Category: Elevate the Stakeholder Experience

Mandatory 10-Digit Dialing for 352 Area Code

Posted on

Beginning October 24, local calls for the 352 area code placed from some phones will require 10 digit calling (area code + phone number). This change is due to the implementation of 988 as a nationwide number to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which goes live on July 16, 2022. This new dialing procedure affects calls made from AT&T landlines within the UF Gainesville campus, but does not affect UF VoIP Cisco telephones. University employees can also continue to use five-digit dialing (i.e., the last number of the prefix plus the last four digits of the number) for calls made within the UF system.

Have questions about how this change impacts your work (and home) phone lines? Check the FAQ page. This new page includes what to expect when sending or receiving faxes in your department, as well as how to identify which phone your department is currently using.

UFIT provides telecommunications services for the University of Florida. Anyone with questions about their campus phone service may contact the UF Computing Help Desk by calling 352-392-HELP/4357, visiting 132 HUB, or submitting a service ticket to https://my.it.ufl.edu/.

Earn AI Micro-Credential Through UF

Posted on

Enabling the workforce of tomorrow with artificial intelligence skills is one of the tenets of the University of Florida’s AI Initiative. To support organizations successfully managing the AI transformation in the workplace, UF is now offering the opportunity to earn a micro-credential in AI.

Offered through the Office of Professional and Workforce Development (OPWD), all courses in the program are online. Earning the AI micro-credential provides alumni, community members, and faculty and staff a way to develop their foundation in machine learning and its impacts across a range of careers and disciplines. Designed for working professionals, the program is an affordable way to learn the lexicon of artificial intelligence, its current uses, and understand the near-limitless possibilities of the AI-supported environment–all within UF standards of course delivery and content.

The micro-credential is earned after completing two required courses and a self-selected focus area course. The two required courses (each a 15-hour commitment) teach key concepts and foundations of artificial intelligence. Upon completion of the required courses, participants select a focus area to earn their AI micro-credential and badge, which can be displayed on LinkedIn or other online portfolio.

Anyone wanting more information on the AI micro-credential is welcome to contact the OPWD’s Director, Andrew Campbell.

Funding Available to Enhance UF Academic Life

Posted on

Did you know that several 3D printing and campus VR/AR tools are the result of successful Tech Fee proposals? UFApps and free access to LinkedIn Learning also began their UF life as Tech Fee proposals. If you have a great technology-related idea for enhancing UF’s academic environment, then consider submitting a concept paper for a Tech Fee grant. All students, faculty, and staff are eligible–and encouraged–to submit ideas fitting the submission guidelines.

Concept papers for the 2022 funding cycle must be submitted by January 28, 2022.

A concept paper is a simple, two-page proposal that you complete via the template available on the Tech Fee website. After the Technology Fee Advisory Committee reviews the approved concept papers, finalists will be invited to submit a full proposal for possible funding. Program information, guidelines, templates, and previously funded projects may all be found on the Tech Fee website.

Please contact Anne Allen, support administrator for the Technology Fee Advisory Committee, with any questions about the submission process. Good luck!

Revised UFApps File Storage Policy

Posted on

The UFApps M:drive is designed for files actively being used and not intended to be a long-term storage solution. Beginning in January 2022, UFApps users with files stored on the M:drive will have their current files archived in a new O:Drive titled “Old UFApps M Drive.” Any file two years old or more will be purged starting January 1, 2023. Then, each December, files on the current M:Drive will be migrated to the O:Drive, and the old O:Drive archive will be purged. UFApps users will always have access to two calendar years’ worth of their M: drive files, the current year and the previous year. Also, to better reflect that it is temporary storage space, this December, the M:StudentFileStorage drive will be renamed M:UFAppsTempStorage.

UFApps users should make a habit of transferring files to another storage option. The easiest way to transfer files is to map your UFApps account to your GatorCloud account via Kumo. Visit the UFApps “start using Kumo” page to learn how. Another option is to move files with a flash drive.

Faculty, please remember that UFApps R:Drive set-up must be requested for each course every semester. Anyone who needs help with UFApps may contact the UF Computing Help Desk (132 HUB, 352-392-HELP/4357, helpdesk@ufl.edu).

Use Campus Wait Times to Learn About IT

Posted on

Here’s a great way to use the time spent waiting for a Chick-fil-A or Starbucks order: there are more than 100 videos available on UFIT’s YouTube channel. All videos are captioned so you can watch without needing your earbuds–we don’t want you to miss your name or number being called while waiting for your order! UFIT has videos on a variety of topics, from getting the most when using Canvas and learning about the IT services available, to protecting important files like papers and photos. Here’s a sample of the 100+ videos you can watch while on that RTS bus or in line for campus food:

Online Scams, Phishing

1. Scams Targeting UF’s International Community
2. Calling a Foul on Phishing
3. Become More Cyber Aware, Gators!

IT Services at UF

1. UFApps
2. Make the Most of Your UF-Provided LinkedIn Learning Account
3. Learn What’s Available in UFIT Labs & Learning Spaces

Reach out to UFIT Communications if there is a campus tech topic you’d like to learn more about. We’ll locate resources for you, or maybe film a video based on your suggestion!

Change Coming to Email Login Experience

Posted on

Modern Authentication will be enabled for supported email clients on Sunday, Sept. 26. This change is necessary to strengthen UF’s security posture: “Modern Auth” provides a more secure login experience and allows usage of multi-factor authentication for supported email clients.

