Faculty Tech Guide

Adobe apps for everything from animation and illustration to web design and video editing are available for download at the University Software Portal. Rutgers provides students, faculty, and staff with access to Premiere, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Acrobat, and many more Adobe apps and tools. For training and support, visit the Rutgers Adobe website.

Security tips and advice
Are you aware of your computing/digital responsibilities? You are your own best defense against identity theft, compromise, and malware. The following are some suggestions for basic IT security.

• Follow password rules. Never share your password. Choose different passwords for different sites.
• Install antivirus/antispyware software and have it updated automatically.
• Use only secure Wi-Fi when transmitting confidential data (credit card numbers, banking, etc.).
• Don’t be a phishing scam victim. Rutgers will never ask you for your password or other confidential information in an email.
• Protect your social networking with privacy settings.

Antivirus software
OIT offers antivirus solutions for Rutgers students, faculty, and staff at no cost. Learn more about Rutgers antivirus software.

Single sign-on
Users who sign on to the Rutgers Central Authentication Service (CAS) with their NetID and password will be able to move between software applications that use CAS without having to re-enter that information for each separate application. Please use single sign-on (SSO) responsibly. Read the security guidelines and remember to close your web browser when you complete a session that requires you to provide your NetID and password.

Two-step login
Two-step login (powered by Duo Security) is an extra layer of login security when accessing most Rutgers web applications. When you are enrolled in two-step login (also known as NetID+ at Rutgers), you will be prompted to confirm on a device (e.g. your mobile phone) that you are the person attempting to log in with your NetID and password. Sign up for two-step login.

Box at Rutgers is a cloud-based file storage application where you can securely store, manage, and share digital files. Rutgers chose Box for its fast, simple functionality, serving as a collaboration space between faculty, staff, and students. Box features secure data transfer and unlimited storage capabilities. Once your information is uploaded, you can share files and folders using a direct link, invite users to collaborate, and continually revise and renew content. Additionally, you can access uploaded files anytime — all you need is an Internet connection.

Digital accessibility is the application of universal design principles and accessibility standards to make websites, web applications, and various services usable by all members of the university community. Rutgers University is committed to ensuring equal access to information, programs, and activities through its technologies, web pages, and services.

Resources are available for faculty members, web designers/developers, and other university staff to address accessibility in information technology. Resources include:

• Tools to aid in web accessibility
• Online course accessibility
• Instructional materials
• Assistive and adaptive technology
• Video/multimedia captioning
• Software procurement

Learn more about digital accessibility.

DocuSign is a secure electronic signature tool that verifies, routes, tracks, and stores documents requiring signatures. It is available for Rutgers faculty and staff to use to replace paper-intensive processes with streamlined digital workflows. For more information, please visit the DocuSign website.

OIT will provide Early Employee NetIDs to employees with Social Security Numbers who need access to electronic services to perform their assigned duties and whose on-boarding process has been delayed. A departmental Human Resources representative or a hiring authority may request Early Employee NetIDs for such cases.

Learn more about how to request an Early Employee NetID.

Rutgers Connect
The centralized university-wide email and calendar service, based on Microsoft Office 365, is called Rutgers Connect. This cloud service includes email, calendaring, and many other services.

If you’re ever having trouble accessing Rutgers Connect at(connect.rutgers.edu, an alternative way to log in is via outlook.office.com. You would select Sign in with organization. Then enter rutgers.edu as your organization domain and you will now be able to sign in as usual. 

Learn more about Rutgers Connect.

ScarletMail
Rutgers student email is called ScarletMail (Google Workspace for Education) and can be accessed at https://it.rutgers.edu/scarletapps/ or via the myRutgers portal.

ScarletMail accounts are also available for faculty and staff to collaborate with students in a classroom environment. The service can be activated at netid.rutgers.edu by clicking on “Service Activation.”

RBHS faculty, staff, and students are required to use the email address assigned by their department/unit/school as their Official Rutgers Email Address.  ScarletMail is only available for personal use.

Alumni and retirees can continue to use ScarletApps services forever, providing a lifelong link to the many resources available to the Rutgers community.

The ScarletApps suite provides additional enhanced communication and collaboration tools, such as Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Calendar, and Sites.

