Work from Home

Duo – Two Factor Authentication

You must have a Duo account provisioned for a Push operation to your mobile device.

If you have not already provisioned Duo for your TAMUC credentials, you can follow this link to get started. https://appsprod.tamuc.edu/uportalapps/duodevmgtportal 

Note: Login via the Palo Alto Global Protect is not possible without setting up Duo Push.

VPN – Virtual Private Network

Your TAMUC PC or laptop should already have VPN software installed. If you do not have VPN software or have questions please call the helpdesk at 903-486-6000. The Palo Alto Global Protect VPN is the required VPN. We have a comprehensive guide on installing VPN software on your home computer.

Work from Home Etiquette

You share bandwidth with all your neighbors. When everyone is streaming 4K videos your bandwidth will be affected. Use audio instead of video whenever you can as it reduces the amount of bandwidth used.

Your TAMUC laptop will still need all of its security patches and we can update it over the internet if it is on and rebooted but not logged in. Patching will occur on Thursday nights from 10:00 pm to 4:00 am. This should be enough time to complete the patching before you begin work. However, bandwidth in your neighborhood will vary so be prepared to have a slow PC while patching is completing.

Your camera shows a lot more than you think so be aware of your attire and your surroundings.

Mute your laptop when you are not speaking to reduce background noise. (kids, pets, etc…)

Internet Services Options

Your Guide to Internet Service During New Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak

Here is an excellent article from HighSpeedInternet.com explaining many of the options and issues with internet service at home, including many free options.

Advice and Guidance from the Texas Education Agency

This article Guidance to Districts on Providing Internet to Students (PDF) talks about the commitments from many cable companies to provide internet service during this pandemic. It also includes many useful links to those companies as well as details about their efforts.

Voice Mail

Changing Your Greeting

Creating and Enabling an Alternative Greeting

1. Dial 903-886-5003
2. Enter 1 at the first prompt
3. Enter your voice mailbox number at the 2nd prompt
4. Enter your mailbox password at the 3rd prompt
5. Enter * to stop the playback and enter the mailbox menu
6. Enter 4 to enter the greeting management menu
7. Enter 3 to record an alternative greeting #1
8. Record your message and press # to stop
9. Enter # to confirm to save
10. Enter 7 to use alternative greeting #1

You may hang up and verify your alternative greeting by calling your extension.

Returning to the standard greeting

1. Dial 903-886-5003
2. Enter 1 at the first prompt
3. Enter your voice mailbox number at the 2nd prompt
4. Enter your mailbox password at the 3rd prompt
5. Enter * to stop the playback and enter the mailbox menu
6. Enter 4 to enter the greeting management menu
7. Enter 5 to use return to your standard greeting

You may hang up and verify your standard greeting by calling your extension.

Checking Voice Messages

Via Phone

1. Dial 903-886-5003
2. Press 1 at the initial prompt
3. Enter your voicemail box number ( generally your 4 digit extension )
4. Follow the voice menu to listen, forward and manage messages

Via the Web
(we recommend using Chrome)

1. Navigate to https://otms.tamuc.edu/MyMessaging
2. Login with your TAMUC active directory username and password. LastnameFirstname
3. Click the icon  under PC column to play the message on your local computer.

Please note: Using the icons  under the Phone column will use your deskphone as the playback device.

Setting Up Email Notifications

Via the Web
(we recommend using Chrome)

1. Navigate to https://otms.tamuc.edu/MyMessaging
2. Login with your TAMUC active directory username and password. LastnameFirstname
3. Click on the Configuration gear icon in the menu to the left 
4. Click on the Notification tab at the top right
5. Enter your email address in the Notification address box and ensure the “Email notification” check box is checked
6. Click on the Save Change icon in the menu to the left 
7. Call your TAMUC phone number and leave a message.  You should receive an email notification of the message within a minute.

Accessing and Saving Files

Microsoft One Drive

Important sign-in requirements for Office365 applications

When prompted to “Enter your email address”, enter your TAMUC active directory username using the following format. firstname.lastname@tamuc.edu . You must append the @tamuc.edu. 

