ETS News: COVID-19 Response (Faculty)
March 11, 2020
Dear Howard University Community,
In support of the University’s most recent COVID-19 response, it is important that each unit within the Howard community develop a plan to ensure business continuity. Your plan should include:
- Secure remote access to HU systems
- Secure access to mission critical HU documents and files
- Unified communications with your department and teams
- Audio and video conferencing capabilities
- Forward voice calls from your Howard landline to a mobile phone
- Leave an out of office message indicating the length of time you will be unavailable via phone, and an alternate manner in which you can be reached
- Test your ability to use an online medium to deliver instructional or operational mechanisms
Working From Off Campus Locations as an Individual:
DUO:
DUO is a multi-factor authentication application. All employees must set up DUO authentication in order to access the ERP system remotely. The purpose of DUO is to ensure users are authorized for remote connections to the Howard University network. This authenticator helps to safeguard against cyber vulnerabilities. Duo authentication represents the first step in gaining remote access.
To enroll in DUO, contact the ETS Helpdesk at huhelpdesk@howard.edu.
DUO Registration
DUO Frequently Asked Questions
VPN:
Virtual Private Networks (VPN) provide a secure connection to the Howard University network. The Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client is the VPN product used by Howard University. This product will allow you to access share/mapped drives, intranet websites, etc.
Being Productive and Accessing Data and Files Remotely:
Microsoft OneDrive:
OneDrive is a cloud-based file system. All members of the Howard University community have access to OneDrive through Microsoft Outlook. This is a secure, online location for all your University documents/files. Similar to “Drop Box,” Google drive, etc., your OneDrive account can be accessed from any web browser. We recommend moving all files located on your desktop or laptop to your OneDrive prior to leaving campus. This way, you will be able to access files remotely.
The following videos will familiarize you with OneDrive:
This is OneDrive
How to Use OneDrive
OneDrive Tips and Tricks
Office 365:
Office 365, or O365, is the Microsoft suite of productivity applications. Formerly Microsoft Office, O365 has all of your frequently used Microsoft applications (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) available online. For access, go to office.com and log in with your Howard University credentials.
Share/Mapped Drives:
Share/mapped drives are departmental files that you access while at work. To access these files off campus, you must setup a share/mapped drive on your laptop. Remember, you must log into DUO and Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility before accessing or setting up a share/mapped drive.
Setting Up Share/Mapped Drives
Voicemail:
Your office voicemail can be retrieved from any telephone or web browser.
From a telephone:
1) Call your 10-digit telephone number
2) Once your voicemail recording engages, press * key
3) Insert your pin code
From a web browser:
1) Visit https://callmanager.rcn.com, and log in using your 10-digit telephone number and voicemail pin code
2) From the home screen, select MESSAGES AND CALLS
Holding Meetings and Delivering Online Classes:
Blackboard Learn:
Blackboard Learn is your virtual learning environment and learning management system. It is web-based and features your course management. Functionalities include Safe Assign, Collaborate, Building Blocks (ExamSoft, Respondus Lockdown Browser, Cengage etc).
For access go to blackboard.howard.edu
System Requirements
▪ Blackboard is best viewed in Mozilla Firefox.
Login
Username: BisonWeb ID without the @-sign
Password: 6-digit BisonWeb PIN
How to use Blackboard tools
Microsoft Teams:
Teams is Howard University’s collaboration suite. Teams allows you to collaborate using Chats, calls, audio/video conferencing, document sharing and more, all facilitated from this one application. Teams is already on your computer when it was imaged by ETS and is also available from your web browser. Simply go the the Microsoft O365 webpage and you’ll find Teams among your other applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Please watch the following videos to familiarize yourself with Microsoft Teams:
Welcome to Teams
Introducing Teams
Teams in action for Education
Teams training
Virtual training sessions on Teams Tips and Tricks
Zoom:
Zoom is another option, for faculty and teaching assistants to use to host classes online. Zoom is a modern enterprise video communications solution, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, collaboration, chat, and webinars across mobile devices, desktops, telephones, and room systems. Zoom helps you bring your groups together for collaboration.
Introduction to Zoom
How to Host a Class or Webinar Meeting With Zoom
The most effective business continuity plans are tested before they are needed. Therefore, we ask that you review and test the instructions provided before implementation. If you have any questions, please contact ETS via email at huhelpdesk@howard.edu.
Excellence in Truth and Service,
Enterprise Technology Services (ETS)