• Learning Remotely
• Teaching Remotely
• Working Remotely

Policies and Security

In the office you have protocols and security built in to the work environment. You need to treat your remote office the same way. There are a number of policies that you need to adhere to that have an impact on how your work when you are not in the College's office environment. Here are the key policies:

• Telecommuting Policy
• Network Storage  Policy
• Acceptable use of Information Technology

Temporary or emergency telecommuting  may be used during  short-term  absences such  as a transportation emergency due to weather, a natural disaster, or pandemic health crises. During this type of telecommuting arrangement a formal agreement is not required.

Technology

There are a number of things to consider from a technology standpoint. Below are a some of knowledge base articles and external sites that will help you get settled in a remote work environment.

Bandwidth: It's a good idea to know the bandwidth you are dealing with remotely. Here is how to check your bandwidth on a   PC   and   Mac. Also, this is a good source on how to   monitor your network usage  in case you need to close some applications to increase your bandwidth. Also, to conserve bandwidth during an emergency, you should try texting as opposed to a call.

Accounts: It's a good idea to check your access to individual sites. We have a category dedicated to   login help that provides instructions and known issues.

Office 365: This Microsoft suite of products offers a wide range of cloud-accessible (portal.office.com) applications including Teams and OneDrive (see below). We have a category of   Office365 articles  in our self-help knowledge base. A good place to start is with the the articles on   installing   and   activating  Office 365.

Microsoft OneDrive:  If you haven't already done so, it's a good idea to move your files to the cloud. Here is everything you need to know about setting up and using  OneDrive.

Microsoft Teams: Keeping up with your colleagues is important when working remotely. Here is general information on  how to use Teams  and how to   set up and and run a remote meeting. You also want to make sure your   WebCam   is set up correctly.

Zoom:  Zoom, a web conferencing tool, allows for participants to see and hear each other, share their screens and even use a whiteboard. In addition, the session can be recorded and sent to group members who couldn't attend. The College has an institutional site license for Zoom, which covers all employees and students. It has been integrated into our CofC login, but you must activate your own account through  https://cofc.zoom.us. If you already have your own Zoom account using your CofC address, you will be prompted to switch to the College of Charleston account. It is recommended that you install the Zoom App for your mobile devices ( iOS or  Android) for the best experience.

Web Maintenance: Employees that  maintain College web pages can access Cascade through Office 365 (portal.office.com). VPN access is not needed.

VPN: Your job might require that you use a VPN solution to connect. Check with you manager to be sure. But if you do, here is some information on the   College's VPN options,  steps on   how to connect and some known issues regarding   securityand   connection   over Wi-Fi.

Make sure you have access to any necessary websites. Check out the general login assistance and known issues. 

Remote Desktop:  (Requires VPN) You may need to connect to your office computer via VPN or another person's computer. If so, here is some information on   Windows Remote Desktop, some   general connection tips, and how to use remote desktop on a   Mac. 

Telephones:  Since you won't be using your desk phone, it's a good idea to   set up call forwarding. Also, you may want to change your   voicemail to indicate how to best contact you.

Cougar Alert: Review your contact information for Cougar Alert emergency notifications in MyCharleston and update if needed. You may also choose to download the Everbridge app on your phone ( App Store or Google Play) as an additional contact method. This is how the College will keep you updated and contact you in case of an emergency. 

Additional Resources

• Emergency Preparedness   - A dedicated site on how to be ready in case of emergencies. 

• Self-Service Knowledge Base  - In emergency situations, the Service Desk may be on limited hours. So it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the self-help options.

• Employee Assistance Program (Deer Oaks) - Phone:  1-866-327-2400 | Email:  eap@deeroaks.com | Website:  https://members.deeroakseap.com/

• LinkedIn Learning -  an online educational platform, available to all College of Charleston faculty and staff. LinkedIn Learning can help you discover and develop technology, business, and creative skills through expert-led course videos on hundreds of topics - all on your own schedule. Access  by logging into Absorb (cofc.myabsorb.com) with your College credentials.