Doug Anderson

Tip Tuesday: Changing Your Password

By April 13th 2021

In March 2021, LITS updated the password change process for your Allegheny College network account.

As before, you are able to change your password using your known current password.

LITS added the option of receiving a password reset text or email when your password is not working. To enable this option, add a current mobile phone number or alternate email to your profile in Self Service.

Allegheny accounts provide Allegheny College students and employees with access to wifi, Gmail, and many other college-wide services.

Please reach out to the InfoDesk at 814-332-3768 or email infodesk@allegheny.edu with any questions.

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Tip Tuesday: Accessibility in Google Workspace

By April 6th 2021

Google offers a number of accessibility features in its products and online services, including Gmail, Google Chrome, Chromebooks, Meet, Google Calendar, and more. See the Google Workspace user guide to accessibility to learn about using keyboard shortcuts, screen readers, using braille displays, and other accessibility tools you have access to via your Allegheny College Google account. You can even provide the Google Accessibility team with feedback.

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Tip Tuesday: Using Labels in Google Keep

By March 30th 2021

Labels can help keep your Google Keep notes organized. Here’s a quick introduction.

  1. In your browser, navigate to Google Keep.
  2. Open a note. Click on the three dots for the “More” menu.
    Sample note from Google Keep with the "More" menu open
  3. Choose Add label.
    Screenshot of the "Label note" menu from a Google Keep note
  4. You can search for an already existing label or scroll through the list, and then click on the label you want to apply. You can also type in a new label name and choose Create to apply the new label.
    Screenshot of the "Create" label menu in a Google Keep note
  5. Labels you use will show up on the lefthand side of the Google Keep window in a desktop browser. Clicking on the label will show all of your Keep notes containing that label.
    screenshot of the label side menu in Google Keep
  6. While editing a note, you can mouse over the label showing at the bottom of the note to have the option to remove the label.
    Screenshot of the "Remove label" option in Google Keep
  7. To edit a label name, scroll to the bottom of the list of labels in Google Keep and choose Edit labels.Screenshot of the "Edit labels" option in Google Keep

Learn more about labels and other ways to organize Google Keep notes.

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Canvas Outage 2021-03-25

By March 25th 2021

UPDATE

Instructure reports that the issue causing the Canvas outage has been resolved. If you are still experiencing issues with Canvas, please first clear your browser history or restart your Canvas mobile app. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, please contact the InfoDesk at infodesk@allegheny.edu or call 814-332-3768.

Users nationwide are experiencing issues with accessing Canvas. LITS is aware, and Instructure has been notified of the issue. We will provide updates here as they become available.

Many thanks to those in our Allegheny community who have alerted us to the issue.

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Tip Tuesday: Mute All Participants in Google Meet

By March 23rd 2021

If you are the meeting host in Google Meet, you now have the option to mute all participants at once.

The meeting host is the only user in a meeting who can use the “mute all” feature. Once all participants are muted, the meeting host cannot unmute them. However, users will be able to unmute themselves as needed.

Note that at present, this feature is only available when using Meet from a browser on your computer. If the host is using the mobile Meet app, this feature will be added in the coming months.

A screenshot of a Google Meet showing all participants as muted.
A screenshot of a Google Meet showing all participants as muted.

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Tip Tuesday: Leave Internet Explorer 11 Behind

By March 16th 2021

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).

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Tip Tuesday: Print to “Release Printers”

By March 9th 2021

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.

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Canvas Outage

By March 3rd 2021

At about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, LITS was alerted of a Canvas outage affecting multiple institutions, including Allegheny College. We are investigating and will provide more information as it becomes available.

UPDATE:

As of 5:07 p.m., Instructure reported:

A fix has been implemented and we are monitoring the results.

Please contact the InfoDesk at 814-332-3768 or by email at infodesk@allegheny.edu if you continue to experience issues.

Tip Tuesday: Managing Voicemail for Forwarded Calls

By March 2nd 2021

Last week we posted instructions for forwarding your calls to another extension or phone number.

If the forwarded call goes unanswered, it will roll back to the voicemail of the original extension.

Those who choose to have their calls forwarded can change their outgoing voicemail greeting to indicate that they are out. LITS strongly recommends this solution. The voicemail greeting can include a suggested alternative number for those callers needing an immediate response.

An additional measure could be to provide the voicemail PIN to someone else in the department, so that someone can check the voicemail inbox. This can be done remotely, or at the phone whose voicemail you are checking. When you return to the office, remember to change the PIN.

LITS has other tips for managing phones during vacations and furlough.

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