Faculty Guide

Welcome
New Faculty Checklist
The Basics
The More Advanced Stuff
Important Security Information

Welcome to the University of Utah!

General information for new faculty is available through Human Resources in the Faculty Orientation session. In addition, numerous information technology (IT) resources and services are available to you. In fact, there is so much to learn that it might be a bit overwhelming to a new campus member.

This guide was created to give you an idea of the electronic resources that are available and how they apply to you. Your administrative assistant or department computer administrator can inform you about additional departmental resources that you should be aware of. In addition to this page, new faculty might find it useful to review the guides for new staff and students.

new faculty checklist

1. Get your UCard (after your employee data is in the HR database).

2. Log onto the Campus Information System (CIS) for the first time with your uNID and default password.

3. Answer your security questions and create your secure password.

4. Enter your preferred email address in the CIS email field.

5. Familiarize yourself with staff services in the CIS (payroll info, eBenefits, tax info).

6. Find out your on-campus network access options.

7. Check out your remote access options if you need campus network/Internet access from home.

8. Schedule an appointment with the TACC to learn about WebCT online courseware and Wimba.

8. Log onto the Office of Software Licensing website from your home computer and download McAfee anti-virus software for your home system for $15/year.

9. Look at the list of IT Resources available to you to see if any are useful to you.

10. Check out the cellular phones and plans available to you.

11. Review the Security page and be sure you are being a good "Digital Citizen".

12. Review your responsibilities for IT resources as a U of U faculty member.


The Basics

A lot of the IT stuff you’ll need to do your job will be provided by or through your department. 

  • University Network ID (uNID) & password - Your uNID is your IT identity.  It not only allows you to access your CIS records, but many other IT resources on campus (see the list below).  To learn all about your uNID and how to change your default password to a secure one, see the uNID webpage.
  • Campus Information System - The Campus Information System is an important staff resource.  It is an online system that houses your employee information, including your home address, your email address for official University communication, your emergency contact information, and your time & payroll information.  You access the CIS with your University Network ID (uNID) and password
  • Computer (applications, Internet & email) - Every department has a Computer Administrator (or administrators) that keep the workstations working and manage departmental email.  Your department’s Computer Admin should set up and instruct you on your username(s) and password(s) for logging onto your computer, connecting to the Internet and accessing your department email account. 
  • UMail - Every campus member gets a UMail account, ending in @utah.edu. Your department may be using the UMail system for your departmental email, as well. You are encouraged to put either your departmental or your UMail address in the CIS for University-related communications.Manage your UMail address in the uNID Tools: personalize and/or forward it. You can check it via the web at www.umail.utah.edu.
  • Telephone – Your department uses either a Centrex or Sprint-Coral phone system.  Your administrator will tell you what your phone number is. For more help using your phone set/system, including voicemail, if your phone looks like this: (Meridian phone set) see these pages. If your phone looks like this:  (Sprint-Coral phone sets ) see these pages (PDF).
  • Cell phone – If your job requires that you have a cell phone, or, if you want a cellular device and plan for yourself or family member for personal use, you may contact with the cellular vendor of your choice directly for University of Utah discounts. Under University policy, your department can/should authorize an employee allowance to compensate you for business use of the phone. The vendors who have contracted to work directly with University departments and individuals are Verizon, Cingular, and Sprint and T-Mobile.
  • UCard - Employees can obtain their UCard after attending Employee Orientation. They are issued a voucher that is taken to either UCard office to have their card made. The numbers on the front of your card serve to identify you in University records. It also provides numerous benefits, discounts and functions, such as library For more information on the UCard, see the UCard website.
  • Building access – The UCard provides access to most buildings on campus. (Administrators determine individual access rights utilizing the UCard.) Eventually all access will involve use of the UCard, including medical facilities and Research Park. 
  • Security - it's more important than ever to be proactive against viruses and spyware, to use secure passwords, to understand and follow the Network Acceptable Use Policy, and to keep your software up-to-date. Please see more details on information security and privacy below.
  • Faculty Responsibilities - Please be aware of your responsibilities to protect sensitive, private information on department computers, ensure that software on computers under your control is licensed properly, and that University IT resources are being used for appropriate purposes.

The More Advanced Stuff

Network Access

Administrative Systems and Services

  • Campus Information System – access to payroll, time reporting, personal info and more
  • Mailing lists – sign up for or create email lists relevant to your job
  • Software - for work and home computers, including low cost McAfee anti-virus software: McAfee for home use now includes the firewall, intrusion detection, etc., and costs $30 for 3 years.
  • Security Audits – provided by the Information Security Operations Team for departments
  • Online Campus Directory – find other U employee & department information and keep yours updated

Academic Services

  • Technology Assisted Curriculum Center (TACC) - up-to-date, user-friendly digital services and resources like WebCT and Wimba.
  • WebCT - a web-based course management software package for use by University faculty with tools to create online courses and course resources
  • Wimba -  the state licensed  Wimba Collaborative Suite includes a live online classroom, voice tools for easy podcasting, audio discussion boards and a course creator for content pages. All Wimba tools can be found and used within WebCT. For training, contact TACC.
  • Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence - promoting effective teaching & learning at the U
  • Uonline - fully online courses
  • Electronic Library resources - access to indexes, databases, and course reserves
  • Marriott Library Instruction - advancing technology and information literacy of students, faculty, and staff.
  • Eccles Health Sciences Library - serving the needs of health professionals, students and researchers
  • Professional Training in Arts Technology - providing intensive arts-related digital technology training.
  • Academic Outreach & Continuing Education - Continuing Education offers a wide range of programs.
  • Utah Education Network (UEN) – Resources to help you teach, including Professional Development Courses and national PBS programs, local programs from KUED-7, college telecourses and lectures, and media from UEN and other trusted education partners through eMedia.
  • Instructional Media Services (IMS) - provides support and assistance for classroom IT use.
  • Media Solutions - websites, videos, databases, training modules, and presentations for campus organizations.
  • Web Hosting – free website hosting for U departments and organizations
  • Web-Authenticated Network Access (WANA) Classroom Ports - general access network ports accessible with a uNID/password.

Personal Services

Important computer Security Information

For More

For More

For questions or help, contact the Campus Help Desk at 801-581-4000 option 1, or helpdesk@utah.edu.