January 2024
Support Services for Faculty and Staff
As spring semester kicks off, KU IT is here to help you start the semester strong. Let us assist with any technology needs so you can focus on having a productive start to the year.
Lawrence Campus
Edwards Campus
Canvas Support
Preparing Students for Duo Multifactor Authentication
KU is adding Duo multifactor authentication (MFA) for all students over the next weeks.
We are planning a thoughtful and careful approach to ensure we can provide focused customer support to KU students; however, as with all change, the Duo roll out to students will bring a period of adjustment. We encourage instructors to be patient as students navigate this transition and to encourage students to allow for extra time when navigating the new login process, particularly for time-sensitive situations such as online exams and assignments.
Our goal is a smooth transition with the long-term benefit of improved account security, but temporary issues may occur. If a student is experiencing difficulty with Duo enrollment or login, please direct them to the KU IT Customer Service Center at itcsc@ku.edu or 785-864-8080.
People.ku.edu Sites Will be Discontinued Jan. 31
For over a decade, people.ku.edu has given KU employees free personal web space to host professional pages and content. However, due to shifting technology landscapes, people.ku.edu will formally retire on Jan. 31, 2024.
If you still actively use a people.ku.edu site, please email ku-people@ku.edu before Jan. 31 to discuss alternatives. KU IT may grant extensions on a case-by-case basis to accommodate transition needs.
Alternative Formats with Ally
Ally is a tool integrated with Canvas that makes content accessible through alternate formats that cater to different learning styles and accessibility needs. Formats include audio, electronic braille and color adjusted text for better readability, just to name a few. Ally provides options for students needing accommodations and alternate learning styles, as well as provides guidance to instructors on how to improve the accessibility of course files. Making use of Ally is an impactful way to create a more inclusive learning environment.
For guides and other help information, visit the Ally website.
Quick Feedback Improves Teams Meetings
When those Teams meeting pop-up surveys appear after a call or meeting, please take a moment to rate the experience 1-5 stars. Your feedback allows KU IT to pinpoint areas for improvement within Teams. If your unit has not migrated from Skype for Business to Teams yet, that transition will occur soon. Thank you for your patience and input as we optimize the video conferencing, communication and collaboration experience at KU.
KU IT Trivia
Congratulations to last month's trivia winner Gelita Fields who correctly answered that Yahoo originally stood for: “Yet Another Hierarchically Officious Oracle.”
We have a fresh tech trivia challenge for you this month:
What type of cyberattack involves flooding a network or website with excessive traffic to disrupt its normal functioning?
Email your answer to kucio@ku.edu by Jan. 25 to enter the drawing. One student and one employee will win a prize! Good luck!
Need tech help? Contact the IT Customer Service Center at 785-864-8080 or itcsc@ku.edu. Or, visit our walk-up location in Anschutz Library. Find hours and more on our IT support page.
