Distributed via email to staff on 4-8-2020.
We each have our individual challenges working from home- such as Annabelle who lives with a Rice OIT staff member. We hope you will find these resources helpful.
We Are Here For You
The Office of Information Technology is committed to supporting the university as many of us adjust to teaching, learning, and working remotely. Below are some of the tools and resources available to connect us and enable us to continue operations. If you are experiencing issues or need assistance, contact the OIT Help Desk.
Support
You can call Help Desk staff from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Monday – Friday at 713-348-HELP (4357). Walk-in services have been suspended. You may also submit a request by completing our online help form or sending an email. Or look for the answer to your question by searching our KnowledgeBase.
Remote Resources
The Preparing for Remote Working page offers steps for preparing to work at home and is followed by a reference guide of functional tools, such as how to store files, how to connect to secure Rice resources, and more. Be sure to check out the Technology Guide to Remote Working as well with links to information on how to collaborate on files and best practices for working remotely.
Tools
Managing Office Phones
You can manage your office phone remotely using the features of the new VoIP phone system. Single Number Reachwill allow you to set up an additional phone number (such as your mobile phone) that will also ring when your office line is called during scheduled times (e.g. Monday through Friday, 8-5pm). Call forwardingdirects calls to voicemail or another number. Access your voicemail remotelyby calling 713-348-3000 and following the prompts.
Video Conferencing
Zoom is a collaboration and online meeting tool. Zoom License accounts (formerly called Pro accounts) are available to all Rice faculty, staff, and students. Zoom can also be used in Canvas to allow instructors to schedule online meetings within Canvas. Google Hangouts Meet is an alternate tool for virtual meetings and is accessible through the GSuite platform.
Alert: If you use Zoom, please keep it updated so you will have the latest security fixes to prevent Zoombombing and other potential privacy issues. Read more aboutZoom Meeting Privacy and Security.
Software
Staff are eligible for free and discounted softwareincluding Adobe Creative Cloud, Crashplan, Office 365, Matlab, Mathematica and more. Many of our vendors have extended the usage of our licenses to allow employees and students to be able to download the software onto their personal computer at no cost to them.
Secure Connections
Additional software may be needed to securely connect to Rice resources. Using VPN (virtual private network) securely connects your computer to the Rice network. Duo provides an extra authentication step and is required by some systems, such as VPN and Esther.
Home Network
One of the challenges of working remotely can be your home Internet service. If you are having issues, check out these helpful tips from Internet2 (Rice is a member of this collaborative research and education technology community.)
Tips for Troubleshooting Home Connectivity
Optimizing Your Home Network for Working and Learning
Security Reminder
Follow university guidelinesto protect your computer and Rice data. Keep your guard up against email scams designed to obtain your account information, especially during this crisis.