Information Technology Services

Sign up to receive personalized alerts in your Gmail inbox for various topics of interest to you.

1. Make sure you are logged into your Allegheny College Gmail account.
2. Go to Google Alerts.
3. Fill in the search terms for the topic you wish to monitor, and other details in the Create Alert box.
   
4. Click on Show options.
5. Choose your preferred frequency, language, and other options.
   
6. Click on Create Alert.

Based on your choices, you will receive emails alerting you to new Google search results using the terms you entered in the search box.

You can run a number of alerts concurrently, and revisit your Google Alerts account to modify/add/remove alerts.

Learn more about Google Alerts.

Subscribe to get LITS News and Updates in your inbox.

When you’re working with others in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, you can assign tasks and action items to specific collaborators.

1. In a web browser, open a shared Google file.
2. Select the text, images, cells, or slides you want to comment on.
3. To add a comment, click the plus sign to Add comment.
   
4. Somewhere in your comment, add the email address of the person you want to assign it to, and add a plus sign (+) in front of it.
5. Click the box next to Assign to [name].
   
6. Click Assign. The person you assigned the action item to will receive  an email.
7. Once the action item has been resolved, then return to the document. In the top right corner of the comment, click Done.
   

You cal also see what tasks have been assigned to you:

1. Go to Drive and click the arrow next to Search to show the advanced search options.
2. At the bottom of the advanced search box, there is an dropdown menu for Follow up.
3. Select Action Items Only from the Follow up menu, and click Search.
   
4. You will see a list of all the documents where you’ve been assigned action items in one place.

Learn more about using comments and action items in Google Workspace.

Subscribe to get LITS News and Updates in your inbox.

In response to feedback from users, Google is adding improvements to the Google Meet interface. Some of these include:

• Seeing what you are presenting within Google Meet.
• More intuitive positioning for buttons and controls–for example, the Leave call button is moved away from the microphone and camera buttons to prevent accidental call hang-ups.
• When someone speaks, their tile is outlined in blue.

Learn more about all the new features!

Subscribe to get LITS News and Updates in your inbox.

Today’s tip comes from YouTube channel Tropical Tech. Here are ten easy ways to speed up your Android phone or tablet.

Google is adding a new “External” label to Gmail. You will begin to see the label added to email threads that include people outside Allegheny College. This adds to the existing external recipient warning banner, which is displayed when responding to emails sent from people not using Allegheny College email addresses.

The “External” label will be visible on Gmail on the web and Android devices. Google plans to add this feature to iOS devices in the future.

The “External” label and the reply warning banner and label are helpful reminders to treat external messages with caution. This can help prompt users to consider carefully before sharing confidential information with people outside the college.

Learn more about using labels in Gmail.


Subscribe to get LITS News and Updates in your inbox.

In 2021, Microsoft will end support for its legacy browser, Internet Explorer 11. If you still use Internet Explorer, it’s time to switch.

LITS recommends the use of Google Chrome for desktop computers. Chrome works well with Google Enterprise for Education, including Gmail, Google Calendar, Drive, Meet, and other apps widely used by Allegheny College. Chrome is already installed on all college-owned computers.

Other browser options to consider are Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox. Both are available free for Windows and Mac computers. Mac computers also come equipped with the Safari browser.

If you have questions, please reach out to the InfoDesk via email (infodesk@allegheny.edu) or by phone (814-332-3768).

Subscribe to get LITS News and Updates in your inbox.

Allegheny College students and employees on campus can print to a number of printers found around campus. LITS recommends sending print jobs to the Release Printer whenever possible.

Students on campus can print from their personal devices to Release Printers at various locations on campus during each building’s open hours by setting up Mobility Print–available for Windows, Mac OS, iOS, Android, or ChromeOS. (You must be on campus to install or use Mobility Print.)

Employee computers on campus already have Release Printers installed, and should not need Mobility Print.

When printing to a Release Printer, your print job will be held by the print server for 24 hours. If the print job is not released within 24 hours, the print job will be deleted. Deleted print jobs will not use a student’s Print Points.

Read more about Printing on Campus.

Subscribe to get LITS News and Updates in your inbox.

Today’s tip comes from InfoDesk Manager Kirsten Hauser. Here’s a brief video on how to create a private Google Meet from your Google Calendar.

Subscribe to get LITS News and Updates in your inbox.