Remote Resource Guide

This getting started guide is designed to help you connect to students, classmates, and colleagues remotely.
 
Please consult with your college, department, or office IT staff for help with locally-managed IT services and desktop support.
 

Getting started

 

How’s your home work space?

Think ahead about what equipment you may require to study and work remotely. Consider monitors, a docking station, mouse, keyboard, etc. Whether you intend to use a university-managed computer or a personal device, be sure to test and update your digital resources in advance if possible. Please make sure that your U-owned devices are up to date on software.

Update your contact information

Log in to Campus Information Services (CIS) (requires authentication), and under Change Bio/Demo Info, make sure that your preferred contact information is up to date so that students, classmates and colleagues can reach you while you work remotely.

 

Forward your calls

For information on setting up call forwarding on Polycom/Skype for Business phones, access this knowledge article, and this knowledge article for call-forwarding instructions for Centrex and Avaya phones. Should you forget to set call forwarding, you may request to have your calls forwarded to your smartphone remotely by calling the UIT Help Desk at 801-581-4000, option 2 (main campus), or ITS Service Desk at 801-587-6000 (University of Utah Health). Note: The voice quality of a softphone is largely dependent on the quality of the internet connection. When using a Wi-Fi connection, you may experience audio interference from other devices.

 

Access your voicemail

This reference guide contains information about accessing your voicemail off-site.

 

University software

The university has several campus agreements to provide some of the most popular software at no cost or at a greatly reduced price. This software can be found at the Office of Software Licensing (OSL). Security essentials (e.g., ESET Endpoint Security) are also available at a low cost.

Marriott Library has remote software access services available to students, faculty, and staff. Visit the catalog of Marriott Library’s available software and get information about access via AquaConnect.

 

Campus Directory

Find contact information for faculty, staff, and students at https://people.utah.edu/uWho/basic.hml (authentication is required to access student information).

Portals and apps

 

UMail

Access your university email account on the web at www.umail.utah.edu (your user ID is your uNID@umail.utah.edu email address, and your password is your CIS password). Visit this knowledge article for information about accessing UMail via Outlook Web Access (OWA), and this knowledge article to learn more about setting up UMail for use on mobile devices. 

 

Campus Information Services (CIS)

CIS, the online application used by students, faculty, and staff to access everything from paychecks to class schedules, may be accessed at http://cis.utah.edu/ (requires authentication). This knowledge article contains CIS portal quick tips.

Canvas

Access classes, grades, and additional content provided for your classes (videos, discussion boards, etc.) with Canvas, the U’s primary online learning management system. Log in to https://utah.instructure.com/ with your uNID and CIS password, or by selecting Canvas in the CIS portal. For Canvas support, call 801-581-6112 or email classhelp@utah.edu.

 

Duo Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Duo 2FA is the university’s multifactor authentication system for employee access to certain applications. Access this knowledge article for more information. To accommodate working remotely, you may need to review your Duo settings via Duo Management Portal. For example, employees must have Duo 2FA enabled on their smartphones to be used for VPN. If Duo is not installed or enabled, follow these instructions.

 

Microsoft Office 365 (O365) suite

Available to current students, staff, and faculty, O365 provides many Microsoft online applications and offers cloud storage. Tools include Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, as well as cloud-based software as a service product for business environments such as hosted Exchange Server, Skype for Business Server, and SharePoint. Access https://o365cloud.utah.edu/ for more information. Sign in with your uNID@umail.utah.edu email and password. Part of the O365 suite, OneDrive is Microsoft's online cloud storage solution approved for sensitive and restricted data.

G Suite

Formerly known as Google Apps, G Suite allows current university students, staff, and faculty to work with Google applications from the web, and offers cloud storage and easy collaboration. Log in at https://gcloud.utah.edu/ with your uNID and CIS password to set up your free account. Tools include Docs, Slides, and Sheets. Part of G Suite, Google Drive is a file storage service that allows access from any smartphone, tablet, or computer.


Adobe Creative Cloud

Current students, faculty and staff can access, activate and download Creative Cloud apps, services and features at no cost (e.g., Acrobat, InDesign, and Photoshop) by accessing https://software.utah.edu/adobe.php.


UBox

This online cloud storage and collaboration tool provides users with the ability to easily store, access and share files and folders. Box is the only university-approved platform for sharing personal health information (PHI) data. Access https://box.utah.edu or this knowledge article for more information.

Kronos

The university’s employee timekeeping tool may be accessed at https://www.kronos.utah.edu.

