The webmail of the Dijon academy relies on a precise technical infrastructure, with a dedicated server and encryption protocols that have evolved in recent years. Several staff members of the National Education find themselves blocked on the first attempt, not due to a forgotten password, but because the access path or the parameters used no longer meet the current requirements of the system.
Server hermes.ac-dijon.fr: what the technical parameters impose
The email server of the Dijon academy is called hermes.ac-dijon.fr. This server name is the same for receiving and sending messages, but the protocols and ports differ depending on the use.
For receiving, the protocol used is IMAP over SSL/TLS on port 993. For sending, it is SMTP over STARTTLS on port 587. Authentication is done via a normal password, without OAuth or Kerberos mechanisms.
A technical point to remember: unencrypted connections are now refused by the server. Any attempt to connect in plain text is rejected. If you configure an email client (Thunderbird, Outlook, mobile application), it is essential to enable encryption. A configuration that worked a few years ago may now fail silently if the security mode is not correctly selected.
This tightening of security is consistent with the general policy of French academies, but it is not always clearly documented on internal help pages. Several guides for staff stop at the procedure for connecting to the Dijon academy webmail via the browser, without detailing the configuration on a third-party client.
Identifier and NUMEN: the logic behind the academic login formation
The login identifier follows a seemingly simple rule: the first letter of the first name followed by the last name, all in lowercase, without spaces or periods. For a person named Anne-Marie Durand, the identifier will be adurand.
Cases of hyphenated last names introduce a subtlety. A hyphenated birth name retains that hyphen in the identifier. Thus, a person born Le Pont will use ale-pont. Compound first names, on the other hand, only retain the initial of the first name.
Initial password and NUMEN
Upon first login, the password corresponds to the NUMEN in uppercase, this official identifier of the National Education composed of thirteen characters (numbers and letters). If the password has already been changed during a previous assignment in another academy, it is the last chosen password that applies, not the NUMEN.
To find your NUMEN, several options exist:
- Request it from the personnel service of your establishment, which has this information in your administrative file.
- Consult it in your career file on the digital workspace (ENT), if your home academy makes it accessible via this interface.
- Contact the assistance service of the Dijon academy by email ([email protected] or [email protected]) or by phone.
The NUMEN is sensitive data. It should neither be shared nor stored in an unprotected file, as it serves as a key to several administrative services beyond email.
PIA portal and single sign-on: why the direct URL poses a problem
Typing webmail.ac-dijon.fr directly into the browser’s address bar remains functional, but the recommended path now goes through the academic intranet portal (PIA). The reason is technical: by going through the PIA, the single sign-on (SSO) session initializes correctly, ensuring the application of the latest security updates and access to other related services (calendar, directory, ARENA applications).
Specifically, the PIA portal is accessible from the homepage of the academy’s website, via the “Direct Access” block. Once authenticated on the portal, the email opens without asking for a password again. This single sign-on also provides access to I-Prof, reimbursement applications (Chorus DT), training platforms (Magistère, FOAD), and the academic document space.
Direct access via URL remains useful in a specific case: when you only want to check your emails, without interacting with other services. However, if the browser blocks the connection or displays a certificate error, going through the PIA often resolves the issue without additional manipulation.
Configuring the Dijon academy webmail on a smartphone
Consultation on mobile requires manual configuration in most cases. Native email applications (Mail on iOS, Gmail on Android) do not automatically recognize academic servers.
The parameters to be entered are as follows:
- Incoming server: hermes.ac-dijon.fr, IMAP protocol, port 993, SSL/TLS security.
- Outgoing server: hermes.ac-dijon.fr, SMTP protocol, port 587, STARTTLS security.
- Username: your academic identifier (format first.last or initial+last according to your home academy).
- Password: the one you use on the online webmail.
On iOS, the configuration is done in Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account > Other. On Android, the procedure varies by manufacturer, but the usual path is through Settings > Accounts > Add Account > Personal (IMAP).
Forwarding messages to a personal address
The Dijon academy allows forwarding academic emails to a personal address. This option can be configured directly from the webmail interface (Convergence or Roundcube depending on the version offered). Forwarding does not prevent direct consultation; it simply copies incoming messages to the chosen inbox.
This solution is suitable for staff who prefer to centralize their messages in one inbox. It does not exempt from regularly logging into the academic webmail, as some internal notifications only transit through this channel.
Connection blockage and technical assistance from the Dijon academy
Two contacts are available for access issues: [email protected] and [email protected]. A phone number also exists, but response times vary depending on the time of year, with peaks of demand at the start of each school year.
The most common blockages do not come from an incorrect password. They stem from a browser that retains an old session in cache, from an email client configured for unencrypted connection, or from a malformed identifier (unintentional space or uppercase). Clearing the browser cache and checking the case of the identifier resolves most situations even before contacting support.
The academic messaging remains an official communication tool between staff and the institution. Whether the connection is made via a browser, through the PIA portal, or via a mobile client, the technical parameters are stable and documented. The real friction point almost always lies in the initialization of the account, between an untraceable NUMEN and a password that has never been personalized.
