Are you ready to work remotely?
Use the checklist here when preparing to work effectively away from campus. Contact the OTS Call Center if you have any questions about application or system access.
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Get your computer ready
- If you have a UBalt-provided laptop or home configuration, this will be your best option to use for remote work. (Employees are not expected to take home their office computers, unless under a previous arrangement. Speak with your supervisor if you require a computer and do not have off campus access to one.)
- If you will use a personal computer, make sure your operating system is updated. Make sure to update any installed software such as Chrome, FireFox, Adobe products or any other software. Install or update antivirus software and schedule regular scans. Use malware and spyware protection. Ensure your home network is secure. Contact your Internet provider for guidance on securing network settings on your router.
You may need to consider other places for work if your home is not suitable. Look into options available through your local library, any community co-working spaces, using WiFi available at local businesses, etc. Though these are not ideal situations yet may be necessary at times.
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Install applications you will need on your remote computer
Because you might not use software at home that you use at work or in the computer labs, you might need to install applications on your home computer. Free and discounted software such as Microsoft Office, SPSS, and Adobe products are available to students, faculty and staff. Visit these pages for more information:
Common office applications are also available to use online through Office 365. Sign in using netID@ubalt.edu to authenticate through your UBalt account.
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Files on network drives (M, R, S, T, H) are available online through MyWork Drive (MWD).
OTS is providing a new service for users to connect to their network storage from off campus. You currently have “MyFiles” which is provided through the MyUB portal web site. We are replacing this service with a newer more robust system that you can connect to directly by visiting https://mwd.ubalt.edu. Then simply use your UBalt credentials to log in. Once logged in you will see 4 drives mapped for you under the heading “My Folders”. These drives are R, S, T, H, and Home. The R, S, T, and H are exactly as you would have if logged into your campus computer with the same permissions. The drive that displays as “Home.%userID “ is your M:\ drive which only you have access to. We do not have the ability to label this as M due to the software that drives this system. We hope to be able to do so in a future version.
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Think about group files and collaboration
In addition to your individual work files, think about those group or department files you access regularly. All files on network drives (M, R, S, T) are available through MWD in the portal, if you regularly access them, consider moving them to cloud storage like a departmental SharePoint site. SharePoint is accessed through Tools in the portal. Click here if you want to request a SharePoint site.
For group collaboration on files or for chat and video meetings, Microsoft Teams may be a good option. You can create team sites on your own and add other UBalt community members to this. Once created, you could move files from an R or T drive into the Team Site. Click here for more information.
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Be Prepared to Be Productive
- Remember the physical items you need such as paper files, printed forms and equipment, like power adapters or your wireless mouse and receiver, that you’ll need to bring home from the office.
- Be ready for calling into meetings or having virtual video calls. Does your computer have a built-in microphone and speaker? For Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams, and other online conferencing, you will need the following:
Internet Connection – the faster the better, as slow connections may seriously impact your class experience. Wired connections are generally more stable than WiFi, but both will work.Web browser – Any web browser should do the trick—Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Chrome can all access UBalt web services including Zoom. Internet Explorer will no longer be supported after August 17, 2021
Microphone – often built in to recent-model laptops and webcams
Speakers or headphones – headphones are recommended if you’ll be attending the session in an area with background noise
Webcam - needed only if you wish to participate by camera. Video calls can be participated in by voice only.