 

Teaching and Learning

 

Teaching & Learning Technologies (TLT) has prepared a quick-start guide to connect instructors with students at https://tlt.utah.edu/covid19.php

 

Instructors

Featured topics include:

  • Activating and publishing your online course
  • Communication and capturing video
  • Conducting live events
  • Online assignments
  • Online assessments
  • More online teaching resources
Students

Most current U students are familiar with working in Canvas. The following resources are a good refresher, or a good introduction for students who are new to the U, or unfamiliar with online learning and/or using Canvas.

For additional help, you may access TLT’s help center.

Communication Tools

ATTENTION FACULTY: Please use Canvas (learning management) for instructional delivery. Canvas is fully integrated with Kaltura (video capture and storage) and ConexED (two-way live video meetings) and is FERPA compliant. Zoom, YouTube, and other consumer and business tools are NOT FERPA compliant. The use of Canvas will also ensure consistency of experience for all of our students. Please visit TLT Resources for assistance. The following are suggestions for holding distance meetings, not for course instruction.

 

Skype for Business

Skype for Business provides an instant messaging and conference calling solution as part of the Microsoft Office suite. All U students, faculty, and staff can install Skype for Business for free. Access https://skype.utah.edu/ for more information. If you have a managed computer, you’ll need assistance from your IT manager. 

Microsoft Teams

This chat-based platform combines persistent chat, video meetings, and file storage. Teams integrates with the U’s Office 365 productivity suite and features extensions that can integrate with non-Microsoft products. Teams can be accessed using a web browser, desktop client, or mobile app. For Windows/Mac and mobile devices, sign in with your uNID@umail.utah.edu email and uNID password.

 

Zoom

This communications software combines video conferencing, online meetings, chat, and mobile collaboration.

Zoom is free to use for unlimited 1-to-1 meetings and meetings with up to 100 participants (40-minute limit on group meetings). 

Faculty, students, and campus staff who need to use Zoom for group meetings lasting more than 40 minutes can request a University of Utah Zoom license by visiting this page. University of Utah Health staff and departments are not eligible for these licenses.

Access https://zoom.us for more information.

 
Google Hangouts Chat

Google Hangouts Chat is the messaging platform for G Suite. Google Hangouts Meet is a convenient way to bring group work and study sessions online.

Virtual Private network

 

Remote access to the campus network and some online university services require use of the AnyConnect virtual private network (VPN) client. Access this knowledge article for information on how to set up the VPN. Note: The VPN is a limited resource and is not necessary for most work. Please use cloud services whenever possible to reduce strain on infrastructure, only connecting to VPN when using VPN-dependent resources.

eduroam

Free, secure wireless for students, faculty, and staff when visiting other participating eduroam institutions, such as universities and museums. Access this knowledge article for more information.

 

Local network file shares

Most computers have access to local storage, or C drive. Network storage, often referred to as a file share (or G or S drive), requires network access and a path to the shared storage location.

Remote desktop tools

Access selected software from any supported computer or device via Aqua Connect.

Additional resources

 

Safe computing

Whether you’re on campus or working remotely, the same rules apply when it comes to cybersecurity. Access the following knowledge articles for more information:

 

Primary IT help resources

Your department, college, or office IT staff 

Main Campus UIT Help Desk
Phone: 801-581-4000, option 1 for immediate assistance
Email: helpdesk@utah.edu for less urgent issues

University of Utah Health ITS Service Desk
Phone: 801-587-6000 for immediate assistance

Email: servicedesk@hsc.utah.edu for less urgent issues

Additional help resources:
Other IT guides:

 

Stay informed about central IT system status

 

NotifyIT

The NotifyIT service is an opt-in service for U employees who wish to receive push notifications about unplanned IT outages affecting main campus and/or University of Utah Health.

Unplanned downtime information is also available via Twitter: https://twitter.com/UofUITStatus.

 

IT system updates
  • System status: The IT Services Status page — status.io — is a public website that enables users to access the status of a number of mission-critical IT services. 
  • Planned downtime: Scheduled maintenance that may impact the availability of IT services.
  • Planned changes: Selected work and IT changes that are not expected to cause service outages. 

 

IT policies

 

Division of Human Resources
Important note

Local county health departments in coordination with the state health department are taking the lead on tracking patients and those they have come in contact with to help prevent the spread of the virus. If you have questions please call the Utah Department of Health Resource Center at 1-888-222-2442.