Simmons Technology and the Academic Technology Committee are proud to announce the launch of a new academic technology resource site that will support teaching and learning at the College.

The site is designed to support instructors’ use of currently available technology; introduce faculty to new technologies; keep you informed of upcoming events for faculty; and facilitate online collaboration and discussion among faculty members.

You can access the site at acadtech.simmons.edu. We hope you’ll take the opportunity to explore the site and provide us with your feedback by using the contact forms on the site. We will be continuously expanding the site and adding new content. Our goal is to provide you with a dynamic and growing resource that is driven by your needs.

Even though National Cyber Security Awareness Month is just about over, that doesn’t mean it’s time to stop thinking about staying safe online.

In October, Simmons Technology identified multiple sophisticated phishing attempts to steal the personal information of College employees and students. The bad news is that this was a pretty typical month. The good news is that you can take simple steps to reduce your vulnerability to these types of attacks.

To start, always ensure that you are logging into a Simmons College website by looking for the green lock icon and the words “Simmons College [US]” in your browser’s address bar.

Most Simmons websites also use SharkPass two-step verification, which sends a push notification to your mobile device and asks you to confirm the login. If you receive a push notification but haven’t explicitly requested one from SharkPass, you should deny the login attempt.

As always, if you think your account might be compromised or that someone is trying to access your account, you can contact the Service Desk (617-521-2222) for help.

In addition to avoiding phishing attempts, you can take steps to keep your devices and data secure:

• Ensure that your computer is protected by antivirus software
• Keep your devices and apps up-to-date
• Use strong passwords and consider employing a password manager
• Never click on suspicious links or divulge personal information via email or on untrusted websites
• Stop and think before sharing content online, especially on social media

The Service Desk is available to answer your questions about cyber security and to provide you with additional resources to keep your personal information safe. Call us at 617-521-2222 or contact us online at servicedesk.simmons.edu.

Are you looking for a way to add interactive digital content to your courses? Simmons Technology now provides access to Adobe Connect for all College faculty.

Adobe Connect is an ideal solution for hosting remote guest lecturers, sharing video content with students, and engaging students with interactive tools.

Software licenses for Adobe Connect are limited and available by completing the request form. Please allow one business day after submitting your request to receive licensing information.

To learn more about Adobe Connect, visit the Service Desk website, where you’ll find a faculty guide with step-by-step instructions to request access and get started, along with a library of how-to instructions to help you leverage Adobe Connect’s features in your classroom.

Starting in November, you’ll see a new version of Google Calendar at Simmons. The transition to the new version will begin on November 28 and will take approximately eight weeks. During that time, you’ll be able to opt-in to the new calendar and switch back to the older version as needed.

All of the functionality you’re accustomed to will still be there, but the look and feel of your calendar will be updated along with new features, including at-a-glance event details, improved single-click event creation, and additional options for viewing and customizing your calendar.

If you have questions about this change, please contact the Service Desk (617-521-2222).

Another day, another data breach. That might be a slight exaggeration, but it’s not far off. Threats to personal and organizational information are constant, and while there is nothing you can do to be 100% safe from attacks, you can take some simple steps to be more secure.

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM), and we want to help you understand the threats to your computers, mobile devices, and data.

The following resources and tips can help you go a long way toward keeping your information safe:

• Simmons College Guide to Information Security
• Download and Install Antivirus Software
• General Tips and Advice from Stop. Think. Connect.
• Guide to Spam and Phishing
• Free Security Check-ups and Tools
• Last, but not least, don’t ignore those notifications to update your apps and operating system. Many updates include vital security enhancements.

We also want to thank the entire community for your help in making SharkPass two-step verification a success. Everyone at the College is now using SharkPass (more than 10,000 accounts!) and benefiting from this extra layer of security.

If you have any questions about staying safe online, keeping your devices and data secure, or working with sensitive information at Simmons, the Service Desk (617-521-2222) is always available to help.

In October, Simmons Technology—at the request of the Academic Technology Committee—will introduce a new web-based resource for teaching and learning at the College.

