Happy 2022 from ITS! We hope you enjoyed some time to rest and re-charge over the last few weeks in preparation for a great spring semester. We have been working with our campus partners to implement some enhancements, which you can read about below. As a reminder, you can contact the ITS Help Desk (help@syr.edu or 315.443.2677) for any technology-related questions and follow ITS on Instagram for tips and tricks.
This semester’s updates:
- Submitting COVID Documentation (Faculty and Staff)
- Multi-Factor Authentication: Number Verification
- Blackboard and Multi-Factor Authentication
- Remote Access
- Orange Bot
- Change to Cable TV Service on Campus
Submitting Your COVID Documentation
We recently provided guidance to faculty and staff on how to submit documentation verifying your vaccination status (specifically, how to take, upload and submit a photo of your COVID vaccination card) if you have yet to do so. You can learn more by visiting the “How to Email a Picture From a Smartphone” page on Answers.
Multi-Factor Authentication: Number Verification
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is currently enabled for all students accessing SUMail, Office365, MySlice, Blackboard and many other web-based applications. An upcoming change will enhance MFA’s ability to prevent the unauthorized use of NetIDs and passwords: Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 18, users responding to a push notification from the Microsoft Authenticator app will be presented with a number verification that they will need to type into the app to complete the approval process. You can learn more about this change on Answers.
Blackboard and Multi-Factor Authentication
As mentioned, Blackboard has been enhanced with Microsoft MFA. The function of MFA in Blackboard is similar to its behavior in other campus systems where it is enabled.
Remote Access
Effective Jan. 15, remote access via Syracuse University Remote Access (SURA) VPN configuration will no longer be available. You will still be able to use Remote Desktop Services to remotely access a University computer from any personal computing device. You can learn more about remote access on Answers. If you have questions related to this change, please contact the ITS Help Desk by calling 315.443.2677 or by emailing help@syr.edu.
Orange Bot
Orange Bot is a virtual assistant that can help answer your questions about University information technology. Orange Bot is available on the ITS website, with additional websites adding the feature soon. You can help Orange Bot provide better answers by asking it questions and then rating its responses. Try it out at its.syr.edu.
Change to Cable TV Service on Campus
Spectrum recently upgraded the campus cable service. As a result, on-campus residents should plan to run a channel scan on their wired cable TVs to restore service. Please note this change does not impact the SpectrumU streaming service.
Have a great semester!