IT Services

 

W

Web Accessibility

Services Description: The University of Akron is committed to make its websites comply with Section 508 of the United States Workforce Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and WCAG 2.0. We work to improve your website’s digital accessibility for those users with visual, auditory, motor and cognitive needs. Our staff can simply run our tests and provide you with a detailed report of accessibility issues and recommended ways to resolve them; or our developers can make the needed updates to your site to improve web accessibility.

Wireless (Eduroam)

Services Description: Eduroam is a secure, worldwide, federated network access service developed for the international research and education community. It allows affiliates from participating institutions to obtain Internet connectivity on the University of Akron campus and when visiting any of the eduroam-enabled institutions around the world.

Wireless (Phone) Services

Services Description: The telecommunications team provides assistance with University of Akron related cellular services.

Antivirus Tools

Microsoft Windows Defender is the cybersecurity scanning tool recommended by the University of Akron. This tool is free and pre-installed on all Windows 10 machines. For questions about running Microsoft Windows Defender, feel free to contact the IT Help Desk.

Application Security Request

Certain University systems require approval to access. These systems include: Peoplesoft, Nolij, etc. Request access to these systems here.

Applications Development

Application System Services is responsible for computer application support of enterprise systems for academic and administrative departments.

Cable Installation and Repair

The telecommunications team assists with cable installation and repair.

Cable Television Services

The telecommunications team provides assistance with cable television installation and repair.

Call Forwarding

Call Forwarding temporarily forwards all your calls to another extension or to an outside number.

Campus Emergency and Courtesy Phones

The telecommunications team assists with emergency and courtesy phone installation, maintenance, and repair.

Computer Labs

There are over forty general access computer labs on campus. The labs offer Internet access, word processing, design, spreadsheet, statistical and course-specific software. The labs also offer color printers, scanners and digital editing resources.

Computer Refresh

Computer Refresh for Full-time Faculty and Staff computers.

Computer Store

Completely online and always open. The Computer Store offers many great deals on hardware, software, and computing peripherals.

Conferencing Services

The telecommunications team assists with conferencing equipment and questions.

Distributed Technology Services (DTS)

The University of Akron offers flexible and cost effective IT support for departments and organizations on campus. Support options vary as needed and range from quick remote solutions to full-service onsite support. Our staff also provides support on a number of short-term and long-term technical projects to meet the diverse and growing needs of the campus community. You can look up your zone tech on uakron.edu/helpdesk using the search box on the left hand side. To open a ticket, contact the IT Help Desk by phone at 330.972.6888 or by email at helpdesk@uakron.edu.

Electronics Recycling

The University of Akron recycles old personally-owned computing and electronics equipment. We accept computer components from any manufacturer. We partner with Central Stores to safely provide a comprehensive data destruction system guaranteed to comply with federal laws and regulations.

Email Lists (Listserv)

The University of Akron offers SYMPA Listserv services for free to meet your email distribution list needs.

Equipment Checkout

Bierce Library together with UA ITS provide access to 200+ Dells, Macs, and iPads for use by currently enrolled students only. The MediaTech Desk is located in the lobby of Bierce Library and closes 15 minutes prior to library close. Bierce Library equipment circulates for either 1-day or 7-days, depending upon the specific machine. All equipment is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students must present 2 valid picture IDs, one of which must be a UA Zip Card, at the time of checkout. For general information on Bierce Library laptops, please call 330-972-5355. The Science & Technology Library provides access to 40 Dell laptops for use by current UA students. Dell Laptops may be borrowed for a period of 4 hours with the option of one 4-hour renewal or until 30 minutes before library closing. 35 iPads are available for use by current UA students for a 7 day loan period with no renewal. All equipment is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Science Laptop Circulation checkout is adjacent to the Science Circulation Desk (ph: 330-972-8323).

Guest Account (Guest UANet ID)

Campus departments can now provide a temporary UANet ID to visiting scholars, prospective students, seminar attendees, contract employees and others who need short-term access to the University of Akron's campus network. Temporary UANet IDs are now valid for use with the campus wireless network, on-campus computers, and the campus VPN service, but not for services such as exchange email accounts and My Akron Experience.

IT Service Desk

The IT Service Desk provides free tech support and troubleshooting help with your computing needs by phone, email, or in-person at the Computer Center.

Linked-In Learning

Linked-In Learning is an on-demand learning solution designed to help users gain new skills. With Linked-In Learning, you may sign in with your UANet ID and password and access hundreds of free videos for professional interests and goals, and supplemental instructional content that may be relevant to many courses.

Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is a suite of web-based tools hosted by Microsoft. In addition to email and calendaring features, Microsoft 365 provides multiple online applications such as OneDrive, the Office Suite and additional productivity tools.

Free training on Microsoft 365 applications can be found at the Microsoft 365 Training Center.



Microsoft Outlook E-Mail

All University of Akron faculty, staff, and students receive free UANetID@uakron.edu email accounts.

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams combines modern online meeting technology with persistent chat (similar to Slack), file storage, and collaboration. The full functionality of teams is available to faculty and staff, but anyone you invite can join a Teams meeting. To get started you can log in to Microsoft Teams from your web browser or download the Teams app from Microsoft. SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive are the replacements for H Drive storage based on the specific needs for the files being stored.

