk.
The main concern is timing: the additional setup step currently adds an extra screen during initial login. Some students don’t mind the one-time inconvenience; others reported frustration when they were trying to access accounts in a hurry.
IT staff say the added question should not increase login time once setup is complete. The goal, they say, is to reduce the number of times the system asks for authentication, not to increase it.
Guilford’s update comes as many colleges tighten digital security while trying to streamline access for students. The college’s approach aims to balance both goals by enabling students to fix login issues independently while reducing unnecessary lockouts.
For now, reactions remain mixed. Many students expressed hope that the adjustment period would be short and that the new system would ultimately reduce the time spent resolving account-access problems.
“If IT’s predictions hold,” Erazo-Ambrocio said, “the security question will end up being less of an obstacle and more of a shortcut.”