To manage your email configuration, log in to the My Email Addresses webpage.

• Personalized Email Address
  This email address, also known as “Email Alias” associates you with the University and it is for you to share with others. While you do not use this email as your login, you can still email to this address and you will be able to see all emails sent and received.
• Delivery Email Account
  This typically features your NetID and is where you actually receive and read your email. Once you set your Rutgers Connect account as a delivery address, you will not be able to remove it or add additional delivery addresses.
  *Note: If an individual has been identified with a department/unit/school that has restricted data (PHI), only the respective school email address can be used.  ScarletMail cannot be used as the delivery address.
• Official Rutgers Email Address
  This email address is what others will see when they search for your contact information at Rutgers. Additionally, Rutgers will send official notifications to this address. This address must end in “rutgers.edu” and we recommend you use your Personalized Email Address here.

Guests are individuals who are not directly affiliated with Rutgers University as staff, faculty or students. Guests include, but not limited to, visiting scholars, visiting staff, visiting faculty, contractors, vendor, volunteers, etc. Rutgers Guest Request System is an enterprise self-service tool that enables the university guests to submit their requests to obtain a digital identity. The request will be submitted for approval to the appropriate sponsor. Once the request is approved, the departments’ guest administrators process the request and the guest is notified with instructions to obtain and activate their digital identifier called a NetID.  Learn more about how to request Guest IDs.

The following university departments and units provide assistance with instructional technology, design, and related areas.

University Online Education Services
Provides resources and tools for instructors and students, including new media and instructional design.

myTech@newark
Partners with Rutgers University–Newark faculty and students to provide educational technology.

Instructional Design & Technology
Supports the integration of technology into the curriculum at Rutgers University–Camden.

RUWireless
This unencrypted wireless network is used by students, faculty, and staff with official Rutgers NetIDs to configure their devices for the encrypted wireless network, RUWireless Secure.

RUWireless also provides wireless Internet service to guests while at the University. Guest wireless access to the Internet requires acceptance of the Wireless Terms of Service per session.

RUWireless Secure
This encrypted wireless network provides secure access to Rutgers resources as well as Internet services. Access requires an initial one-time configuration per device and provides automatic future connectivity for those devices.

RUHealthSciences
This encrypted wireless network is for RBHS students, faculty, and staff as it provides secure wireless access to RBHS resources.

eduroam
eduroam® is the secure, world-wide roaming access service developed for the international research and education community. This service allows all Rutgers University students, faculty, and staff to take advantage of free and secure wireless service when visiting an eduroam member university. Visitors from member universities can also have wireless access when visiting Rutgers.

For more information on Rutgers wireless services, visit RUWireless.

Canvas is the official learning management system for teaching and learning at Rutgers. It is used by faculty, staff, and students to access and manage online course learning materials and communicate about skill development and learning achievement.

For additional information on Canvas including specific tools and features offered, please visit the Canvas help documentation webpage.

Additionally, dedicated faculty and student support is available for all campus. If you need help with your courses or Canvas tech support, please visit the Canvas help webpage.

RAMS (Rutgers Automated Mailing System) allows office University email lists to be generated based on demographic information from the registrar or payroll data, and they can be used for conducting business.

Mailman is another system that allows users to create and manage their own mailing lists.  A mailing list permits users to email an entire group of individuals by specifying only one email address.

Visit Rutgers’ Email Distribution site to learn about all the options available to faculty, staff, and students, who need to send emails to large groups.

All current faculty and staff at Rutgers have the ability to download and install Microsoft Office on personal devices through Rutgers Connect.

The university’s agreements with Microsoft allow faculty and staff to install Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Publisher, and Access on up to five computers, five tablets, and five phones.

Faculty and staff may use the Microsoft Office software on personal devices. Please consult with your department’s IT support staff before installing Office on Rutgers-owned devices, as your department may have its own policies.

Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, OneDrive, Publisher (PC only) and Access (PC only) are included in each installation of a faculty/staff license for Office.

Learn more about free Microsoft Office for faculty and staff.

The myRutgers mobile app provides iOS and Android users with timely information on buses, schedule of classes, dining, events, and personalized views based on your role at the university.

Get the free app from the App Store or the Google Play Store!

