There Is Now an Easier Way to Access BearDrive for Faculty and Staff!

There is now an easier way for faculty and staff to access their BearDrive. This convenient way is referred to as BearDrive Desktop. BearDrive Desktop is an application that allows you to access BearDrive from your desktop instead of having to log onto the website. This application makes accessing and saving documents easier. To install this application simply click here for instructions. After you have completed the installation, you will see an icon at the toolbar in the bottom right hand of your screen (Seen in the picture at the right). To then access BearDrive from the icon just right-click and choose “Connect”. Now you can save files like you would normally if you were saving them to your “My Documents” or “My Desktop”; however, instead when you go to “Save As” you will save them to the “BearDrive Home” in “My Computer”. After you have saved in BearDrive Desktop, it is automatically uploaded to your BearDrive, with no additional steps! Another convenient feature is that you can install this application on your work and home computers. This application is only supported by Windows machines at this point. For more information about BearDrive, please visit SupportU or the BearDrive FAQ page. For training on how to use BearDrive, please visit the Center for the Enhancement for Teaching and Learning (CETL). Have a great week!

Faculty Staff Account Activation Coming Soon!

A new tool will be available soon for new Faculty and Staff. This tool is known as the Faculty Staff Account Activation. It is a way for faculty and staff to establish their network password by using some of their own personal identifying information (e.g. SSN, DOB, and Bear number). Faculty Staff Account Activation will help expedite the setup and access to network resources for new faculty and staff without needing to call the Technical Support Center (351-HELP). To quickly and conveniently access the Faculty Staff Account Activation, new faculty and staff will simply need to click on the link on the URSA login page. It will be located under the “New Students Start Here” section on the left hand side of the page. Please comment on this blog and let us know if you found this tool useful.

UNC is Helping You Keep Your Identity Safe

In compliance with the Federal Trade Commission’s new regulation “Identity Theft Red Flags”, UNC, as a financial institution, will be implementing a “Red Flag” notification system in URSA. This rule requires financial institutions and creditors to develop and implement written “identity theft prevention programs”. The purpose of the URSA notification is to alert any UNC student or employee immediately after any of their personal information is changed; personal information such as; address, phone number, or bank account. This is to ensure that you are informed of any and all changes made to your personal information and to help protect your identity. This system is similar to what banks use to notify you if any information has changed from their database; they will send you a notification via email immediately following. The concept is the same, except the notification will come through your URSA home tab instead. This application will go live August 1^st.

Searching UNC’s Website Has Become More Efficient With the Installation of Google!

UNC's search engine has recently been dramatically improved with the installation of Google UNC Google Mini! Google Mini offers all the query power of Google, but exclusively for UNC's website. The search window (on the homepage) has not changed its appearance; the only change is in the efficacy of the search. This new and improved search engine will be implemented this week. Check it out, and happy hunting (not that you will need it!). Web authors - want to improve the search results for your pages? Check out the information on optimizing your pages for searches.

Cisco VOIP Phones to be Placed in All Residence Halls

There will be an upgrade to all the phones in the residence halls taking place this summer. After piloting the use of VOIP phones in several residence halls last academic year, the decision was made to install these phones in every residence. These phones are identical to the Cisco VOIP phones in the offices and departments around campus. One main feature that students gave positive feedback on was a calendar of events that is accessible from the display on the IP phone; they really appreciated this avenue of communication about events/activities around campus. Another feature these phones have is to be able to alert students of an emergency through the emergency alert system. If there is an emergency alert, there will be a message sent out and displayed on each phone. The emergency alert system is the same that is used for the emergency text alert (for more information on this feature, please visit the Spring newsletter http://www.unco.edu/it/ITNewsletters/Spring2009.pdf ). This summer IT is installing approximately 1,250 additional phones; one per suite. In addition to the physical installation of these phones, IT is performing a series of upgrades on the different components of the phone system this summer. Cisco’s latest version of VOIP not only provides the latest features of functionality but also simplifies the compatibility of the different components that make up a campus VOIP system.