It has been another challenging week in CIS as COVID-19 continues to disrupt our campus operations and our community.  We continue to struggle with vendors who are also overwhelmed and navigating their own remote work and supply chain obstacles.  There have been long hours, early mornings, and late nights for many. 

We're not there yet, but I remain confident in the amazing folks in CIS and ETM.  Over the last two weeks I've seen them pull together, collaborating and innovating in new ways despite being physically separated and often with the kids stuck at home.  We've even checked off a few internal milestones of the /wiki/spaces/DX/overview initiative, though not in the way we would have liked.  

Despite everything we've still found time for community.  Department meetings and one on ones continue by video chat.  The weekly CIS board game lunch is now run in a MS Teams channel using spreadsheets.  Seeing how we've already adapted gives me great confidence in the resilience of the SPU community.  We've got this!

CIS Helpdesk Support Online

The CIS Helpdesk is currently closed to walk-in support.  If you need assistance, please submit a ticket, call 206.281.2982 or email help@spu.edu.  All CIS staff remaining on campus are diligently working on remote teaching and work at home technology.  If you need to pick up a piece of equipment, please call in and schedule a time in advance.

Remote Access to Campus

We know the impact that this is having on your ability to work remotely.  This is CIS's top priority.  Staff continue to work with multiple vendors to deliver a new remote access technology up and running.  This has taken substantially longer than expected as our vendors and their tech support centers are also overwhelmed.  We also apologize for the network disruptions caused but the rapid testing and roll-out. Teams are working on three different vendor solutions concurrently and hope to deliver one of them by Monday.

Instructional Technology

ETM has be conducting and In-Service on remote teaching to help faculty transition to running courses remotely. Contact Educational Technology and Media with any online teaching and learning questions. CIS also partnering with ETM and the Library to research and implement remote instruction and proctoring services.

Academic Labs and Software

Work is being finalized on the remote labs infrastructure.  CIS teams are on track to deliver most key software applications remotely by the start of the term.

Adobe At-Home

Adobe is offering free use of Adobe products for all students, faculty, and staff through May 31.  We are working to confirm access will extend through the end of our spring quarter.  In the meantime, this is now available for installation.

Video Conferencing with Zoom Pro

Zoom Pro licensing has been increased to 800 seats to accommodate all faculty and staff.  Capacity can be expanded further if there is need.

Video Conferencing with MS Teams

Microsoft Teams performance has been improved and it works well for meetings of up to about 10 people.  We've also increased our licensing level allowing phone call in capabilities and other additional features. 

Microsoft Support Articles for Teaching / Meeting Remote

• Getting Started: Get started with Microsoft Teams for remote learning | Shifting to distance learning: A 5-day guide for school leaders  | Use Teams for schoolwork when bandwidth is low
• Educator/Student: Remote teaching and learning with Office 365 | Schedule a Parent-Teacher of Staff Conference Using Office 365 | Use Microsoft Translator to Host a Multilingual Parent-Teacher Conference 
• Training/Tips: Teams EDU Remote Learning Webinars | Microsoft Teams for EDU Quick Start Guide | Remote Learning Wakelet​ | MEC: Getting Started with Online Learning in Office 365 | Microsoft Teams for EDU Scenarios Hi-Ed | MEC: Professional Development OneStop | Remote Learning Webinar Series YouTube playlist | Quick tip videos for Microsoft Education features YouTube playlist

Laptops / Computers

The Technology Support Services team at the CIS HelpDesk have prepared a number of laptops and all-in-one computers if you need a work at home device. Please work with your supervisor to get access to a loaner device and schedule a time to pick it up. If you plan to use personal equipment from home, please review the Working from Home with Personal Devices post. 

Educause COVID-19 Resources

Educause is working to consolidate resources addressing the COVID-19's disruption to institutions of higher education. Educause is a nonprofit association and the largest community of technology, academic, 
industry, and campus leaders advancing higher education through the use of information technology.