Keeping the campus connected to technology...
The Information Services newsletter is distributed to all faculty and staff on a monthly basis and provides insight into technology trends, new service offerings and helpful tips and tricks for using technology.
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new & noteworthy :
techUpdates :
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tips & tricks :
Retaining Access to Services for Part-time Lecturers
Information Services recently launched an enhancement to the Human Resources process of hiring and re-hiring part-time lecturers to enable them to access applications key to their positions. Human Resources Management, the Provost's Office and Information Services have provided a special status to allow faculty to transition between terms, preparing for one term while remaining in communication with students from the previous term. This short work break status will allow the faculty to retain access to electronic services such as Blackboard, e-mail, and Library privileges between contracts.
In addition to simplifying the process for faculty, department administrators will no longer need to create sponsored accounts to ensure access to services between contract periods and colleges will no longer be required to re-hire these employees or complete the e-Verify process each term.
iPhone Battery Woes
If you are a frequent user of the iPhone, then undoubtedly you have gotten the dreaded warning that there's 10% power left - followed soon by a dark screen. That means no phone, no e-mail, no calendar, and no texting. If you don't have your charger with you, you then get the feeling of isolation that comes with that black screen.
A nifty gadget that will charge your iPhone anywhere and anytime called the 3GJuice is a great alternative to carrying around a cord and plug. The size of a small makeup compact, the 3GJuice fits in your pocket. When your iPhone battery gets low, just clip it on and it will start charging. It can also be used while you're talking, emailing, or texting.
At around $56, the 3GJuice can give you the assurance that your iPhone will always be available. Just charge it each night with a USB cable and pop it into your pocket or purse the next day.
Remote Use
These days, working outside the office is very common. To help you prepare for your time away from campus, check the following information below about using Webmail, setting up your 'Out of Office' assistant in Outlook/Entourage, configuring your iPhone to receive your NU e-mail, and using NU's Remote Access Service (VPN). This information can also be found in myKnowledge, the self-service knowledgebase, found on the Services and Links tab on myNEU.
Access your E-mail via Webmail
When you are away from the office, or using a computer other than your own, it's simple to access your e-mail by using Outlook Web Access (also known as Webmail). You must have a NUnet account to use Webmail.
- Open a web browser and go to http://outlook.neu.edu
- Log in with NUnet\[your NUnet username] (e.g. NUnet\s.husky) and password.
Enable the 'Out of Office' Assistant feature in Microsoft Outlook 2007
You can set up Microsoft Outlook 2007 to send automatic replies to users who send you e-mail messages.
To turn on the 'Out of Office' Assistant:
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For an account configured to use Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, from the 'Tools' menu, click 'Out of Office Assistant'. (The 'Out of Office Assistant' dialog box appears.)
- Select the 'Send Out of Office auto-replies' option. NOTE: To turn off Out of Office Assistant, select the 'Do not send Out of Office auto-replies' option.
- Select the 'Only send during this time range:' check box.
- Specify the start and end date and time during which you want to send the auto-reply.
- On the 'Inside My Organization' tab, type the auto-reply that you want to send to users within your organization.
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To send an auto-reply to users outside the organization:
- Click the 'Outside My Organization (On)' tab.
- Select the 'Auto-reply to people outside my organization' check box.
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Click 'My Contacts only' or 'Anyone outside my organization' to specify the users to whom you want to send auto-replies.
NOTE: The contact must exist in your Exchange Server Contacts folder. If the contact exists only in Personal Folders file (.pst), the auto-reply message will not be sent. - Type the auto-reply that you want to send to users outside your organization.
- Click 'OK'.
NOTE: If you are using Microsoft Exchange Server 2000 or 2003, from the 'Tools' menu, click 'Out of Office Assistant'. Click 'I am currently Out of the Office' and in the 'AutoReply only once to each sender with the following text' box, type the auto-reply you want to send to users.
Enable the 'Out of Office' Assistant feature in Entourage 2008 for Mac
Entourage 2008 provides you with the 'Out of Office' Assistant feature, which helps in replying to your e-mail messages when you are out of the office.
To turn on the 'Out of Office' Assistant:
- Open Entourage 2008.
- Click the 'Mail' button.
- From the folder list, click the appropriate Microsoft Exchange account.
- From the 'Tools' menu, click 'Out of Office'. (The 'Out of Office Assistant' dialog box appears.)
- Select the 'Send Out of Office messages' option.
- In the 'Reply to messages with' box, enter the appropriate text.
- Click 'OK'.
Set up iPhone/iPod Touch for Outlook/Entourage E-mail
To set up your iPhone/iPod Touch to receive your NU mail, follow these steps:
- Open up the Settings application by touching the icon once.
- Select Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
- Select Add Account....
- Select Microsoft Exchange.
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Enter your Exchange account information as detailed below:
- Email: Enter your full e-mail address including @neu.edu
- Domain: Press Enter to leave this line blank
- Username: Enter your user id [e.g., first intial.last name]
- Password: Enter your password which is the same as your NUnet password.