How Does This Change the User Experience?
Anyone who uses an email client that supports Modern Auth will initially see a change in their login experience. After Sept. 26, users will receive a prompt similar to the login.ufl.edu webpage. Users of MS Teams, or the Outlook for iOS/Android login procedure, will be familiar with this new experience. When Modern Auth is implemented, users will also validate with multi-factor authentication. Once successfully authenticated, users will not be prompted for a password again until:

1. Their GatorLink password is changed or expires.
2. Their supported email client is inactive for more than 90 days.

What is NOT happening?
Basic authentication is NOT being disabled. UF email clients using basic authentication (e.g., IMAP and older versions of Outlook) will continue to work as expected.

Whenever a change is made to email, there is always a concern that someone may inadvertently fall victim to email scams intended to steal UF login credentials. Anyone with questions or concerns about the legitimacy of an email should contact the UF Computing Help Desk (132 HUB, helpdesk@ufl.edu, 352-392-HELP/4357).

Make Backing Up Files a Regular Part of Your Week

Posted on

While saving files to your computer’s local drive is convenient, if your device is lost, stolen, or damaged, your data could be unrecoverable. Instead, don’t just save to your device’s C: drive–use a GatorCloud service as part of your regular file backup plan! With GatorCloud, you can protect your files on Microsoft OneDrive, Google Suite, and Dropbox. Added bonuses: UF’s versions of these popular services come with additional free storage and enhanced security via the use of GatorLink credentials.

We all know someone whose laptop has been fried or stolen…but an “operator error” (i.e., ourselves) can lead to accidentally deleting or overwriting an important photo or file. Storing data on a UF cloud-based service keeps files from cluttering or overworking your computer’s hard drive. In addition to extra storage, UF’s versions of Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Suite provides ways to collaborate and share files from any location, from any internet-connected device, at any time.

Ready to get started with GatorCloud? Visit cloud.it.ufl.edu and review the chart showing the features of each service. Anyone in the UF community with questions about setting up or using a GatorCloud applications may contact the UFIT Help Desk.

Follow UFIT on Social Media

Posted on

Get the latest news about training opportunities, along with campus IT service updates, by following UF Information Technology (UFIT) on social media.

UFIT is the division that provides campus-wide (i.e., enterprise IT) systems and services, such as Canvas e-Learning, UFIRST, and HiPerGator, the University of Florida supercomputer. When new features or services are added to a campus-wide IT option, UFIT promotes them via its Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook accounts. UFIT staff also publish videos on YouTube about important tech issues impacting Gator Nation. Photos and flyers, such as how-to instructions for getting email on your phone or student job postings that UFIT shares on social media, are always accessible and all videos on the GoGatorsUFIT YouTube channel are fully captioned.

● https://twitter.com/GoGatorsUFIT

● https://www.instagram.com/gogators_ufit/

● https://www.youtube.com/GoGatorsUFIT

● https://www.facebook.com/GoGators.UFIT

So Gators, learn about supercomputing training classes before they fill up, stay current on campus IT happenings, or send us question: UFIT is here for you on social media!

Ten IT Services for Undergrads

Posted on

There’s a lot to learn during your first semester, from where classes are to managing e-Learning assignments. Technology enables living and learning at UF, and UFIT is here to support your academic journey. While you’ll discover more over the next few years, here are 10 IT services to discover now to help maximize your UF experience.

Anyone with questions about these services may contact the UF Computing Help Desk (352-392-HELP/4357, helpdesk@ufl.edu, and HUB first floor).

1. UF Computing Help Desk: Speaking of getting help from the Help Desk, the staff have you covered for all things technical at UF. There are self-help resources on their website and have 24/7 assistance for things like password resets.
2. Canvas: UF’s e-Learning platform where you access quizzes, assignments, and more.
3. ONE.UF: The campus portal to register for classes, viewing and ordering transcripts, and resources like phishing training.
4. GatorMail: UF’s official email service for contacting instructors, administrative staff, and fellow students.
5. Eduroam: A secure wireless network for on- and off-campus connectivity. Protect yourself and UF, Gators! Stay on secure wireless.
6. Discounted Software: Learn what software packages Gators can purchase at a discount.
7. UFApps: A collection of more than 190 applications available 24/7 FREE for students.
8. GatorCloud: UF’s cloud-based collaboration with high volume storage options.
9. LinkedIn Learning: UFIT underwrites the cost of membership for Gators to access 15,000+ courses for FREE.
10. Mobile Printing: Learn how to print on the go from over 50 campus locations.

Elevating the Stakeholder Experience

Posted on

Vice President and CIO Elias Eldayrie continues to evolve UFIT and align staff to help UF rise to five and achieve the 2020-2025 UF Strategic Plan for IT goals. In July, Eldayrie announced a new department–Customer Experience and Resource Planning–and elevated Alicia Turner to be its director. As director, Ms. Turner, now reporting to the CIO, will serve as the chief advocate for the UF community.

“I am so excited and truly honored by this opportunity to serve UF in this new way,” said Turner. “Based on my previous roles on campus, I was exposed firsthand to the many opportunities where technology can innovate the work we do to support UF’s mission. As director of Customer Experience and Resource Planning, I am truly fortunate to be in a position where I can integrate the stakeholder voice into UFIT’s work.”

Ms. Turner is known for her efforts to bring people together from different departments and colleges to successfully collaborate on university projects. Contributions include facilitating proposal development for three large-scale National Institutes of Health awards, resulting in a combined $44 million for UF. Turner will provide strategic leadership through her extensive knowledge of campus business processes and relationships built over her 20+ years with the university. The initial groups reorganized into UFIT’s Customer Experience and Resource Planning are the project management office and the business relationship managers. Anyone with questions about the new department is welcome to contact Alicia Turner.