Remote Work Resources
ITS provides online teaching and remote work guidance for the following:
- Online Collaboration Tools: Microsoft Teams, Zoom, OneDrive, Outlook Email, and Calendar
- VPN: Use VPN for specific CCU applications when working remotely. If a VPN is required for you to perform your job functions, you must request VPN access and set it up before you begin remote work.
- Internet Connection: Tips to ensure internet quality and connectivity.
- Telephone: Tips for making and receiving phone calls from campus.
- Security: CCU security tips, including beware of phishing. Always verify before you trust.
Online Collaboration Tools
When operating in an alternative environment, (e.g., online instruction or working remotely), the following tools may assist you.
Microsoft Teams
Teams is the primary campus tool for real-time chat collaboration. You can share your screen and host meetings with Teams.
- How to test and prepare: Visit the Microsoft 365 portal, log in, and choose the icon for Teams.
- Download Teams: In the bottom left corner, click the icon to download the installer. Install Teams on your computer or device.
- When ready, test chatting or meeting with colleagues to ensure you are comfortable with the program. Visit Microsoft Teams and Teaching and Working Remotely using Microsoft Teams
for support information.
Zoom
Zoom is a collaborative web-conferencing tool that is easily adaptable for online learning and working environments.
- How to test and prepare: Visit https://ccuchants.zoom.us and choose to sign in using your CCU email account. Links to the Zoom Learning Center and other helpful tools are located on the bottom left.
- Download Zoom: In the bottom toolbar, click the Download link for Zoom. Follow the steps to install Zoom on your computer or device.
- When ready, test scheduling and holding a meeting with colleagues to ensure you are comfortable with the program. Visit Zoom's support links for help and/or access CCU's Zoom resource site.
Note: The quality of the virtual collaboration using technology (such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom) depends on the quality of internet bandwidth you are using and are connected to, as well as the type of connection being used (e.g., wireless versus wired connection) at the alternative work location. Wired is always the preferred option to help ensure a stable connection.
Email, Calendar, and OneDrive File Storage and Sharing
Microsoft 365 is hosted in the cloud, meaning you can access your Outlook email, calendar, and OneDrive documents from anywhere. If you need files that are stored on the hard drive of your work computer (e.g., My Documents folder), you may choose to copy or move those files needed to a cloud storage, such as your Microsoft OneDrive, to ensure the files you need remain accessible.
- How to test and prepare: Office 365 requires MFA, so be sure to test logging in from home to make sure you are prepared to use MFA to log in to your CCU account.
To learn more about how to use Microsoft 365 applications, visit the tools and assistance resource site for training guides and tutorials.
VPN
Access Applications Off-campus with Virtual Private Network (VPN)
CCU's Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows a user to securely connect to the University's network resources. VPN gives you access to specific network resources from a different location, for instance, from off-campus or a wireless network. VPN access protects user data while giving similar access as if on campus. VPN is required to access the following from off-campus or on wireless: Ellucian Colleague, Informer, network storage on T and U drives, Perceptive Content, and Terminalfour (T4).
If you need VPN access in order to conduct job functions from an off-campus work environment, please complete the VPN request form.
Tips for Internet Connectivity
The quality of the virtual collaboration using technology (such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom) depends on the quality of internet bandwidth you are using and are connected to, as well as the type of connection being used (e.g., wireless versus wired connection) at the alternative work location.
If available, use an ethernet/wired connection instead of a wireless connection to help ensure consistency in internet connectivity.
Your mobile data plan may allow you to use your cellular or mobile device as a hotspot to connect to CCU services. Charges may apply depending on your mobile data plan agreement.
Telephone Options
Forwarding Calls - Set up from off-campus
If you are off campus and would like to forward your campus extension to an off-campus or mobile number, submit an ITS online service request; select the Telephone Services category and provide your campus extension and the telephone number for forwarding.
Forwarding Calls - Set up from on-campus
To forward on-campus calls to an off-campus number, please follow these steps to enable Call Forward from your office telephone.
- When the phone is idle, tap the blue Menu button on the main screen > Features > Call Forward. Select your number.
- Select the desired forward type:
• Always Forward: Incoming calls are forwarded unconditionally.
• Forward: Incoming calls are forwarded when the phone is busy.
• No Answer Forward: Incoming calls are forwarded if not answered after a period of time. - Enter the forward number. For No Answer Forward, tap the pull-down list of After Ring Time, and then tap the desired ring time to wait before forwarding.
- Tap the Save soft key to accept the change.
Security Tips
Information security is a high priority at CCU.
Access our Information Security website for email encryption instructions, policies, information security tips, and guidance for CCU security. Additionally, ITS has specifically created this checklist for remote work:
- Remote work personnel must use a CCU-owned device when working remotely.
- Keep your devices locked when they are not in use.
- Keep work devices and personal devices separate.
- Check to ensure your Wi-Fi is secure.
- Printing from home is not recommended.
- Keep confidential files and information secure from unauthorized access.
- Perform software & operating system updates that are required by CCU ITS.
- Be vigilant and aware of possible phishing attempts/cyber threats. Please be wary of suspicious emails, links, or attachments from senders you do not recognize.
For additional tips, links to security policies, and reminders, visit ITS's Tips for Information Security page.