MDAM FAQs
We are in the process of switching to a new system and will be updating this page soon!
Who can access MDAM?
- A complete list of schools/units that participate in can be found here. If interested in acquiring access, please contact mdam-support@northwestern.edu.
- Faculty and staff of the schools/units with active licenses can gain access to MDAM.
- Student workers or those working with faculty/staff that are part of the access list can obtain access on a case by-case basis.
How do I log in?
Visit https://northwestern.mediavalet.com/ and log in via SSO using your NetID and password. Upon initial login, you will be placed in a temporary "No Access" group. Within 24 hours or less, you will then be assigned to your appropriate user group. Please log out and log back in the next day to gain full access to all assets.
What user types are there?
- Casual Users: Users with the ability to search, share, and download assets for which they have permissions.
- Power Users: Content creators with the ability to import assets, edit metadata, search, share, and download assets for which they have permissions.
- Department Admins: School/unit administrators with the ability to approve download requests for restricted assets, import assets, edit metadata, search, share, and download assets.
What are the types of usage rights for digital assets and what do they mean?
We have three different usage rights that are available to all digital assets:
- All-University Rights: For use in University-related media only (e.g., flyers, brochures, videos, and other marketing materials). Most assets in MDAM are All-University Rights.
- All-Media Rights: Approved for both University-related and external media use (e.g., news outlets, media kits).
- Restricted: Limited to use by the department that owns the asset. To use or download these assets, contact the designated Asset Usage Approver for permission.
Can I search for assets by date?
Yes, when completing a search, you can filter by Created Date by clicking Custom Attributes, scroll down to Created Date, then enter your desired time range.
How do I download assets?
- Please pay attention to Usage Rights before downloading assets. Assets labeled All-University Rights and All Media Rights can be downloaded without approval. Restricted assets will require permission to download.
- For one asset, click the download icon on the asset's thumbnail.
- For a group of assets, select your desired assets and click the download icon in the black menu bar at the bottom of the page.