Last January we reported the completion of Simmons Technology’s work to upgrade the WiFi network infrastructure on both the academic and residence campuses. We are pleased to announce that based on continued feedback, we have made additional improvements to WIFI on the residence campus over the summer.

For the best connection to the upgraded wireless network, we recommend connecting your computers and mobile devices to the Simmons Secure network. For devices such as gaming consoles, you may also need to choose the Simmons network to get online.  If you need help connecting your devices to the network or experience any issues with WiFi on either campus, please contact the Service Desk for assistance.  It is important that you contact us, so we can address any issues.

Simmons Technology will be administering several Information Security initiatives over the coming academic year.  The University’s Information Security Policy has been thoroughly revised to include updated language factoring in the numerous ways people engage with, and store data, on their mobile devices, computers and in the cloud.  The new policy will be distributed in October in conjunction with the mandatory password update process. We will also be distributing the new Information Security Policy as part of our Information Security Awareness program.  Stay tuned for our traveling roadshow where we will be visiting administrative offices with our “What Data Goes Where” question and answer sessions.

Did you know?

• Information Security Awareness Training compliance is a requirement according to Massachusetts General Law (Chapter 93H – 201 CMR 17.00)
• In 2017, the average cost of a data breach was $3.62 million ($7 million in the U.S.)
• Information Security is everyone’s responsibility!

Simmons Technology appreciates your cooperation in our effort to improve the overall security of University data. To read more about information security and the handling of sensitive information visit our Information Security page:

Infosec.simmons.edu

Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions or feedback.

The Police and Public Safety Department, with the assistance of Buildings and Ground, installed Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in each of the Academic Buildings over the summer. These AEDs are small electronic devices that can provide lifesaving assistance for a victim in cardiac arrest.

You will see them on the main floors of all the Academic Buildings in white wall mounted cabinets.  For more detailed information about AEDs at Simmons please reference this guide.

In the event of a medical emergency be sure to call 911 and the Police and Public Safety Department’s emergency line at 617-521-1111. If you have any non-emergency questions, please contact the Police and Public Safety at [email protected].

Google has released new, improved features to Gmail and they are now available to the Simmons community.
New features include:

• Click on attachments—like photos—without opening or scrolling through large conversations.
• Use the new snooze button to postpone emails to a convenient future date or time.
• Easily access other apps you use often, like Google Calendar, Tasks (now available on Android and iOS) and Keep.
• Gmail will also “nudge” you to follow up and respond to messages with quick reminders that appear next to your email messages to help ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
• Smart Reply via suggested replies to Gmail on the web to help you reply to messages faster.
• On mobile, high-priority notifications can notify you of important messages to help you stay focused without interruption. Gmail will also start suggesting when to unsubscribe from newsletters or offers you no longer care about.

Click here for a handy sheet (PDF) about these features.

Getting started:
Go to Settings (the cog wheel in the top right corner of your inbox) and select “Try the new Gmail.” If you’d like to switch back later down the road, you can go to the same place and select “Go back to classic Gmail.”

Please contact the Service Desk at 617-521-2222 for more information.

Over the past two months Simmons Technology has been working closely with our print vendor, Toshiba, to conduct an in-depth assessment of our printing needs to identify opportunities for improving this service.

As a result of this assessment, Simmons Technology will soon be rolling out new Multi-Function Devices (MFD) on both campuses for faculty, staff and student printing. The new printers will have a different look and more importantly, these devices include new features such as integration with Google Drive. Initially, we will work with key department contacts to install the new equipment. We plan to follow up with  ‘how to’ emails and offer training for the enhanced features.

Please contact Roy Balcom, [email protected] if you have any questions about the roll-out schedule.

Over the past few months, Simmons Technology fully updated the media technology in the Kotzen Meeting Room. The system now includes the following built-in features:

• Easy to use touch screen controller
• Remote control camera for web conferencing
• Audio conferencing
• Video streaming and recording
• Panasonic laser projector

Visit the Service Desk website to learn more about Kotzen’s new features, or call us (617-521-2222) to set up an appointment for in-room training.

Simmons Technology has partnered with the Career Education Center to select a new career software platform for the College. We are excited to announce that Handshake, the new online career platform for the Simmons community, went live for all students on January 29. Handshake replaces CareerLink, which had been in place since 2003.

Handshake’s features include an expanded job board with listings from thousands of top local and national employers, personalized job recommendations based on a student’s major, interests, and lifestyle preferences, the ability to follow favorite employers and jobs and have notifications sent to you, mobile optimization with an app for Apple iOS (Android app coming soon), and much more.

Students can log in to Handshake at simmons.joinhandshake.com to customize their profile and start connecting with employers. Faculty and staff interested in having a Handshake account should contact the CEC at [email protected] or 617-521-2488.

Over the summer and throughout the fall semester, Simmons Technology worked to replace the aging WiFi network infrastructure on both the academic and residence campuses. We are pleased to announce that our work is now complete and that Simmons College has an entirely new and improved WiFi network. This significant upgrade provides double the previous bandwidth and improves coverage in all areas on campus, giving you a strong connection no matter where you are.

For the best connection to the upgraded wireless network, we recommend connecting your computers and mobile devices to the Simmons Secure network. For devices such as gaming consoles, you’ll need to choose the Simmons network in order to get online.

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