Coronavirus Information Updated: October 15th at 4:00 PM MDT
This is a page containing information regarding the current coronavirus situation as it pertains to technology and computing equipment for the UTEP College of Liberal Arts and its faculty and staff. For official UTEP information, please visit:
Official UTEP Coronavirus page: https://www.utep.edu/coronavirus
Remote Teaching: https://www.utep.edu/remoteteaching
Learning Remotely: https://www.utep.edu/learningremotely
Resuming Campus Operations: https://www.utep.edu/recovery
Current Updates:
All Technology announcements have been consolidated in the new Technology News page.
Past Updates:
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LACIT in Liberal Arts Room 405 is currently CLOSED. Starting on Monday, August 17th the Technology Personnel will assist college faculty and staff with technology needs in-person VIA APPOINTMENTS ONLY. We will only allow faculty, staff and students who have an appointment with LACIT to be inside LART 405. Masks are required on UTEP campus and LACIT is no exception. We will not assist you unless you wear a proper mask. You must also sign in and have your temperature taken and recorded. NO EXCEPTIONS.
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Limited in-person hours will be Monday through Thursday 9:00am to 4:00pm and may be modified as needed once the semester starts. The Technology Personnel will assist College faculty and staff with technology issues but will not be here all at the same time to adhere to proper distancing guidelines. We will have a very limited number of students to assist with tasks such as backups, simple configurations, etc.
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If you need assistance, please schedule an appointment so that we are sure to assist you at a specific day and time. We will not accept walk-in requests for assistance at this time. Please email lacit@utep.edu with your request. We will try to get back to you as soon as we can.
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If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to let the Technology Implementation Manager (TIM) for the college Andy Castellanos know at acastellanos@utep.edu
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With the continued Resuming Campus Operations effort, the College of Liberal Arts continues to update its workflows to online as much as possible. Please visit the Remote Work and Inventory sections for details.
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Starting September 1st, 2020 (the start of the 2021 Fiscal Year) there will be new technology requirements for departments and programs of the College of Liberal Arts. Chairs and Directors will be notified via Microsoft Teams.
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Technology Personnel continues to come in to campus on a per-need basis. If the UTEP Helpdesk cannot assist you and you need in-person assistance, please contact the appropriate person via email to set up an appointment.
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For web-related work, please continue to email webmaster backup Patrick Ornelas at paornelas2@utep.edu with your request.
- Like it was mentioned during June 3rd's Town Hall Meeting (jump to 11:02), Technology Implementation Managers (TIMs) can assist with technology for remote work. If you are a Liberal Arts faculty or staff member in need of assistance, please contact Liberal Arts TIM Andy Castellanos at acastellanos@utep.edu with any questions, concerns or requests for assistance. For details, please visit the Remote Work section.
- The LACIT lab is still closed but, Technology Personnel will come in on a per-need basis to physically check out equipment as needed. You must have your [smart]phone (for DUO 2-Factor Authentication) and you must wear a face mask for assistance in person. NO EXCEPTIONS.
- If you need instructions on how to install the Microsoft Teams Desktop App on your computer, please visit the Microsoft Teams App Installation page.
- The College TIM will assist Liberal Arts Faculty and Staff to check out equipment on Friday, March 27th from 8:00AM to 3:00PM inside the LACIT computer lab. Bring your smartphone with you! The Liberal Arts building is locked down so we will be unable to check out equipment anymore. Our sincere apologies.
- Liberal Arts Faculty and Staff: if you need remote assistance with your computer and the Helpdesk is saturated with calls or unable to help you, you can request to join the Liberal-Arts-Remote-Assistance Microsoft Team for remote assistance with your computer. YOU MUST HAVE THE APP INSTALLED!
- You are no longer required to connect to the VPN to access Banner. You still need to connect to the VPN to access network shared drives and to remote into your computer.
- Liberal Arts Departments and Programs who need updates on their webpages, please email Assistant Webmaster Sergio Madrid with your request. Make sure to copy Webmaster Andy Castellanos and Backup Patrick Ornelas on your request.
- LACIT is closed until further notice.
- Any technology questions, please contact Liberal Arts TIM Andy Castellanos at acastellanos@utep.edu
- The college has Mac laptops and PC desktops available to check out to Faculty and Staff BUT now that campus is closed, we may not be able to physically come in on campus to check them out. Please keep checking this page for details.
- The DUO 2-factor system is acting up, asking you to approve multiple times. Current workaround is to approve as many times as quickly as you can to avoid getting locked out. If you do get locked out, you will have to call the Helpdesk at 915-747-HELP (4357). You will need your 8XX number found on your UTEP ID or on your My UTEP profile page (must be signed-in to see it).
