Tech Tips: November 2025 Staff/Faculty Newsletter

This message was originally shared to all faculty and staff via email on November 6, 2025.

At a Glance

Each month, Information Technology Services provides tech tips for the Orange community. Pressed for time? Here are this edition’s topics:

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Orange Online: November 2025 Student Newsletters

This message was originally shared to all students via email on November 6, 2025.

Orange Online at a Glance

Each month, Information Technology Services provides tech tips for the Orange community. Pressed for time? Here are this edition’s topics:

AI at Work: Claude on Campus 

Discover how Claude Enterprise can elevate your work and learning during the next AI at Work session, Claude on Campus, on Nov. 12 from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. in 500 Hall of Languages and on Microsoft Teams. Learn how to request access, craft prompts and explore projects and integrations with Microsoft 365.  Sign Up. 

    Research Computing Series

    Explore cutting-edge campus research and computing resources in the Fall 2025 Research Computing Series on Microsoft Teams, featuring Bryan S. Kim discussing data storage in the Age of Big Data and Daniele Profeta sharing how digital tools and craftsmanship intersect in contemporary architectural design. Register

    Claude Enterprise

    If you haven’t tried Claude Enterprise yet, now’s the perfect time to see what you’ve been missing. All Syracuse University students, faculty and staff get free access to this powerful AI assistant from Anthropic—built to help you think, write and work smarter. You can now connect Claude directly to your Microsoft 365 account, letting it securely work with your emails, calendar, OneDrive files and more—all in one place. Whether you’re organizing projects, breaking down research papers, or summarizing email threads, Claude makes it easier to stay productive and creative. Try Dark Mode for late-night study sessions or grab the desktop app for quick access anytime.

    • Request access  Check out the FAQ  Watch a quick demo

    Digital Accessibility Tip: Sign Speak

    Sign-Speak brings AI-powered, real-time interpretation between ASL and spoken or written English to Syracuse University as part of a limited pilot. Deaf, Hard of Hearing and hearing individuals can now connect effortlessly in class, study groups and everyday campus life. All you need is a device with a camera. Simply open Sign-Speak; choose to sign, speak or type; and you’re ready to engage! Try Sign-Speak

    Information Security Tip: Use AI Safely 

    AI is becoming part of daily life at Syracuse University—helping faculty, staff and students work, learn and create in new ways. To stay secure, use University-approved AI tools, avoid sharing personal or confidential information and watch for AI-powered scams that look more convincing than ever. With mindful use, we can embrace AI’s benefits while keeping our community safe. Learn More.

    AI Insights

    Explore the latest in artificial intelligence with AI Insights, the newsletter for all things AI. Whether you’re looking to enhance your work with smart tools or simply stay informed, each issue brings you news from higher ed and the tech world and weekly AI tips. Newsletter

    Tech Tips Weekly

    Stay connected and ahead with Tech Tips Weekly—for quick, practical advice to make the most of campus technology. Each week, our new newsletter delivers easy-to-follow how-tos, timely service updates and insider looks at the newest features, tools and resources. Subscribe

    Helpful Resources

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

    Thank you for reading. Go Orange!

    Holiday Email Cleanup: A Smart Defense Against Phishing

    The holiday season brings a surge of legitimate emails, sales promotions, charitable appeals, and year-end newsletters, making your inbox busier than any other time of year. It is actually the busiest time of year for email. This flood of messages creates the perfect camouflage for phishing attacks, as malicious emails can easily hide among dozens of daily promotions.

    Now is an ideal time to declutter your inbox and strengthen your defenses. Start by unsubscribing from marketing lists you no longer find valuable and blocking senders that repeatedly clutter your inbox.

    A leaner inbox makes suspicious emails stand out. When you’re not drowning in promotional messages, it’s much easier to notice the telltale signs of phishing: unexpected sender addresses, urgent language demanding immediate action, suspicious links, or requests for sensitive information. You’ll spot the fake “package delivery” notice or fraudulent charity appeal much faster when it’s not buried under thirty legitimate sales emails.

    Think of this as preventive maintenance for your digital security. By reducing inbox noise during the busiest email season of the year, you’re giving yourself the mental clarity to identify threats. A few minutes spent cleaning up subscriptions today can save you from falling victim to a sophisticated phishing attack tomorrow.

    Your attention is a valuable security tool, don’t let inbox clutter dull it.

     

    How to Use Claude to Create and Manage a Project: Step-by-Step Guide for New Users

    Getting started with Claude just became a whole lot easier. This step-by-step guide walks you through everything you need to know to create, manage and share projects in Claude Enterprise—from signing in for the first time to building reusable workflows that simplify your daily tasks. Whether you’re a new user or looking to fine-tune your setup, this guide will help you make the most of Claude’s powerful tools and integrations at Syracuse University.

