Beginning today, a new version of ClarkYou – ClarkYouBeta – is available for you to experience and give feedback on. ClarkYou is the portal to many Clark services and applications. However as the technology behind ClarkYou ages a transition to a more responsive, modern platform is needed. ClarkYouBeta is built to offer much of the same functionality but with a…
April 2024, By the Numbers
ITS Survey: Thank You & Some Quick Answers
In February of this year, many of you received invitations to participate in a survey about Clark’s Information Technology Services. Over 1000 Clarkies participated by answering questions about classroom technology, networking, support, and much more. And we want to say a big thank you! Your feedback will help us evaluate our services, set future prioritizations, and better meet your needs.…
Announcement, March 2024, Resources
Introducing: ITStatus.clarku.edu
ITS is excited to introduce ITStatus.clarku.edu, a systems status page dedicated to Clark applications, networks and systems. ITStatus.clarku.edu will have up-to-date information on which applications are running smoothly, a schedule of planned maintenance, notices about possible current issues, and a history of previous outages. Visit the page if you are experiencing issues with a certain application. If you’d like to…
March 2024, Resources
Everything You Need to Know About Poster Printing
With ClarkFEST right around the corner, it’s time to prep and print those posters that show off all your hard work! Keep reading to make sure the poster process is quick, simple, and stress-free. Step 1: Make your poster using provided templates To avoid delays in printing your poster, use the templates provided by Clark ITS to make sure it’s…
March 2024, Resources, Tool Spotlight
Tool Spotlight: Adobe Audition
Ever thought about starting a podcast? This form of audio entertainment has exploded in popularity in recent years and continues to grow: in the next 5 years, Statistica predicts there will be over 100 million podcast listeners in the US alone. The software Adobe Audition is one of the most popular tools used to create and edit podcasts, and it…
March 2024, Our Favorite Apps, Tips and Tricks
Our Favorite Apps: Libby
Welcome to a new series in Bits & Bytes where ITS will be sharing the apps that make our lives a little easier or more enjoyable. As mentioned back in the May 2023 issue of Bits & Bytes, Libby is an incredible app considered essential by Tess Walsh, Clark’s technology training specialist. The app allows you to borrow ebooks…
Get to Know Us, March 2024
Get to Know Us: Julian Killo
This month, we get to know Julian Killo, a Network Engineer in ITS. Julian started working at Clark in 2022 as a grad student and transitioned to working full-time in September 2023. Prior to joining the Clark community, Julian worked on major projects, like implementing public WiFi and conducting enterprise resource planning, with the Municipality of Tirana and Bechtel Corporation.…
February 2024, Tool Spotlight
Tool Spotlight: LastPass
Recently, Clark University has partnered with LastPass, a password management application, to help students, staff, and faculty on campus protect their passwords and keep their accounts secure. There are multiple ways to access LastPass on your device or phone for ease of use. Why should I use LastPass? We’re often told to create strong, complicated passwords and avoid reusing…
February 2024, Training, Workshops
Technology Training Spring Workshop Schedule
File Management 101 Monday, March 11 at 2 PM – Zoom Feeling file fatigue? Join ITS to learn strategies and best practices for organizing and managing files, clearing digital clutter, and determining storage solutions. In this workshop, we’ll go over: Naming conventions Sorting file/folder hierarchy Pros/cons of different storage solutions Guidelines for file retention and deletion Click here to register! Adobe…
February 2024, Tool Spotlight
Tool Spotlight: Microsoft Sway
Lesser known than its older siblings such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Sway joined the Microsoft family in 2014. Since then, it has grown substantially into an intuitive and unique app perfect for newsletters, announcements, portfolios, and presentations. Sway is an online app that can be accessed through your Clark Microsoft account. How do I access Sway? Log into…
February 2024, Resources
Educause’s 7 Things You Should Know About Generative AI
In 2024, generative AI is on track to become more powerful and more present in our daily lives. You may have noticed Amazon now uses AI to summarize customer reviews of its products; or heard that AI might be integrated into Google Maps soon. While AI undoubtedly affects the ways we interact with the internet in our personal lives,…
February 2024, Get to Know Us
Get to Know Us: Lara Winter
This month, we say hello to Lara Winter, ITS’s Business Analyst and Report Writer. A native New Englander, Lara Winter recently returned to the East Coast after spending 7 years in the Twin Cities at the University of Minnesota in the Technology Commercialization office, which allowed her to get a first look at all the fascinating inventions spinning out of…
Resources
Sharing Clark Passwords in LastPass
One of the most useful features offered by LastPass is the ability to securely share usernames and passwords with other people. Sharing Passwords within Clark Whether passwords need to be shared with one Clarkie or a whole Clark department, the best method for sharing passwords is by using Shared Folders. Passwords can be stored within a Shared folder and access…
Resources
Phone Services: Transition to Microsoft Teams Phone
Over the coming year, Clark will transition from using our traditional phone infrastructure for making and receiving voice calls to using Microsoft Teams. This change will allow you to make and receive calls in your existing Teams client on your computer, smart phone, or Teams compatible desk phone. As our modality of working has recently evolved, we must be more…
December 2023, Tips and Tricks
File Management 101
The end of the year is the perfect time to review, back up, and clean out files. Regularly performing file audits on your devices makes sure your information is organized and secure, which is ideal for productivity and peace of mind. ITS has put together some helpful suggestions on how to approach file management and review if you’re ready to…
December 2023, Tool Spotlight
Tool Spotlight: Adobe Express
Looking for an intuitive, powerful, and creative tool to help you create flyers, infographics, or social media posts? Check out Adobe Express, a web-based app included in Adobe Creative Cloud and available to all faculty and staff. Adobe Express has thousands of templates for presentations, videos, stationery, learning aids, business cards, webpages, and more. The app allows you complete control…
Announcement, December 2023
CUWeb is Getting an Upgrade!