OIT oversees various computer centers in university libraries, residence halls, student centers, and other buildings. The labs offer both Macintosh and Windows systems equipped with a diverse selection of software, scanners, and high-speed printers with wireless printing capabilities.

Staffed by knowledgeable consultants, most labs are open late into the evening and on weekends. Some labs are open around the clock during the final weeks of the semester.

Collaborative spaces in the labs offer power, wireless access, and nearby printing for laptop users and are ideal for small teams of students working together on projects.

Learn more about the computing labs including locations, hours and more for New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden.

OIT also oversees the following Rutgers Health computer lab:

• Newark, Medical Science Building C632

All Rutgers faculty and staff are able to print at Office of Information Technology (OIT) computer labs at various Rutgers locations. They may print to black-and-white or color printers from lab computers, wireless via personal devices on RUWireless Secure, or through Virtual Computer Labs.

Learn more about printing services.

Many of the most valuable tools that the university offers—journal access, research computing, electronic health records—cannot be accessed via web browser if you’re off campus.

Community members can, however, access nearly all university resources from nearly anywhere in the world by downloading and using the university’s virtual private network (VPN) system.

To register for the VPN, Cisco AnyConnect VPN, please follow these steps:

1. Visit https://netid.rutgers.edu/ and choose the link for Service Activation in the left-hand navigation.
2. Choose Remote Access VPN, Cisco AnyConnect Access for Rutgers. If you are not already signed up for two-step login with Duo, instructions will be provided to sign up as part of this process.
3. Download the Cisco AnyConnect software at https://vpn.rutgers.edu.

The university has assembled comprehensive, regularly updated lists of tech resources that are available for students, faculty and staff to learn, teach and work remotely:

• Technology resources for remote instruction
• Remote technology resources for students
• Technology resources for working remotely
• Free software for remote use

The Office of Advanced Research Computing (OARC) at Rutgers connects the university’s research faculty to information technology professionals. Working together across all Rutgers locations, OARC aims to increase research capabilities and productivity via cross-team communication, deployments, training, and collaboration.

OARC launched Amarel, a high-performance computing cluster for researching computing, in 2017. Amarel is a shared, community-owned advanced computing environment available to any Rutgers investigator requiring research computing resources anywhere at Rutgers.

To learn more about research computing, visit the OARC website.

The Alerts page on the Rutgers IT website is where you can find information and updates on Rutgers IT service outages, check the operating status for sites like Zoom or Canvas, and learn the latest on scheduled IT maintenance. You can also follow @RutgersIT on Facebook and Twitter to see alerts as you’re scrolling through your social media feeds.

Access to nearly all of Rutgers IT services requires the use of a unique network ID (NetID). Most students are assigned their NetIDs when going through the enrollment pathway. Students, faculty, and staff can manage their NetIDs, select other Rutgers IT services, and manage email addresses at the NetID website. There are also tools to manage passwords and update security questions (used to help reset forgotten passwords).

myRutgers University Portal is your personalized one-stop for online services at Rutgers University. myRutgers delivers personal alerts and provides access to academic, financial, and employee self-service applications, as well as a variety of other services including email and campus news. Log in to myRutgers and enter your NetID.

The Rutgers Voice Services website provides self-service instructions to assist users with the support of VoIP Telephones, voicemail, analog services, and audio conferencing

If you can’t find an answer to your telephone questions/problems, you can also use the website to request support.

Cisco Webex is a real-time video, voice, and chat communications software platform available to Rutgers faculty, staff, and students. It enables users to host and participate in virtual meetings with two or more people securely from anywhere with a reliable internet connection. Webex offers high-definition video, screen sharing, in-meeting chat, voice calling, and document sharing. Webex can be used in conjunction with Cisco codecs (camera systems for meeting and classroom spaces) as well as through a web browser, desktop app, or mobile device app.

Zoom is a real-time video, voice, and chat communications software platform available to Rutgers faculty, staff, and students. It enables users to host and participate in virtual meetings with two or more people securely from anywhere with a reliable internet connection. Zoom offers high-definition video, screen sharing, in-meeting chat, voice calling, and document sharing.

Visit the Rutgers Zoom website to sign up.