Beginning August 7, 2026, U of T’s multi-factor authentication (UTORMFA) is required when signing in to Quercus, including when connected to U of T wired or wireless networks.
If you are using Quercus for an in-person quiz, test, exam, or other assessment, plan for students to complete multi-factor authentication as part of the sign-in process. Preparing students in advance can help reduce delays and support a smoother start to the assessment.
What's Changing
Beginning August 7:
- Students will be prompted for UTORMFA every time they access Quercus, including on U of T wired or wireless networks.
- Approving an MFA request will use Verified Push with number matching, replacing the previous approve-push option.
- On devices not managed by the University, browser sessions may expire after approximately nine hours, after which students will need to sign in again.
For more information about these changes, visit Upcoming changes to your U of T sign-in experience.
The following practices provide a suggested workflow for preparing students for multi-factor authentication during an in-person Quercus assessment. Instructors should first consult any relevant divisional guidelines, which take precedence over the general recommendations below. For questions about using Quercus for an in-person assessment, including assessment setup and local practices, instructors should contact their divisional Quercus support team.
Before the Assessment
Ask students to:
- Know their UTORid and password and confirm that they can successfully sign in to Quercus before the assessment.
- Bring the device they use for UTORMFA, such as their mobile phone.
- Make sure their device is charged and accessible during the sign-in process.
- Arrive early to allow time to sign in to Quercus and complete multi-factor authentication.
Consider providing students with a low-stakes practice opportunity before the assessment. For example, you could create a short practice quiz in Quercus that allows students to test the complete sign-in and authentication process using the device and browser they expect to use during the assessment.
Communicate these expectations to students in advance and remind them again shortly before the assessment.
At the Assessment
- Remind students to have their UTORMFA device available.
- Allow time for students to complete the sign-in and authentication process.
- Confirm that students can access the assessment before beginning any timed portion, where possible.
- Be prepared for some students to require additional time to sign in or technical support to complete authentication.
If Students Encounter Difficulties
Students experiencing problems with UTORMFA can contact UTORMFA support.
This resource was adapted from guidance developed by the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering’s Education Technology Office: How to prepare students for Quercus sign-in and multi-factor authentication (MFA) during an in-person quiz or exam.