All posts by Randolph Pfaff

Discounts and More from NERCOMP

TechNews, ,

nercomp_logoManaging technology resources for an entire campus means constantly balancing the need to provide tools and equipment you require with the realities of budget constraints. As a result, many of our services and partnerships are focused on extracting the greatest value possible from the investments we’ve made.

Foremost among these efforts is our partnership with the NorthEast Regional Computing Program (NERCOMP). This arrangement allows Simmons to take advantage of significant discounts on Microsoft products that run on our servers and on-campus computers. These across-the-board discounts lower our infrastructure costs and free up budgetary resources for other projects and services.

In addition, NERCOMP provides frequent technology workshops and seminars in New England. You can sign up as an individual member through our institutional account and access these resources at a significant discount. To sign up, click here. Once you’re there, click “Join with your school” and complete the registration form. You’ll receive a confirmation email from NERCOMP with a user name and temporary password. After that, you can browse upcoming events and sign up at the discounted rate!

 

Improving the Service Desk Website

TechNews, ,

While many on-campus activities slow down after the Spring semester, this tends to be a busy time for the Technology team. We spend the summer months working on projects so they will be up and running by the beginning of Fall semester.

This summer, we’ll be overhauling the Service Desk website, making the most important information easier to find. In addition, we’ll improve the integration between the website, our knowledge base, and the ticket management system we use to track your requests. In the end, these changes will improve your ability to get the information you need and further streamline our process for handling requests.

Keep an eye out for more information as this project moves forward.

 

Online Training Now Available via lynda.com

TechNews, ,

Simmons Technology is pleased to announce our partnership with lynda.com, a provider of online training tools. This investment provides Simmons students, faculty, and staff with 24/7 online access to 1,400 training modules on more than 150 topics, including web design, Microsoft Office, photography, mobile app creation, social media, and much more.

The tutorials include in-depth training and practice exercises that can help you gain new skills or improve existing knowledge. Students and staff can use lynda.com to gain job-related skills and faculty can use it as a resource to supplement or even replace textbooks and online materials.

To get started, visit lynda.com and click log in, then enter simmons.edu on the right side of the login screen. You’ll be directed to a Simmons login page and returned to lynda.com after entering your Simmons username and password. Now you’re ready to learn!

To find out more about lynda.com, please visit servicedesk.simmons.edu. If you need assistance, call the Service Desk at 617-521-2222.