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…
April 2023
Students: Work for ITS
As you’ve seen, we hire students from across campus – not just from Computer Science or STEM disciplines. We’re most often looking for students with a focus on problem-solving, customer service and an eagerness to learn new things and ask questions. We offer a wide range of positions, as spotlighted above, from Help Desk staff, administrative support and including training…
March 2023, Tips and Tricks
‘Tis the Season for Poster Printing
Spring is Poster Printing season, with ClarkFEST, class and departmental poster events, Academic Futures Showcase, academic conferences, and much more. Each year ITS prints over 250 posters in support of teaching and learning, and academic research. As a result, we wanted to share our top 5 tips for easy poster printing. If you’re looking for more advice, click here to…
March 2023, Tool Spotlight
Office 2021: Available Now for Faculty and Staff
Microsoft Office has been available since 1990. Over the past 33 years, the tools included in the Office suite, such as Word, Outlook, and Excel, have expanded and improved (to see just how much, scroll through the visual history of Microsoft Word). ITS is excited to announce that Office 2021 is now available as an optional update on most Clark-provided…
March 2023, Tool Spotlight, Zoom
Tool Spotlight: Whiteboards in Virtual Meetings
These days, Clark classes, meetings, and events often take place virtually in Teams or Zoom. While many of us know about the basic features of these online spaces, such as chat and screensharing, including a digital whiteboard in your next virtual gathering can be a unique, collaborative, and fun way to engage your fellow Clarkies. Whether you’re brainstorming ideas for…
Data Privacy and Security, March 2023
Social Engineering
Each day, hackers come up with new and innovative ways to trick individuals into providing personal information. These types of attacks are commonly referred to as social engineering attacks. Social engineering is the tactic of manipulating, influencing, or deceiving a victim to gain control over a computer system or steal personal and financial information. Currently, there are three main types…
Get to Know Us, March 2023
Get to Know Us: Mariclare Kanaley
This month, we say hello to Mariclare Kanaley, Clark’s Slate CRM Administrator. Mariclare joined Clark’s ITS team seven months ago and currently plays a vital role in supporting student success. Since Clark has different departments that coordinate student information and provide students with resources, Mariclare is implementing a platform to share this information across campus and make processes a little…
February 2023, Get to Know Us
Michael Krikonis, Manager of Client Support
ITS is excited to announce that long-time Academic Technologist, Michael Krikonis, has been promoted to Manager of Client Support, a role previously held by Terrance McCormack. From March 13th, Michael will relocate to manage the Help Desk’s daily operations with Sharon Griffin Edson, Tess Walsh, and our many student employees. In addition to the regular work that the Help Desk…
February 2023, Tool Spotlight
OneDrive and SharePoint and Teams, Oh My!
Around campus, your colleague or classmate might mention that they’re saving their research to OneDrive. You might get automated emails from SharePoint regarding collaborative documents that you’ve posted in Teams. All of these tools are Microsoft platforms are related to the cloud, but what do they do? How do they interact? Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint are all connected, but they…
February 2023, LMS
Canvas: March Madness
As we all settle into Canvas, ATS is excited to offer Canvas March Madness – a series of Canvas workshops on Zoom targeting some of the more advanced topics in our new LMS. Click here for full information on the workshops, and links to join the zoom sessions (no registration required) Using the SpeedGrader Learn how to use many faculty…
February 2023, Tool Spotlight
Tool Spotlight: Name Coach
Now that Clark University is on Canvas, all Clarkies have access to a great new tool that allows everyone to record the correct pronunciation of their name for colleagues, professors, and classmates: NameCoach! What is NameCoach? NameCoach is software built into Canvas that allows all members of the Clark community to record the pronunciation of their names. These recordings are…
Data Privacy and Security, February 2023
Think Twice Before Charging!
We have all been there, your phone battery is at 5%, and you’re in an airport, coffeeshop or other public space. You search for an outlet, but instead find a powered USB port. You figure this will charge the same way as a pronged outlet. Think twice! While it’s true that public USB ports can help charge in a pinch…
February 2023, Get to Know Us
Get to Know Us: Rajesh Shukla
This month, we meet Rajesh Shukla, Assistant Director of Enterprise Applications, who has been at Clark for 7 years. Rajesh helps to manage Banner, the university’s Student (and employee) Information System and everything connected to it. One of Rajesh’s most important responsibilities is ensuring that everyone “gets paid on time,” since paycheck information is directly related to Banner. With 25…
February 2023, Workshops
Technology Training for Staff and Faculty
The Help Desk and Tess Walsh, our Technology Training Specialist, is excited to invite staff and faculty to attend our upcoming online workshops. Check out our schedule below and look for more workshops in the future on our Tech Training webpage. Also if you have any requests for the summer or Fall schedule, please let us know! Microsoft Excel 101…
January 2023, Tips and Tricks
New Year, New Tech
With January almost over, your New Year’s goals might need an infusion of energy or inspiration. No matter what you’re hoping to accomplish in 2023, technology can help you stay on track, spark new ideas, and improve your daily routines. If you want to prioritize your well-being… Activate your free New York Times digital subscription (provided by the Goddard Library)…
January 2023, LMS
Canvas at Clark
With the first two weeks of the semester completed, ITS is excited at the adoption and enthusiasm of Clarkies for Canvas. After 24 months of planning, collaboration with departments across campus, and technical and support work, Clark’s Canvas is currently hosting 642 published courses, 3,975 users and an average of over 115,000 page views daily. Faculty and students have been…
Data Privacy and Security, January 2023
Anatomy of a Data Breach
Arguably no phrase has dominated the tech world over the last 24 months more than the term “data breach.” From breaches impacting critical infrastructure like the Colonial Pipeline, which provides most of the country’s fuel, to hackers compromising healthcare records of half a million people at UC San Diego Health, the headlines of last two years have been full of…
January 2023, Tips and Tricks
How to Annotate PDFs
Chances are that you’ve come across or even created a PDF file before. They’re common in online research databases, on websites, and even as homework assignments. A PDF (portable document format) is designed to preserve the format of the file, which makes it ideal for documents like resumes or presentations with images (other files, like Word documents, may change format…
Get to Know Us, January 2023
Get to Know Us: Mark Pemburn
This month, we’re meeting Mark Pemburn, Web Application Administrator. Mark joined the ITS team this past October to support the health and wellbeing of Clark’s website and special applications. He has extensive experience as a software developer for businesses of all sizes, including a one-man shop Mark ran himself, and he loves to solve problems that help people do their…
January 2023, Workshops
Technology Training for Staff and Faculty
The Help Desk and Tess Walsh, our Technology Training Specialist, is excited to invite staff and faculty to attend our upcoming online workshops. Check out our schedule below and look for more workshops in the future on our Tech Training webpage. Introduction to OneDrive Wondering about OneDrive? Join Tess online on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 11 AM to learn more…