IT Services COVID-19 Crisis Planning FAQ

The IT Solution Center has temporary laptops available for use. Please submit a work order via the Self-Service Portal or call the IT Solution Center at 231-591-4822 or toll free at 877-779-4822 and include any special software requirements you may have. Requests for temporary use laptops will be prioritized to faculty to assist with online instruction needs. Once a temporary laptop is made ready for you, you may pick it up from the IT Solution Center in the David L. Eisler Center. If the main doors of the David L. Eisler Center are locked, please call 231-591-4822 or toll free at 877-779-4822 and you will be directed on how to proceed with pickup.

Basic User Laptop:

• Windows 10
• Intel i5 processor
• 8GB RAM
• 256GB SSD
• Integrated graphics chip
• Integrated webcam and microphone
  
  

Advanced User Laptop:

• Windows 10
• Intel i7 processor
• 16GB RAM
• 256GB SSD
• Discrete graphics card with at least 2GB of dedicated VRAM
• Integrated webcam and microphone

The following software titles are provided with the base image installed on University temporary use laptops:

• Adobe Flash Player ActiveX
• Adobe Flash Player NPAPI
• Adobe Reader DC
• Alertus Desktop
• Java x64
• Java x86
• Microsoft .NET Framework
• Printer Logic Client
• Snagit
• VLC Media Player
• Xtender Captiva Cloud
• Bomgar Jump Client Faculty/Staff
• Mozilla Firefox
• Google Chrome
• LAPS x64
• Microsoft Office 365

At this time, ITS is allowing employees to take home their desktop computers as it becomes necessary. If you choose to do this, you must be able to disconnect your desktop and reconnect it at home on your own. If you are not comfortable performing these actions, please inquire with the IT Solution Center about a temporary laptop. You must contact the IT Solution Center @ 231-591-4822 so a ticket can be created. Please note that the IT Solution Center also has temporary laptops available for use. Requests for temporary use laptops will be prioritized to faculty to assist with online instruction needs. ***If you are in a HIPAA area (MCO, Health Professions, Pharmacy, Birkam, Human Resources) and want to take your desktop computer home, you must bring the desktop computer to the IT Solution Center in the UCB.

Please visit our Office 365 Help page for additional information and instructions.

Please visit our page for How to Access the External VPN. Both Windows and Mac OS instructions are provided.

Employees can access their shared (network) drives from home once they are connected the Ferris VPN.  If your network drive is not showing on your computer, please follow our instructions on How to Map a Network Drive. If you need assistance with the file path, please call the IT Solution Center at 231-591-4822 or toll free at 877-779-4822 and we can provide this information to you.

Please refer to the OneDrive Video Training provided by Microsoft.

Microsoft Teams can be downloaded from here.

Please refer to the End user training for Microsoft Teams provided by Microsoft.

Please submit a work order via the Self-Service Portal or call the IT Solution Center at 231-591-4822 or toll free at 877-779-4822 with your request.

Please submit a work order via the Self-Service Portal or call the IT Solution Center at 231-591-4822 or toll free at 877-779-4822 with your request. Please specify in your request if the Blue Jeans account will be for yourself, another user, or departmental use.

Please submit a work order via the Self-Service Portal or call the IT Solution Center at 231-591-4822 or toll free at 877-779-4822 to request a webcam.

Please visit our ID and Passphrase Help page to add an account verification method, reset/change your password, or unlock your account.

If you are struggling with anxiety or stress because of COVID-19, the Personal Counseling Center is available for students, and the University partners with Encompass, an Employee Assistance Program, to provide private and confidential counseling services for all faculty and staff. This service is provided at no expense to employees and we encourage everyone to seek out professional help if needed.

Please submit a work order via the Self-Service Portal or call the IT Solution Center at 231-591-4822 or toll free at 877-779-4822 to request a new department email account.

Yes, Open Broadcaster Software is an open source software for video recording and live streaming and works on Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms.

Please submit a work order via the Self-Service Portal or call the IT Solution Center at 231-591-4822 or toll free at 877-779-4822 to request a MiFi device.

FAQs for MiFi devices:

Q. How much data can I use?
A. 25GB is the limit.

Q. Will this hotspot work anywhere?
A. The hotspot will work anywhere you have a cellular signal in the United States.

Q. Can I take it out of the Country?
A. No, it will only work within the United States.

Q. Can I use streaming services like Netflix and Hulu?
A. Yes. However, you will go over your data limit.

Q. How many people can connect at one time?
A. The MiFi hotspots are designed to allow up to 15 people to connect at the same time.

Q. Can I use it for online gaming?
A. We do not recommend you use it for online gaming. You will go over your data limit.

Q. When do I get a new data allotment?
A. This will depend on your carrier. Verizon renews the 1st of each month. AT&T renews the 7th of each month.  25GB of data per month will allow you to:

• Send 7500 emails per month
• Visit 7500 webpages per month
• Use 2 hours per day of Teams Video calls

Click here to view tips on how to hold a secure meeting on Zoom.

See sanitization information on this page