If prompted to enter your password, enter your TAMUC active directory password.

Self-Guided Training

• Windows Desktop - Syncing your desktop files with OneDrive: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/sync-files-with-onedrive-in-windows-615391c4-2bd3-4aae-a42a-858262e42a49
• MacOs Desktop - Syncing your desktop files with OneDrive: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/sync-files-with-onedrive-on-mac-os-x-d11b9f29-00bb-4172-be39-997da46f913f
• Android or iOS - Navigate to: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Mobile-and-Mac-for-OneDrive-6e408e6f-35e4-4b63-b46e-ed8d92021cd6 and select the platform to learn more about how to use OneDrive
• Sharing Files and Folders - You can use OneDrive to share photos, Microsoft Office documents, other files, and entire folders with people. Learn how here - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/share-onedrive-files-and-folders-9fcc2f7d-de0c-4cec-93b0-a82024800c07

Via the Web
(we recommend using Chrome)

1. Navigate to https://onedrive.com
2. Click Sign-In. Use your TAMUC credentials as described in the sign-in requirements for Office365

Via Desktop Apps

1. If you have windows 10, one drive is already installed. If you need to re-install or add one drive to a different platform or if you have not setup OneDrive on your desktop, start by navigating to: https://products.office.com/en-us/onedrive/download
2. When prompted to sign in, use your TAMUC credentials as described in the sign-in requirements for Office365
3. Start OneDrive
   
   • In Windows, Click Start , search for OneDrive and open it
   • On Mac, press cmd+Space to launch a Spotlight query and type OneDrive.

Via iOS or Android

1. Search for Microsoft OneDrive in the AppStore or Google Play
2. Install the free app from Microsoft
3. Tap the OneDrive icon 
4. Sign in with your TAMUC credentials as described in the sign-in requirements for Office365

Using Microsoft Applications Online

To use the online version of Word, Excel, Powerpoint, or OneNote click the link below and then sign-in using your TAMUC AD credentials.

• www.office.com/launch/word
• www.office.com/launch/excel
• www.office.com/launch/powerpoint
• www.office.com/launch/onenote

Chat – Collaboration

Microsoft Teams

Self-Guided Training

Navigate to https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/enduser-training

Via the Web
(we recommend using Chrome)

1. Navigate to: https://teams.microsoft.com/_#/school//?ctx=teamsGrid
2. Sign in with your TAMUC credentials as described in the sign-in requirements for Office365

Via Desktop Apps

To install MS Teams (Windows, Mac, and Linux), navigate to: https://teams.microsoft.com/downloads

1. Start Teams

   • In Windows, Click Start , search for Microsoft Teams and open it
   • On Mac, go to the Applications folder and click Microsoft Teams
2. Sign in with your TAMUC credentials as described in the sign-in requirements for Office365

Via iOS or Android

1. Search for Microsoft Teams in the AppStore or Google Play
2. Install the free app from Microsoft
3. Tap the Teams icon
4. Sign in with your TAMUC credentials as described in the sign-in requirements for Office365

Zoom Meetings

Zoom Accounts

TAMUC University accounts are now available under a 3-year site-license agreement for Faculty and Staff. The following link provides step-by-step instructions on how to set up your account

Click here to download a PDF version of the Zoom instructions.

Zoom Training

It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with this new tool before you being using it for work-related meetings. You can view short Zoom Tutorials or register for Zoom Webinars.

Security when using Zoom

Securing your virtual classroom

Visual Challenges of Being Virtual

Being virtual brings lots of challenges and many of you have experienced this, especially those who are visually impaired. Here’s a common excerpt shared from a visually impaired person.

If you are holding virtual meetings, training or webinars, let’s practice making an effort to say what you are clicking on. It will certainly help those who are visually impaired.

If you are not the presenter holding the virtual session, I encourage you to ask the presenter to ‘say’ what they are clicking on.