- LACIT will stay open until 5:00pm today Tuesday March 24th to accommodate the extra people coming in to the lab.
- Faculty and Staff: YOU MUST BRING YOUR SMARTPHONE WITH YOU!! We cannot set up the DUO 2-factor authentication without it.
- LACIT is out of PC laptops. There are still Mac laptops and PC desktops available.
- The College will continue to configure UTEP laptops for remote use. Please bring your laptop to LACIT (Liberal Arts Room 405) during its special hours so that your laptop is serviced. Bring your smartphone with you for DUO 2-factor authentication (or to set it up for you).
- Plan to spend between 15 and 60 minutes in the lab depending on how much work your computer needs. You CANNOT drop off your laptop as it must be configured with your UTEP credentials. It must be configured with you present to enter credentials. We cannot enter credentials for you.
- Directors and Chairs: you must access the Liberal Arts Technology Update Microsoft Team site (either through the Teams app on your smartphone or through the web app on a browser) and implement actions accordingly. You log in with your UTEP credentials. If you need assistance, please contact TIM Andy Castellanos acastellanos@utep.edu
- The LACIT computer lab will open to students on Monday, March 30th on its regular schedule observing social distancing guidelines from the CDC (6-feet distance between users, no group activities).
- Faculty should take advantage of Spring Break to complete their Blackboard training or refresher.
- The College has prepared several loaner laptops and desktops and will prepare more computers during Spring Break.
- The College is currently configuring assigned UTEP laptops for remote use. Please bring your laptop to LACIT (Liberal Arts Room 405) so that your laptop is serviced. Bring your smartphone with you for DUO 2-factor authentication (or to set it up for you). Plan to spend between 15 and 45 minutes in the lab depending on how much work your computer needs.
- You CANNOT drop off your laptop as it must be configured with your UTEP credentials. It must be configured with you present to enter credentials. We cannot enter credentials for you.
- Chairs/Directors: develop contingency plans to maintain departmental operations remotely. Consider what data needs to be available to what faculty/staff. What systems (PeopleSoft, Banner, Goldmine, etc.) do you need to access remotely?
- Faculty: obtain Blackboard training (see Prospective Measures below). Take your laptop with you to the training so that it can be further configured for BB.
- If you currently have a laptop assigned to you (especially if it's not functioning properly or you have Spectrum internet service at home), please contact the Technology Personnel immediately to have it assessed, serviced and returned to you as soon as possible for remote use.
Preventive Measures:
To help mitigate the propagation of germs (bacteria, viruses, etc.) via computing equipment (touchscreens, keyboards, mice, etc.), we recommend the following:
- Refrain from touching public touchscreen displays (kiosks, computer lab displays, etc.). If you must touch them, immediately wash/disinfect your hands after use.
- If possible prior to use, wipe down keyboards and mice with non-bleach disinfecting wipes. If this is not possible, immediately wash/disinfect your hands after use.
- If your smartphone/tablet is water-resistant (most modern smartphones are -- double-check with the Technology Personnel when in doubt), clean it with a non-bleach disinfectant wipe at least once per day.
- Do not use disinfecting sprays (Lysol, etc.) directly on equipment as this may damage it. If using disinfecting spray, it must be first sprayed on a clean, lint-free cloth (damp -- not wet!) and then the cloth used to disinfect equipment. (This is particularly important for computer/tablet/phone displays).
Prospective Measures:
Remote/Online Teaching
In the remote possibility that the UTEP campus closes and classes must be imparted remotely/online, make sure to familiarize yourself with UTEP's remote/online teaching offerings:
- Blackboard for UTEP Faculty: Technology Support
- If you are not familiar with Blackboard (or need a refresher), please visit the Blackboard Central Faculty Lab in Room 300 of the UTEP Library during regular business hours. Walk-ins are welcomed and encouraged!
- Teaching Remotely: Prepare for when classes can't meet: Campus Edge
Loaner Technology for Remote Teaching
In the remote possibility that the UTEP campus closes and classes must be imparted remotely/online, the College of Liberal Arts has a set of 40+ laptop and desktop computers available to lend to Liberal Arts faculty WHO CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE A LAPTOP ASSIGNED TO THEM:
- Mac and PC laptops (with integrated microphones and webcams)
- Mac and PC All-In-One (AIO) desktops (with integrated microphones and webcams)
Loaner Technology for Remote Work
In the remote possibility that the UTEP campus closes and critical college-related tasks have to be completed remotely, the College of Liberal Arts has access to 20+ desktop computers available to lend to Liberal Arts departments and programs with critical tasks to be completed AND WHOSE STAFF CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE A LAPTOP ASSIGNED TO THEM.