Network Communications Services

Network Services delivers reliable, high performance communications technology to support the research, classes and day to day operations of The University of Akron. Network Services provides high speed connectivity between all areas of campus and organizations in the surrounding communities, as well as connections to the Internet and Internet 2. In addition to the high speed wired networks, over 2,500 wireless access points provide students and faculty with portable wireless connectivity. Network Services is also responsible for protecting the University network from attacks, deploying and monitoring some of the latest security systems available.

OneDrive

The University of Akron offers OneDrive as a cloud storage solution free of cost to all active faculty, staff, and students. SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive are the replacements for H Drive storage based on the specific needs for the files being stored.

Free training on Microsoft 365 applications can be found at the Microsoft 365 Training Center.



Online Training

The online training service provides access to Linked-In Learning. This online training source provides students, faculty and staff with a library of self-study software tutorials. Additional training resources can be found on The University of Akron Training page.

Pharos Printing (Printing for Students)

Pay-for-print Pharos stations are conveniently located all over campus. Users swipe their Zipcards and the system deducts the cost per page. Kiosks, checkout laptops, and lab workstations print to these systems. Color printers are available for public usage in the College of Business Administration (CBA) computer labs and in Bierce Library. They are located in the CBA building and Bierce Library on the first floor. Color and black & white laser printing is also available in each of the campus general access computer labs.

Printing ComDoc (Printing for Faculty/Staff)

ComDoc departmental printers are not pay-to-print and are usually located away from students, usually in faculty or staff offices.

Repair

If your computer is having hardware issues, the Repair team can diagnose the issue and provide repair options. While most repairs are free, a flat rate of $75 is required if the machine needs to be checked in. Located on the bottom floor of Bierce Library and at the Computer Center for your convenience.

Server and Cloud Services

The Server and Cloud Services group handles the systems administration functions for all the enterprise-level server, storage and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) systems for the University, as well as many departmental and specialized systems. Systems administration functions include specification, acquisition, installation, configuration, testing, monitoring, maintenance and management of both hardware and software.

Shared Email Accounts

A shared email account is a generic email mailbox with a unique email address that can be shared amongst a group of users. The email address is not associated with a dedicated user account but can be “shared” to a group of identified users who can use their own credentials to open up the shared mailbox.

Shared mailboxes are used when multiple people need access to the same mailbox, such as ones providing departmental information and communications or to support a process or function that might be shared by multiple people. Users with permissions to the group mailbox can send as or send on behalf of the mailbox email address.

Software

The University of Akron provides no-charge and low cost software through our download page and software store.

Surveys (Qualtrics)

The University of Akron Qualtrics Survey Hosting Service allows the campus community to easily create surveys, collect and store data, and produce reports. Please note: The Qualtrics service is available only to current University of Akron faculty, staff and students.

Telephone Service (Telecommunications)

Telecommunications supports the educational, research, and outreach initiatives of the University by provisioning and managing telecommunications voice and video services and the development, design, and installation of the communications infrastructure for the benefit of the students, faculty, staff and visitors.

Training Resources

The training offered is designed to support administrative and academic systems used across the University. Available titles include Microsoft, PeopleSoft, EmpCenter and Brightspace. If you have questions or need further assistance please contact the IT Help Desk at HelpDesk@uakron.edu or call 330.972.6888.

Two - Way Radio Services

The telecommunications team assists with two-way radio equipment ordering, equipment loans, and equipment programming.

UANet ID Service

The UAnet ID system provides network identification and authentication services to students, faculty, staff, and affiliates of the University. The system is used to provision and deprovision accounts and manage passwords and other attributes. A UAnet ID is required to access most UA computing and network resources, including email and web-based services such as the MyAkron portal and the BrightSpace learning management system. The UAnet ID system includes OpenLDAP, Kerberos and Shibboleth components and is closely integrated with Active Directory.

VPN

VPN software allows eligible users to access University resources even when they are using a commercial ISP. It accomplishes this by establishing an encrypted tunnel between a home/remote PC and the campus network. All campus-bound traffic is routed through the tunnel with a campus IP address, making that traffic appear to be originating from on-campus.

Virtual Labs

Using Horizon Virtual Desktop technology, The University of Akron has expanded lab access for some computer applications to all students and faculty. This “always-on” environment means you can access these programs at any time using any device anywhere you can get internet access.

Web Accessibility

The University of Akron is committed to make its websites comply with Section 508 of the United States Workforce Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and WCAG 2.0. We work to improve your website’s digital accessibility for those users with visual, auditory, motor and cognitive needs. Our staff can simply run our tests and provide you with a detailed report of accessibility issues and recommended ways to resolve them; or our developers can make the needed updates to your site to improve web accessibility.

Wireless (Eduroam)

Eduroam is a secure, worldwide, federated network access service developed for the international research and education community. It allows affiliates from participating institutions to obtain Internet connectivity on the University of Akron campus and when visiting any of the eduroam-enabled institutions around the world.

Wireless (Phone) Services

The telecommunications team provides assistance with University of Akron related cellular services.

Yammer

Our Microsoft 365 subscription includes the social networking service, Yammer. The University of Akron uses Yammer for private, internal conversation with our campus community.