Staff Technology Checklist

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For New or Returning Staff

✓ Initialize your official Macalester College account

About 10 days prior to your start date Information Technology Services (ITS) will send an email message with the subject “Initialize your Macalester Account” to your personal email address on file. Follow the prompts to set your password.

✓ Turn on 2-factor authentication for your Macalester & Google accounts

Set up Duo Mobile for Macalester applications
Go to 2fa.macalester.edu and sign in with your Macalester username and password. Click Add a device and follow the prompts to enroll in Duo Mobile for 2-factor authentication. Smartphone and Duo Mobile App are required to enroll.

Set up Google 2-Step Verification for Macalester email
Go to gmail.com and sign in with your Macalester email address and password. If you have already signed into another Gmail account, try using a different browser or private/incognito window. Follow the ENROLL prompt to turn on Google 2-Step Verification before the 2-week enforcement deadline or you’ll be locked out of your Google account.

✓ Know how to contact ITS for technology help

Contact the ITS Help Desk for technology assistance. Check out our Self Service Portal to search our knowledge base for answers, chat, submit a ticket to ask for help.  help.macalester.edu | [email protected] | 651-696-6525

✓ Forgot your password?

You can reset it yourself with our self-service password reset tool. Just go to 1600grand.macalester.edu and click Forgot Password.

How to reset a forgotten Macalester password | password rules

✓ Staff may request preferred name change (optional)

Macalester systems will use your preferred name as the system’s display name, like email, Zoom profile and our online directory. Staff may request their preferred name be changed to something other than their legal name by submitting the Employee Personal Information Update Form (gform) or contact Human Resources directly at [email protected]. Once the request is submitted to update your preferred name, it may take several days for the update to migrate to Macalester systems.

✓ Read email

Check your email often! Human Resources, Facilities Services, Communications & Marketing, and ITS are just a few of the departments on campus, not to mention your colleagues, that send vital information to your inbox. mail.macalester.edu | Gmail app (Google Play) | Gmail app (App Store – Apple)

✓ Follow the Google Workspace Checklist for new users

Welcome to Google Workspace. To set up your new work space on your first day, complete the Day 1 Google Workspace Checklist. The Google Workspace Welcome Center offers resources and a roadmap for users to get to know G Suite. This Center contains details on the Learning Center, help guides for each app, switching guides, our new Sheets Coursera course, and more.

✓ Claim your Zoom Meeting & Zoom Phone license

Macalester uses Zoom for video conferencing and for phone service. Use your Macalester Username and Password (not just the email address) to properly set up your Zoom Meeting and Zoom Phone account with our site license. Follow these instructions to learn how to sign in with SSO to set up your Zoom account.

✓ Set up your VPN Account for working remotely

Do you need to access services like G & H Drives, Argos, and OnBase from home? Use VPN for off-campus connections. Follow the appropriate guide:  VPN & Duo Mobile setup guide macOS (gdoc) or VPN & Duo Mobile setup guide Windows (gdoc).

✓ Review computer hardware and software needs with supervisor

Staff positions that require a computer will be provided with one. The Computer Replacement Fund, managed by ITS, is set up to replace computers about once every four years. Tenure-track faculty usually have start-up funds with which to purchase a computer.

✓ Connect your device to eduroam – Campus wifi

Connect your device to eduroam, a free global wifi roaming service that works on campus and at participating institutions. Check out the connection guides for your device. eduoram connection guides

✓ Request access to WordPress (website editor)

You may be responsible for editing your department’s website. Instructions on how to request an account and self-paced training options are included on Communications & Marketing’s Web Training and Resources page.

✓ Request access to ITS applications

As a Macalester College staff member, you may require access to Argos, Banner and other enterprise systems. You and your supervisor will work with ITS to get you the access needed.

✓ Scan your MacPass at any multifunction to set up your uniFLOW printing account

Most departments have a multifunction device for printing, scanning and copying. To get access to MacPrint, just scan your MacPass at any multifunction device and enter your Macalester username and password.

✓ Download MS Office on personally owned computer (optional)

In addition to MS Office being installed on all college-owned computers, the full version is available to staff (25% FTE or above are eligible) at no cost as part of our Microsoft volume licensing agreement.  Microsoft Office for Windows (gdoc) | Microsoft Office for macOS (gdoc)

✓ Confirm access to G & H shared drives

Faculty and staff get access to shared drives upon account creation, but not all departments use them. Windows users go to My Computer. Mac OS users go to Finder > Go > Connect to server > smb://files.macalester.edu server. Use the G drive to share files within a group/department; use the H drive to store personal files. Files stored on the shared drives are backed up nightly.  webfile.macalester.edu 

✓ Your email is subscribed to Staff announce and Mac Daily Google Groups

Your Macalester email address will automatically be added to our Staff announce and Mac Daily Google Groups. Watch your inbox for the latest message or view an archive at groups.google.com/my-groups.

✓ Complete your cyber security training for new staff

Staff and faculty will receive an email from our partner, Infosec IQ, with a link to the required ITS training. Expect to receive regular reminders to complete the training from [email protected]. The training format consists of a short video followed by an assessment that covers a specific cyber security topic and will take 5–10 minutes to complete.

✓ ITS & Google workshop invite is on the way!

An ITS staff member will invite you to our ITS & Google Workshop, usually during your first week of work.

For Supervisors

✓ Let ITS know the technology needs of your new hire

Complete Employee Adds, Moves, and Changes and upon submission, an ITS Help Desk ticket will be created and we will start the process of preparing a computer for your new hire.

✓ Determine hardware and software needs

Supervisors should always contact ITS about their new employee’s technology needs. Part-time staff sometimes share office space and computers. ITS can work with departments to order computers and software not covered under current site-wide license agreements. Faculty (tenure-track and non-tenure-track) should contact their AIA for hardware needs.

✓ Macalester accounts for new staff

Once all onboarding paperwork has been completed by the new hire, an automated process will create a Macalester account. Up to 10 days prior to their official start date, the new hire is sent an email message to their personal email address with instructions on how to initiate their Macalester account. If there are questions about the status of the Macalester account, check to see if the new hire has completed the necessary paperwork or contact [email protected].

✓ Confirm access to department shared drive folders

Access to a department’s share drive or G Drive is automatically granted during the account creation process. Should a new hire require access to a shared drive located outside of their department, send an email to [email protected] to request it, include the name of the shared drive and new hire. 

✓ Request access to ITS application systems

Submit the ITS Application Request form to request access to the following ITS managed software: 1600grand tab, AD group, Argos / Banner, Automic, OnBase, PandaDoc, Student 360, Web Time Entry (WTE). Your request will be shared with the relevant college department for approval.

✓ Confirm membership on department Moodle Groups and Google Groups

Faculty and staff will be automatically subscribed to appropriate Google Groups, including the [email protected]. Inclusion to department-wide Groups and Moodlegroups may be necessary. groups.google.com | moodlegroups.macalester.edu

✓ Contact Human Resources to let them know the phone number and office location of your new hire

The building, room, phone number, department and job title published on the college online directory comes directly from Banner. Contact Human Resources at [email protected] to let them know the contact information of your new hire. 

✓ Refer new employee to New Employee Checklist

Share this page with your new employee. It’s a great way to get started with technology at Macalester!

✓ Need technology assistance?

Contact the ITS Help Desk should you need assistance with any of the above items at [email protected] or 651-696-6525.