Parent/Proxy Account FAQs

The account my student set up for me before Oct 3, 2025 no longer works. Why?

SU changed to a new process for parents and proxies to access MySlice on Oct. 3, 2025. The new process lets you use an existing email account you own to log into MySlice, rather than a separate account used just for MySlice access. The parent/proxy accounts that were set up before this date will no longer work. Your student will need to go into MySlice and set up a new account for you that uses the new process.

My student told me that they set me up as a parent/proxy in MySlice, but I still haven’t received an email from Microsoft. How long should I wait?

The invitation email from Microsoft should arrive within one hour of the student completing the sign-up process for you in MySlice. If you still haven’t received the email after one hour, check your junk folder. Sometimes the emails get mistaken as junk. If the email is not in the junk folder, you can contact the ITS help desk at help@syr.edu or (315)443-2677 and they can try re-sending the invite to you.

I received an invitation email from Microsoft several weeks ago. Is it still valid?

Yes, invitations from Microsoft to join SU’s organization (so you can log into MySlice) do not expire. Even if it was received weeks ago, an invitation should still be valid.

Can I use an email address with a plus sign (+) in it, such as a google “plus address”?

No, Microsoft does not support the use of email addresses with a plus sign in them for guest accounts. The only special characters allowed in the email address are “- _ . @”.

I have multiple students at SU. Can I use the same email address for each of them?

Unfortunately, guest accounts have to each have a unique email address. So, you’ll need to use a separate email address for each student. SU is continuing to look into solutions to workaround this limitation of guest accounts.

Why do parent/proxy logins now require multiple steps to login (ex: a code sent to my email address as well as the use of an authenticator application or a code sent via text)?

Using two methods to sign-in (called multi-factor authentication or MFA) makes your private information within MySlice more secure. Even if your email password is ever compromised or an email with a code in it is intercepted somehow, the MySlice account cannot be logged into unless the person also has access to your texts and/or the authenticator application on your phone. SU students, faculty, and staff have had to provide multiple methods to log into SU systems for a number of years.

Why is Microsoft Authenticator the preferred second factor for logins. What if I prefer to use texts?

When you accept the invitation from Microsoft, it will prompt you to set up Microsoft Authenticator. If you prefer to receive texts with codes, you can select “I want to select a different method,” but using Microsoft Authenticator is the preferred method. Microsoft Authenticator can work with any email account – it does not have to be a Microsoft account. It is preferred because:
• It is built to work well with Microsoft services and MySlice logins are integrated with Microsoft services
• It can push notifications to your mobile device making acceptance or denial of a login request easier than entering codes.
If you are having trouble configuring Microsoft Authenticator, detailed instructions on setting it up can be found here: Accepting the Microsoft Invite for Parent/Proxy Access to MySlice

I set up text messages as my second factor for MySlice logins, but Microsoft sometimes still prompts me to set up Microsoft authenticator. Why?

Microsoft may encourage you through prompts to set up Microsoft Authenticator if you haven’t done so. If don’t wish to use authenticator, select the option on the screen to “skip for now” and continue with your login.

I already accepted the invitation, but I want to change the methods I use to login (ex: I changed phone numbers). How do I do this?

If you have a personal Microsoft account, such as an outlook or hotmail account, you can log into account.microsoft.com to change the methods you use to log in (see below). If you have a gmail or other non-Microsoft account, your student will need to contact the SU Help Desk (help@syr.edu or 315-443-2677) to have the login methods changed.
a. Log into account.microsoft.com if you have a personal Microsoft account (outlook, hotmail, msn)
b. Select the “Security” icon (looks like a shield)
c. Select “Manage How I log in” (on the right hand side under the “Account” section)
d. You may be prompted to use a second factor (authenticator, text, etc.) to log in if you are on a device you haven’t previously trusted
e. You can now add a new sign-in method and/or remove an existing sign-in method.

What if I want to change the email address I use to sign into MySlice?

Your student will need to create a new parent/proxy account for you on MySlice using the new email address. The email address on the guest account used to log into Microsoft cannot be changed.

I have an @syr.edu account. Can I use that as the email address for the parent/proxy account in MySlice?

No, @syr.edu accounts cannot be used as parent/proxy accounts in MySlice. The email address needs to be a personal email address or a non-SU work or school address. This is so you can have the correct services available to you when you log into MySlice with the different accounts.

I’m using an SU laptop, desktop, or other managed device and get logged into my @syr.edu address when I access MySlice. How do I use the parent/proxy account?

Open an “incognito window” in Google Chrome or a private window in Microsoft Edge by selecting the three dots in the upper-right hand corner of the screen. This will let you use a different account.