Working together, The Office of the Registrar, Human Resources, Payroll and ITS are excited to launch an updated version of CU Web early in the spring semester. CUWeb—which can be accessed anytime through the ClarkYOU portal—is the internal website that hosts important information for all members of the Clark community, such as class registration, advising information, personal information, timesheets, leave…
December 2023
Tech Recs for Winter Break
As you rest and recuperate over winter break, you can also use technology to connect with family and friends and let out some laughs! If you’re looking for a cheesy holiday romance movie… Stream Something Blue on Amazon Prime, a feel-good movie featuring ugly sweaters, seasonal baked goods, and a classic jewelry mix-up. Recommended by Tess Walsh, Clark’s technology training…
December 2023, Get to Know Us
Get to Know Us: Thais Santos
This month, we learn more about Thais Santos, Junior Endpoint Administrator. Born and raised in Massachusetts by Brazilian-born parents, Thais joined ITS’s Endpoint team in August after graduating from Framingham State University. As Junior Endpoint Administrator, Thais ensures certain settings and software are in place on Clark devices before they are used. Her favorite part of working in ITS is…
Get to Know Us, November 2023
ITS Gift Guide 2023!
It’s that time of year again! The cold weather is rolling in, the holidays are approaching, and gift lists are being written. ITS is happy to share our top picks for this season, just in time to shop the sales this weekend. If you have any questions about our recommendations, let us know! Click here for ITS contact information. Joe…
October 2023
New Tech, New Space: A Closer Look at the Center for Media Arts, Computing, and Design
This fall, Clark University opened the Center for Media Arts, Computing, and Design (CMACD). This new building introduces new technologies and resources to the campus community and provides additional lab and learning spaces for all Clarkies. Working with the Becker School of Design and Technology, construction crews, and vendors, ITS helped establish these new labs and manage available software. If…
October 2023, Tool Spotlight
Tool Spotlight: Microsoft To Do
Grab coffee, return library book, reply to email…whatever’s on your to-do list, Microsoft To Do can help you stay organized and find time for all your tasks. Microsoft To Do is a relatively new feature included within your Clark Microsoft account. You can access it from Outlook online by clicking the blue checkmark, or by visiting https://to-do.office.com/ in your internet…
Data Privacy and Security, October 2023
Tips, Tricks, and Treats: October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month!
With blue skies, fall foliage, and haunted houses, October is one of the best times to live and learn in New England. It also happens to be cybersecurity awareness month, which makes it the perfect time to enjoy pumpkin spiced treats, plan your Halloween costume, and prepare yourself against the scariest monsters of them all: cybercriminals like Count Hackula and…
October 2023
Quick ITS Updates
ITS works hard to bring important updates and information to campus. Keep reading to learn about the latest and how you can use it! NameCoach in Outlook Over the last couple of weeks, you may have noticed the new NameCoach feature in your Outlook application or in Outlook Online. The NameCoach plugin allows you to listen to the pronunciation of…
Get to Know Us, October 2023
Get to Know Us: Sean Ryder
This month, we learn more about Clark’s new Campus Card and Access Coordinator, Sean Ryder. Sean has been part of ITS for about two months, but those two months have been busy! Sean has assumed responsibility for all aspects of OneCard, including printing new cards, managing OneCard software, and supervising appropriate swipe access to buildings across campus. His favorite part…
Data Privacy and Security
Data Management
Now, more than ever, we share information and use data daily in our personal and professional lives. There are certain types of information that are regulated and must be handled appropriately when shared with others not only to ensure compliance with legislation, but also to minimize the risk of the information being viewed inappropriately and to help protect the privacy…
September 2023, Tips and Tricks
Tech Tips for Start-of-Semester Success
Whether you’re returning to Clark or joining our campus community for the first time, ITS is excited to help you succeed this semester! We’ve worked hard over the summer to expand technological tools and spaces to help you study, create, and teach to the best of your ability. If you want to save time… Faculty and Staff: Set up a…
September 2023, Tool Spotlight
Tool Spotlight: Adobe Creative Cloud
Clark University ITS is proud to now offer Adobe Creative Cloud on all public computers in addition to Adobe licenses for all faculty and staff. Creative Cloud includes many powerful tools, including Photoshop, Lightroom, Acrobat, Audition, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere, and more! All Adobe applications do different things: Lightroom and Photoshop, for example, are designed for photo editing, while Acrobat is…
Resources, September 2023
OneCard’s New Home at the ITS Help Desk!
