Tech Tips: August 2026 Faculty/Staff Newsletter

This message was originally shared to all faculty and staff via email on August 6, 2026.

At a Glance

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

Claude Cowork and Claude Code Now Available

Claude Enterprise users can now access two new tools: Claude Code, for delegating programming tasks from the command line or desktop/mobile app, and Claude Cowork, for handing off multi-step work like research and document prep. You can learn more at getclaude.syr.edu.

For more information about the extensive suite of resources available to the campus community, visit ai.syracuse.edu.

    ITS Summer Series

    We’re wrapping up a summer of learning with one final session: a Research Computing deep dive over Microsoft Teams. Join Peter Pizzimenti on Aug. 20 from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Missed our previous sessions? You can catch up with the recordings. Watch our Digital Accessibility 101 session or our Claude Refresher session. Register.

      Gradescope Webinars

      As AI reshapes student work, more instructors are returning to handwritten assessments—and slow, manual grading. Join a faculty panelist and a Gradescope specialist to learn how to protect academic integrity without doubling your grading time. Even if you can’t attend, a recording goes to everyone who registers. Webinars.

      Information Security Tip: Device Readiness

      Get your devices semester-ready. Before the fall rush, take a few minutes to install pending updates on your computer and phone, confirm disk encryption is turned on and restart to let patches finish applying. Up-to-date, encrypted devices are your first line of defense once campus traffic picks back up. Stay Secure.

      Digital Accessibility Tip: Sign-Speak

      Sign-Speak is here to stay. After a successful pilot last fall, the free service is now a permanent campus resource—interpreting between American Sign Language and spoken or written English in real time, using just a camera. On-demand, campus-wide support, anytime. Sign-Speak.

      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. 

      Classroom Technology

      The ITS Learning Environments team provides orientation sessions to help faculty become familiar with classroom technology. You also can schedule a tour or workshop at the MakerSpace over the summer. Classroom Tech.

      Helpful Resources

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

      • Academic and administrative IT staff

      • Classroom Resource Guide

      • ITS Service Center

      • Self-Serv NetID and password management portal

      Thank you for reading. Go Orange!