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1-HELP Resources for Staff
Your University Internet ID
All active staff on University payroll have an Internet ID, a "username" that uniquely identifies you to the many online applications and tools at the University that require you to log in. You can
find your Internet ID by searching for yourself on the University directory. If you wish, you may change your Internet ID by calling the Central Accounts office, 612-626-8366.
Internet password and Enterprise password
Your Internet password is used for most self-service applications and tools, such as myU and e-mail. Certain applications may require that you work with highly sensitive data, for example, student records or budget transactions. For these you may need to use your Enterprise password, a separate password that must be changed every 100 days once it is set. To obtain a password,
call 1-HELP. You can
change your password online if you already know it.
Connect to the Internet
Our
Internet connection guides help you get your computer online from a variety of places:
At work. University buildings are wired with high-speed
Ethernet connections. If you do not have an office computer, or you are away from the office en route to a meeting, you can log in at an
Internet kiosk to browse the Web and check e-mail (using
WebMail).
Wireless Ethernet (802.11b) is also available in many University buildings and commons areas, for portable and desktop computers with the appropriate hardware.
At home and away. The University is a
dial-up Internet service provider (ISP) for staff who want to connect via their telephone line using a modem. While this is typically the slowest type of connection, you may be interested in switching to University dial-up if you are already paying another ISP for the same service — with us, the first 50 hours per month are free, with a $4 charge for every block of 30 hours thereafter. Departments may
purchase toll-free dial-up time for employees on the road who would otherwise pay long distance phone charges. The University is not a home
high-speed or broadband ISP; however, if you sign up for certain local ISPs via
UMart, you will receive a discount rate.
Communication and Collaboration Tools
E-mail
You should check your e-mail regularly, as it is an
official means of communication at the University. Occasionally you will receive e-mail regarding pay statements, employee benefits, campus alerts, and other important news.
Your e-mail address is (Your Internet ID)@umn.edu. You can
find an e-mail address by searching the University directory.
Set up your computer for e-mail by following one of our online guides, or
call 1-HELP to have a consultant help you with this over the phone.
WebMail lets you use e-mail via your Web browser without any extra configuration, and it is convenient when using a shared computer or an
Internet kiosk.
Telephone and voicemail
University telephones are in the 612 area code, with phone numbers in the 301, 624, 625, and 626 exchange codes. You can call another campus telephone from your own simply by dialing the last five digits of its phone number. For example, to call 1-HELP from outside the University, you would dial 612-301-4357, but from a campus office you can dial 1-4357 (which just happens to spell 1-HELP). To obtain an outside line and dial a full 10-digit number, press 8 first. Our
Telephone user guides explain other available phone and calling features.
Gopher Messaging is the University's telephone messaging system. Not only does it provide voicemail when you are unable to answer your phone, but it can also notify your pager, receive faxes, let you manage messages via the Web, and much more. Our
Gopher Messaging user guides explain the features in detail. To obtain your Gopher Messaging password, please
call 1-HELP or use the
Live Online help.
Calendar and scheduling
UMCal is the University-wide online calendar and scheduling application. Use it to keep track of appointments, reminders, and other time commitments; schedule meetings with colleagues, and quickly determine which times best fit everyone's schedule.
U of M instant messaging (IM)
Use
UMChat for online, one-on-one or group conversations. Plain-text messages are received immediately after they are typed and sent. UMChat is a simpler alternative to e-mail when both parties are at their computers.
Web conferencing and multimedia presentations
With
UMConnect (formerly Breeze) you can conduct Web conferences from your computer. Features include voice, video text chat, whiteboard, control delegation, and screen sharing. The
Presenter tool lets you turn a PowerPoint slideshow into an interactive presentation with slide notes, audio voiceover, file attachments, and easy navigation features.
... and more
Visit the
messaging and collaboration page for a more complete list of online tools.
Technical Support
Many departments already have their own in-house technical support personnel who can assist you with computer problems. We're glad to help, but often it is best first to check with your support technician because he or she will be most readily familiar with your specific configuration and needs. If this is not practical, please
call 1-HELP and we will do our best to assist you.
When you need on-site assistance to solve a problem, you may
hire a U-Rent-A-Guru consultant for an hourly fee.
Carry-in repair service is available for your University-owned office computer and also your personally-owned computer, and we can bill your department or you depending on the situation.
For ongoing technical support, your department can
purchase a support contract
that provides expert on-site service for a specified number of hours per week.
Training, Professional Development
Enhance your job skills with our
technology training! We offer free seminars and online tutorials, hands-on workshops and short courses, and a library of self-paced learning materials you can borrow at no charge.
Changes of Status
Name and address
When you move, switch phone numbers, or change your name, remember to
update your personal information. An accurate address is important because you will occasionally receive important mailings related to income taxes, employee benefits, and so on. You may need to update your name manually in some places, for example, in your e-mail software and the myU portal.
Vacation, leave, termination
Before you leave, you can use the central e-mail and telephone systems' forwarding and reply features to provide alternate contacts or notifications to parties who try reaching you while you are away.
E-mail and Internet ID. When you
set e-mail auto-reply, the system responds immediately to senders with a vacation message of your choice. Upon termination of employement, your Internet ID and e-mail account remain active through the upcoming January, allowing you to view your payroll and tax forms online. If you were also a student, then your Internet ID and e-mail remain active for up to five years, provided you check e-mail at least every 100 days.
Telephone and voicemail. You can
change your voicemail greeting or
activate call forwarding for your campus phone. Off-campus call forwarding is available only if it was ordered with the phone service.