- Description: By default it is your e-mail address.
- The screen changes to the Verification screen.
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If the server name appears, the process is working properly.
NOTE: If you enter the wrong ID-password combination, the screen will ask you for server information. If that happens, reenter your username and password and 'outlook.neu.edu' or 'outlook.nunet.neu.edu'. Be sure the screen says 'Exchange account verified.' - Select the information you would like to synchronize: Mail, Contacts, Calendars
- Touch 'Done'. Your account is ready to use.
Use the Remote Access Service (VPN) to Connect to and Use NU Computer Resources
A VPN is a Virtual Private Network, which provides secure access between a user on a remote computer and on-campus computer resources. This means that, from home or another location, you can gain access to your desktop or to servers that are on-campus. The primary exceptions are some Library resources which are licensed for on-campus access only.
NOTE: Be sure to read and follow the information security guidelines before using NU's Remote Access Service.
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The first step is to ensure that you have the VPN client, called AnyConnect, installed. You can find the VPN install directions and more information on the Remote Access Service webpage.
Once AnyConnect is installed:
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On a Windows computer, go to Start menu and click on Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client.
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On a Mac computer go to the Applications folder and click on the Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client.
- Or, on either platform open your browser and enter http://remote.neu.edu.
- In the box that appears, log in using your NUnet username and password. NOTE: You may be asked to enter your NUnet username and password in the format 'nunet\your NUnet username'. You must include the 'nunet\' in your username.
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A welcome screen appears in a separate browser window. You may close the browser at this point.
Use the VPN to connect to:
- The same applications you access when you are connected to University network.
- Library resources except those that are restricted to on-campus only use.
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The shared drive (Q) by:
- Windows PC - Going to Start --> Run and enter \\nunet.neu.edu\dept-shares\ {name of folder} or go to My Computer, click on Tools --> Map Network Drive.
- Mac - Going to the Finder window --> click Go --> Connect to Server (or Select the Apple key + 'K'). Enter smb://shares2.nunet.neu.edu.
- Linux - Using the same process you do on an on-campus Linux machine.
- Your office desktop computer.
NOTE: The VPN connection may 'time out' (become disconnected) if it is not used for 120 minutes. Any unsaved work will be lost. Because e-mail refreshes every 15 minutes if it is running, keeping your e-mail open will keep the VPN connection open even if you are not actively using your computer.
CAUTION: Connection to the VPN must be renewed every 8 hours. You may disconnect and reconnect to the VPN at any time, resetting the 8 hour session.
ISCS - Training Update and Tips
Here are a few Outlook tips that let you work a bit faster:
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In Office 2007, you can send an attachment right from the application (for example, Microsoft Word) by clicking on the Office Button, and using the Send E-mail command. A new email will open, with the file pre-attached.
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If you use Internet Explorer, you can quickly send a link to someone by using the Page menu, and send link by email.
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Quickly create a rule based on an existing email, by right clicking on a message in your Inbox and selecting Create Rule.
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Drag a message from your Inbox on to the calendar on your To Do bar, and it will open a new calendar appointment on the date you drop it to. The email itself will be included in the body of the calendar item! Make sure your To Do bar is viewable first.
For more information about our schedule of classes and web based training, go to the IS Training website. You can contact us with any questions or requests at 617-373-5858 or training@neu.edu.
Summer Reading List
As the summer approaches, here are a few recommendations to stay on top of technology trends in higher education.
If you are looking for a book that offers advice and guidance on incorporating learning technologies into your teaching, you should consider reading Rethinking University Teaching: A framework for the effective use of learning technologies. This book (soon to be released in paperback) provides an analysis of mobile learning/social networking sites, collaborative learning, learning design tools and user-generated content technologies and how they can/can't enable a "needs-driven" approach to teaching. You can find Rethinking University Teaching online.
For those who prefer podcasts over publications, you can check out the Tech Therapy podcast offered by the Chronicle of Higher Education. Recent podcasts have included "Has Technology Worn You Out?" and "Are Colleges Still Gatekeepers on Knowledge?"
EDUCAUSE, the professional association dedicated to higher education information technology, recently published its CIO Bookshelf recommendations. CIOs from across the country were polled with the question "What are higher education leaders reading these days?" The results, including books, periodicals, podcasts, RSS feeds, Twitter feeds and blogs, can be found at The CIO Bookshelf on the Educause website.
Thank you
Information Services asked many of you to complete an IS Customer Satisfaction Survey in March. We would like to thank everyone for their efforts. Your feedback is valuable to us and we will announce results, and the actions we took in response to your feedback, in the fall.
Our next newsletter will be sent mid-August, just in time for Back to School. Have a great summer!
If you have any questions about any of the topics in this month's articles, please feel free to contact the IS Service Desk at 617-373-HELP (4357) or help@neu.edu. For 24x7 access to technology help, visit myKnowledge, the knowledgebase service on myNEU.