This academic technology support site will feature a wealth of tools for faculty, allowing you to share timely AT-specific event info and training opportunities, contribute to the campus discussion on academic technology, and much more, including:

• Guides to incorporating technology in your classes
• List of tools available at Simmons and how to use them
• In-person and online support information at Simmons and from our vendors
• Links to faculty-specific offerings and discounts
• Shareable calendar of educational and academic technology events
• Collaborative space to share tips and best practices with your colleagues

We’re working now to put the finishing touches on the site. We’ll be in contact with faculty soon to tell you more about what’s available and to get your feedback on what other topics you would like to see on the site.

If you have any questions in the interim, please contact Drew Mirque.

Earlier this month, credit reporting agency Equifax revealed that they experienced a security breach that exposed the personal information of 143 million people. From May through July of this year, cyber criminals accessed names, Social Security numbers, addresses, and other sensitive information.

If you have any kind of credit history, there’s a good chance that some information about you was included in this breach. Unlike a leak of credit or debit card information, there is no simple solution, like getting a new card. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to minimize the impact.

• Review the Federal Trade Commission’s guide to the breach. This page provides comprehensive information and gives step-by-step instructions for what you should do to protect your information.
• Check your credit reports. Federal law provides you with free annual access to your credit reports from the three credit reporting agencies. Visit annualcreditreport.comto access and download them. If you see activity on your reports that you don’t recognize (a line of credit opened in your name, for example), visit identitytheft.gov for guidance on what to do next.
• Consider putting a credit freeze or fraud alert on your file.
• Keep a close watch on your bank and credit card accounts for unusual activity.
• In addition, many banks offer free credit monitoring to their credit card customers. Contact your bank to find out if this is available and how it might benefit you.

This summer, the Simmons Technology team has been working to replace the entire wireless network infrastructure on the residence and academic campuses.

What does this mean for you? Once the project is complete, Simmons will have double the WiFi bandwidth and significantly improved coverage across campus. Areas on campus where the WiFi network was overburdened will be covered by new, more powerful access points, providing you with a strong and stable connection no matter where you are.

We’ll be continuing our work as the fall semester begins and we’ll provide an update once the network infrastructure replacement is complete.

If you need help connecting your devices to the network, or experience any issues with WiFi on either campus, please contact the Service Desk (617-521-2222) for support.

This summer, Simmons Technology partnered with Public Safety, Student Life, and the Registrar’s Office to help implement an important College-wide policy allowing students to use a first name other than their legal first name at Simmons.

As a result, all Simmons students can now update their first name and have it reflected in AARC, on class rosters, as part of their Simmons e-mail addresses, and on Simmons ID cards. We are working to make this option available in additional College systems and to streamline the process.

For more information about how to update your first name and to learn about how this differs from a legal name change, visit the Registrar’s page on Name and Address Changes.

If you have any questions, please contact the Registrar at 617-521-2111 or [email protected].

As students head back to campus and faculty and staff prepare for the fall semester, Simmons Technology wants to ensure that you have the resources you need for the first day of classes.

Get Answers to Your Tech Questions

Online
The Service Desk website is always available and features answers to common questions and links to popular services. You can also submit support requests directly through the site.

Over the Phone
The Service Desk provides phone support Monday–Friday from 7:30am–5:30pm, with additional classroom/event support hours from 5:30–9:00pm on weekdays and 8:00am-3:00pm on Saturdays. Call 617-521-2222 to speak with one of our technicians.

In Person
The Technology Support Center is located on the 3rd floor of Lefavour Hall in L331 and is open for walk-ins Monday–Friday from 8:00am–6:00pm.

Get Started with Technology at Simmons

If you’re new to Simmons, get started quickly with our tech overviews:

• For Students
• For Faculty & Staff

Learn more about our Popular Services, including:

• AARC
• Campus Print
• Simmons Moodle
• Technology Discounts
• Online training at Lynda.com

Get up to speed on Information Security and two-step verification, then download antivirus protection for your personal computer.