UTC RAVE Alert

Technology Resources for Employees

Preparing for the Semester

Technology Request Form

*Please note that content on this site is regularly updated as new developments arise.

Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, UTC will continue to offer a mix of in-person and online courses. Central IT, along with the Library and Walker Center for Teaching and Learning, provide a variety of services to connect you with colleagues and students so that work and learning can continue uninterrupted.

We recommend planning ahead for your home and office technology (hardware and software) needs. Please make sure you have access to and checked the following for your equipment: 

  • Laptop or desktop computer, tablet or smartphone – run all required operating system and security updates, and third party software updates.
  • Microphone – verify and test whether one is built into your device, and/or accepts external devices such as USB microphones and headphones.
  • Webcam – verify and test whether one is built into your device, and/or accepts external devices such as a USB camera for video conferencing.
  • Internet – verify and test whether your commercially provided internet (ex. Comcast, AT&T, etc) or wireless hotspot connections (through your mobile phone) are sufficient for video conferencing.

If you do not have the necessary resources to fulfill your work responsibilities as a faculty or staff member, UTC Library provides two paths for technology use:

  • If you do not have the necessary resources are working on-campus and have a temporary need (under 24 hours), please visit the 1st floor desk of the library to check out equipment. In-person use of library labs, as well as remote access of campus labs for niche software, will also be available.
  • If you have a recurring need, please fill out and submit the technology request form. For semester-long loans, UTC Library will schedule pick-ups or ship out equipment on a case-by-case basis.

Assistance may include:

Upon submission of your request, Central IT or UTC Library may reach out by phone and/or email to better understand your needs. Please be aware that all equipment is in limited supply and we will do the best we can to meet all requests.

If you are a professor who is unsure what equipment you may need to remotely teach or what options may be available for your classroom environment, please consult the following table. Further questions can be directed to the IT Help Desk at 423-425-4000 or [email protected]

Teaching Modality Classroom Technology Type Suggested Equipment needed by Faculty Supported Learning Spaces
Face-to-Face + Synchronous Livestream Vaddio ConferenceSHOT + Kaltura Standard Podium Set-up List of Locations 
Face-to-Face + Asynchronous Recording Vaddio ConferenceSHOT + Kaltura Standard Podium Set-up List of Locations 
Face-to-Face (No Lecture Capture) Shure Microphone Kit + Classroom Headset + Kaltura Webcam and/or Classroom Headset List of Locations 
Asynchronous Recording (Lecture Capture) Vaddio ConferenceSHOT + Kaltura Webcam and/or Headset List of Locations (forthcoming)
Synchronous Livestream (On-Campus OR From-Home) Portable A/V equipment + Kaltura Capture Webcam and/or Headset Please Request

The most up-to-date information about UTC's response to the Coronavirus is available at utc.edu/coronavirus.

Internet Provider Options

Need internet or Wi-Fi? Here is information from national providers:

Test access to your equipment and resources at home before the need arises, and contact the Help Desk if you have any questions.

Use the UTC VPN

If you need to access campus-only resources, like departmental shared drives, from home you will need to use the UTC VPN. We already created your account for you, but you will need to install the VPN client on your machine. See the relevant installation instructions below:

As always, if you need assistance installing the VPN client, please contact the IT Help Desk. If you’ve already installed the VPN client and are still unable to connect to a specific UTC service, you may require more than the basic VPN account. Please let us know what services you need to access so we can change your VPN account settings accordingly.

Use Zoom conferencing for virtual meetings

When you are away from the office, you may need to set up a conference call or an online meeting. Use Zoom for both as it can be used for teaching online and for virtual meetings from your computer or mobile device.

The Walker Center for Teaching and Learning is offering courses on using Zoom as well.  Check out their training calendar and register for future sessions.

Access your UTC email

You can check your email when you are away from campus with a web browser, with the Outlook client, or on your phone or mobile device. If you will be away from your email or checking it less frequently, don’t forget to update your Out of Office message.

If you are a faculty member and need a Google mail (gmail) account for collaboration with your students, please submit a request to the IT Help Desk.

Share files

Save your files online so you can get to them from anywhere.  IT recommends Office 365 for online file storage.  Do you need to work on documents, spreadsheets and presentations with your team?  Office 365 supports online collaboration.

If you need to send files securely, use the Vault: Secure File Transfer service provided through UTK.

Download software

Visit the Software for Employees page on the IT website to access or request university-provided software.

Use instant messaging and on-demand chat

If you are an O365 user and have colleagues or students you communicate with on a regular basis, have you tried the Teams chat feature? When you are logged into your email, you can also launch the Teams app and have virtual discussions.

Teams is available in the Microsoft Software Center for download at https://teams.microsoft.com/downloads. The Teams app is not part of the standard Office 365 Apps install.

Forward your office phone

You can choose to forward your office line to your home or cell phone.  If you choose not to forward your office line, make sure you check your voice mail on a regular basis.

Access other campus systems

  • Canvas - If you are a faculty member, please visit the academic continuity teaching resources available through the Walker Center for Teaching and Learning.
  • Banner, Google, Engage, etc. - Visit MyMocsNet for quick access to University systems and resources that require authentication for security reasons.
  • IRIS - IRIS provides employees the ability to access Employee Self-Service and other administrative functions found within the IRIS system and other University system software solutions.
  • Access your desktop remotely using Citrix, an online service that can mimic your desktop computer.

Use IT chat and remote support

Want to ensure you’re equipped with all you need to work remotely? Quick question come to mind? Reach out to us by chat! UTC IT Technicians are available for chat and remote support Monday through Friday, 8am – 5pm, at Chat with the Help Desk.

*Note – Due to increased demand for support, wait times may be longer than usual across all IT services. We appreciate your patience.

Learn new skills

With LinkedIn Learning available for UTC employees (Spring 2020), take some time to browse the over 13,000 courses and brush up on topics or gain new skills.

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