At Clark University, OneCards are a little like magic: they can check out library books, grant access to cool campus spots, buy study snacks, and print papers. Over the summer, the OneCard office moved to Academic Commons on the first floor of Goddard Library. OneCard operations are now managed by ITS and the new Campus and Card Access Coordinator, Sean…
September 2023, Training
Technology Training: Fall 2023 Workshops
ITS is happy to announce the technology training workshop schedule for Fall 2023. Unless otherwise noted, these workshops are designed for faculty and staff. Please check the ITS Events page for updates and more opportunities! You can also sign up to stay informed about new training opportunities by clicking here to fill out a short form. Please contact techtraining@clarku.edu to…
Get to Know Us, September 2023
Get to Know Us: Jarrod Evans
This month, we’re meeting Jarrod Evans, Clark’s Help Desk Technician. Jarrod joined Clark this past July. A Worcester native, he previously worked in the fast-paced world of retail, which helped Jarrod discover his passion for customer service and technology. A self-described “technological life coach,” Jarrod loves meeting people across campus as he deploys new devices. Since his appointments are…
Resources
Teaching with Technology – Fall 2023
ITS is excited to support your teaching during Fall 2023 and have included a range of services below. If you have any additional questions, concerns or suggestions, we recommend contacting the Help Desk (helpdesk@clarku.edu) so that we can direct your request to the most appropriate department for the quickest response. Table of Contents Classroom Technology Other Technology Student Access to…
May 2023
5 Things to Do Before Summer
The sun is shining, the leaves are dancing in the breeze, and Clark’s printers are humming: the semester is almost over! Before your well-deserved break over the summer months, take a few minutes to tidy up your digital life and set yourself up for success when you return to campus. Turn on Microsoft Authenticator If you’re traveling this summer, and…
May 2023
An ITS Summer
While those of us working on campus over Summer enjoy a slightly different pace and the opportunity to use some annual leave, the project work, regular maintenance and new initiatives keep us busy – so much that the summer can fly by. Learn a little about what the summer holds for ITS below. Network Maintenance Maintaining and upgrading Clark’s Network…
May 2023, Tool Spotlight
Tool Spotlight: Microsoft Forms and Qualtrics
You may be familiar with Qualtrics, an online survey and research tool. Qualtrics is incredibly powerful, especially for research intensive projects. Companies such as Volkswagen and MasterCard use it to determine detailed customer information and filter response data. However, Qualtrics is not the only tool available to the Clark community: all Clarkies also have access to Microsoft Forms, a simplified, online data…
May 2023
Make the Most of your Summer!
Whether you’re headed to the beach or keeping it cool indoors, you can use tech to make the most of your summer. Learn something new, immerse yourself in a virtual world, and stay hydrated! If you love the outdoors… Borrow a Mass Audobon pass from Goddard Library and explore some of the eleven nature sanctuaries in Central Massachusetts. Learn more…
Get to Know Us, May 2023
Get to Know Us: Don Lutz
This month, say hello to Don Lutz, Clark’s Manager for Online and Instructional Technology. Don joined the Clark community in November 2019. Originally from Kansas, he served in the Air Force for 20 years before transitioning to a technical training role. After working in seven different industries and obtaining a master’s degree in instructional technology, Don is an expert at…
April 2023
A Big Thank You!
In honor of Student Employee Appreciation Week, ITS is excited to share publicly what we say regularly to each other – a huge thank you to our wonderful student employees. In 2023, Clark ITS is proud to employ 52 Clark students from almost all disciplines, from first years to graduate students, and in a wide-range of jobs and groups…
April 2023, Get to Know Us
ITS Super Students (written by a Super Student)
In this article Matt Rushford, Help Desk Technician and Co-Editor-in-Chief at The Scarlet, takes the reins of the newsletter to highlight three of our many wonderful student employees across the department. A senior majoring in History, with an Art History minor and a concentration in Law and Society, Matt is considering either a Masters in Arts in Teaching at Clark,…
April 2023, Get to Know Us
ITS Clarkies – All Grown Up
ITS is not only lucky enough to have incredible students working in different offices across campus, but also to have former Clarkies as part of our professional staff as well. Both Ben Gardener, Business/Data Analyst and Matt Essig, Clark’s Senior Systems Administrator, worked in ITS as student employees during their time as students at Clark. ITS recently caught up…