    1. Sign Up for Claude
      • Go to getclaude.syr.edu and request access to Claude using your university credentials. Accept the licensing agreement and wait for instant activation.
    2. Access Claude Enterprise
      • Log in at claude.ai. Confirm you see “Syracuse University” at the top to ensure you are in the secure enterprise environment.
    3. Check Settings
      • Click the settings icon (bottom left). Enable features like Artifacts (for reusable outputs), Code Execution, and File Creation. These allow Claude to process files and automate tasks.
    4. Set Up Connectors
      • In Settings, connect Microsoft 365 to allow Claude to access Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint data. Authenticate and configure permissions as needed.
    5. Create a New Project
      • Click “Projects” in Claude’s interface.
      • Select “Create Project.”
      • Enter a name for your project. Leave the description blank initially; you can ask Claude to generate one later.
    6. Set Project Privacy
      • Choose “Private” to keep the project visible only to you, or select “Share with Syracuse University” if you want all users to access it. You can also share with specific individuals by entering their email addresses.
    7. Add Instructions/Prompts
      • Write clear instructions describing the project’s purpose and workflow. You can use Claude or the AI Prompt Creator project to help draft advanced prompts.
    8. Upload Files
      • Attach relevant files (e.g., policy documents, transcripts) to the project for Claude to analyze and use.
    9. Manage and Reuse Projects
      • Projects are reusable workspaces. You can update instructions, upload new files, and iterate on outputs. For recurring tasks (e.g., lecture prep, meeting minutes), simply update the data and rerun the workflow.
    10. Share Projects
      • Use the share button in the project to invite others by email or make the project available to all university users. Shared projects appear under “Team” or “Shared with you” tabs.
    11. Access and Use Shared Projects
      • Find shared projects in the “Projects” section. You can view, copy, or use them as templates for your own work.
    12. Update Data
      • If your source files change, delete the old file and upload the new one, or link to a cloud location for dynamic updates.
    13. Iterate and Refine
      • Use Claude to review outputs, make corrections, and refine instructions as needed. You can ask Claude to regenerate summaries, emails, or reports based on new data or feedback.

    Tips:

    • Always start with your desired outcome and let Claude guide you through the process.
    • Use advanced prompts for complex workflows and leverage shared projects for best practices.
    • For accessibility or technical issues, contact ITS or refer to the help resources provided.

    From the ITS Enterprise Data and AI team

    AI Insights for October 30, 2025

    This message was originally shared to subscribers October 30, 2025.

    AI at Work

    The next AI at Work session will explore the possibilities of Claude Enterprise for faculty, staff and students at Syracuse University. Attendees will learn how to request access, get started with preliminary prompts and take a deeper dive into using Claude for projects, artifacts and integrating it with Microsoft 365 files. The session will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 12, from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. in 500 Hall of Languages and on Microsoft Teams. Light refreshments will be provided and participants are encouraged to register.

    In This Issue

    AI’s ascent is accelerating: Nvidia just crested a historic $5 trillion valuation, underscoring what now feels like a full-blown boom. Meanwhile, white-collar roles are already being re-shaped—some replaced, others re-imagined—as firms survey AI adoption and serious workforce disruption looms. For higher-ed communicators, that means new questions, new tools and new student-centered implications.

    News and Views

    Access to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post is available to all students, faculty and staff with a valid Syracuse University NetID. Learn more.

    Education

    Industry, Investment and Technology

    Policy, Ethics and Safety

    • A Small Number of Samples Can Poison LLMs of Any Size (Anthropic)
    • Strengthening ChatGPT’s Responses in Sensitive Conversations (OpenAI)
    • Technological Optimism and Appropriate Fear (Jack Clark)
    • AI Chatbots at the Crossroads: Navigating New Laws and Compliance Risks (Cooley)
    • European Data Protection Supervisor Unveils Revised Guidance on Generative AI (EDPS)
    • AI Sovereignty and Global Tensions Over Drone Technology (The New York Times)

    Society and Daily Life

    • How People Around the World View AI (Pew Research Center)
    • Why 30 Million US Consumers No Longer Search (PYMNTS)
    • Afraid to Try AI? These Tech-Savvy Seniors Will Change Your Mind (The Wall Street Journal)
    • Using Drones, AI and Ducks to Guide the Future of Wildlife Conservation (PHYS ORG)

    Workforce and Business Impact

      This Issue’s Tip: Connect Claude to M365

      Already using Claude? Here’s a game-changer: you can now connect it directly to your Microsoft 365 account. That means Claude can work with your emails, calendar, OneDrive files and more—all in one place.

      Whether you’re summarizing email threads, pulling info from stored documents or organizing your schedule, connecting Claude to M365 makes your workflow even smoother.

      👉 Watch the how-to video
      👉 New to Claude? Request access

      This Issue’s Prompt: A Halloween Twist on AI Creativity

      A prompt is how you ask generative AI tools to do something for you (e.g., creating, summarizing, editing or transforming). Treat it like a conversation, using clear language and enough context to get the result you have in mind.

      To get more practice, use the generative AI tool of your choice (for example, Microsoft Copilot, OpenAI ChatGPT or Anthropic Claude) to execute the following prompt:

      “Write a lighthearted, Halloween-themed story set on a college campus where technology and magic accidentally mix. Include a friendly AI character who helps students solve a spooky mystery involving missing pumpkins, mysterious Wi-Fi glitches and an unexpected twist at the end.

      Helpful Resources

      Thank you for reading. Go Orange!