Tech Tips: March 2025 Newsletter

This message was originally shared to all faculty and staff via email on March 5, 2025.

Tech Tips at a Glance

Pressed for time? Information Technology Services (ITS) has you covered. Here are this edition’s topics:

Research Computing Series

The Research Computing Series offers a great opportunity for faculty, staff and students to explore the latest resources and advancements in computational research. This spring, join us for two insightful sessions featuring expert speakers.

On April 2 at 1:30 p.m., HTCondor representative Christina Koch will discuss high-throughput computing and how researchers can leverage these powerful resources. Then, on April 16 at 1:30 p.m., Sadjad Arzash, a postdoctoral researcher wrapping up work with Lisa Manning’s group, will share insights from his research.

Join us to learn about cutting-edge computing tools and techniques that can support your work!

AI at Work (Video)

Recorded live on Thursday, Feb. 13, from the K.G. Tan Auditorium in the National Veterans Resource Center, the second installment in our AI at Work series featured use cases, guidelines for responsible use and tips for achieving better results. Video.

Blackboard Day (Video)

Faculty and staff participated in Blackboard AI Day on Friday, Jan. 31. The morning began with a panel about the use of artificial intelligence among faculty, followed by breakout sessions about Blackboard Ultra’s AI Assistant tool. Video.

Digital Accessibility Tip: Consider Spreadsheet Accessibility

Are you creating a spreadsheet using Microsoft Excel? Screen readers and other assistive technologies start reading the sheet from cell A1, which you can use to your advantage to benefit all users. If the sheet is long or complex, consider putting instructions or an overview of the sheet in cell A1. Office Hours.

Information Security Tip: Beware Phishing Scams

Watch out for an increase in phishing emails targeting the University community. These attacks often appear to come from trusted sources and aim to steal your credentials. Be cautious of unexpected emails with links, validate suspicious requests by phone and never share MFA codes sent via email or text. Phish Bowl.

Behind the Monitor

In this episode, we chat with Shannon Glennon, Technology Transformation Specialist at ITS, about her role in helping faculty and staff adopt new technologies. She shares insights on tools like Copilot and ChatGPT, common tech concerns on campus and the future of AI in higher education. Video.

MakerSpace History

Discover the history behind the ITS MakerSpace’s journey! In this edition, MakerSpace Manager John Mangicaro talks about the space’s time in Kimmel Hall before its relocation to Marshall Square Mall. Learn about its evolution, past innovations and what’s next for this creative hub. Video.

Gradescope

Grading midterms? Gradescope, integrated with Blackboard, streamlines grading, organizes work and provides insights with robust analytics—saving you time and effort. Contact gradescope@syr.edu for on-campus Gradescope general support and inquiries. Resources.

AI Insights Newsletter

AI Insights is ITS’s newsletter for AI trends, tips and resources. Stay informed with news from higher education and tech, a weekly AI tip and prompt and valuable tools to explore. Whether you’re looking to integrate AI into your work or just stay updated, AI Insights has you covered. Subscribe.

Automatic Email Forwarding Ends March 26

As part of the University’s ongoing efforts to maintain and secure our email services, the ability to automatically redirect emails from University accounts will end March 26. At that time, any redirect rules set up in a mailbox will be deleted and emails sent to an @syr.edu address will no longer be automatically forwarded to other email accounts. You can learn more about this change on Answers. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the ITS Helpdesk at help@syr.edu or 315.443.2677.

Helpful Resources

ITS and the campuswide information technology community are available year-round to help with your tech questions. Resources include: