The resources and FAQs below will help you be successful as you work remotely. If you need more help, contact I.T. Service Desk at (208) 496-1411 or through the Live Chat bubble.
What tools exist for synchronous video conferencing and screen sharing?
Zoom is the official BYU-Idaho tool for video conferencing and screen sharing. BYU-Idaho is licensed for an unlimited number of Zoom meetings with up to 100 participants. Zoom is hosted via the internet. It should work well even when many people are using it. However, video chat can consume a high amount of bandwidth. We will be working with the vendor to monitor its load and capacity.
For zoom training, contact the I.T. Service Desk at (208) 496-1411 or through the Live Chat bubble. You can also contact the Faculty Technology Center (FTC).
To learn how to add a Zoom meeting to any Outlook Calendar event, see the Zoom for Outlook article.
How much bandwidth is required for Zoom?
Zoom has certain bandwidth requirements for audio and video calls. See the article System Requirements for PC, Mac, and Linux.
What if I want to record a Zoom meeting and post is as a video?
To record a Zoom meeting and post it as a video, start a Zoom meeting and choose Record to the Cloud from the toolbar. When the meeting is ready to view, it will appear in Canvas under the My Media section. Open your recording and create a shareable link. Anyone with this link can then view your recording. For more instructions on creating a shareable link click here.
What computer should I use if I’m working from home?
The following questions should help you determine the right path forward:
- Do you require access to resources only available from the campus network (i.e. Jenzabar, iSeries, Network drives, etc.)?
- If NO – you may use your campus-issued laptop or a personal device to access Canvas, Zoom, Teams, SharePoint, etc.
- If you do not have access to a campus-issued laptop or a personal device, call the I.T. Service desk at (208) 496-1411 to request a device.
- If YES – proceed to next question.
- Do you have a campus provided laptop?
- If YES – You may take it home. Submit a VPN request at the following link: VPN Request.
- If NO – call the I.T. Service desk at (208) 496-1411 to request a loaner device, as well as to request VPN access.
- For instructions on how to access the VPN after getting approval, visit the article Connecting Employee Computers to Campus Through a Virtual Private Network for step by step instructions.
- If you require VPN access to the campus network and no other resources are available, you may be permitted to take your iMac or Desktop device home (with the approval of your direct supervisor).
What data can I store or access on personal devices?
As an employee at BYU-Idaho, you can save files to Microsoft OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams. It is recommended you save all your work to one of these products. However, saving personal files to these platforms is not supported by the I.T. department.
Saving files to Microsoft OneDrive, SharePoint, and/or Teams will automatically back up your files and allow you to share them with others. You should never store any sensitive BYU-Idaho data or files on your personal device.
See the following links for additional resources on how to use these products:
Can I take monitors or other equipment home with me?
With your direct supervisor’s approval, you can take your monitor, keyboard, mouse, and/or docking station home with your campus-issued laptop.
What if I need a web camera?
If you require a web camera for working from home, you should work with your department to acquire one through approved purchasing methods (i.e. Amazon).
How can I access on-campus systems (Jenzabar, iSeries, etc.) from home?
Certain applications are protected via campus firewalls and are only accessible on campus. A virtual private network (VPN) connection is required to access these from off campus. You can request VPN access by submitting a request at VPN Request or by contacting the I.T. Service Desk at (208) 496-1411 or through the Live Chat bubble.
The BYU-Idaho VPN is provided by redundant appliances with a theoretical capacity of 5000 users. Cisco has indicated they will temporarily provide additional free licenses as needed. While the system should scale to many more users, only those who need access to on-campus systems should request VPN access.
What if I’m working from home and I need to use my desk phone?
You may forward your desk phone to a home phone or cell phone by pressing the Forward all button on your desk phone and entering the number you wish to forward calls to.
You may also use the Cisco Jabber application on your laptop or other device, like you would your desk phone. You can learn how to setup Cisco Jabber on your device by visiting the Setting Up Jabber article.
Cisco Jabber can turn any computer or cell phone into a BYU-Idaho softphone and is available for up to 1500 concurrent users. To request this capability, contact the I.T. Service Desk at (208) 496-1411 or through the Live Chat bubble.
What is G Suite?
G Suite is a set of online productivity tools provided by Google. You can use G Suite for Education as an additional option to collaborate and share documents and files, and connect with others at BYU-Idaho through messaging and video conferencing. As an employee or student, you have access to use Google apps including Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Hangouts, and Forms. Keep in mind that the official applications used by BYU-Idaho for email and calendaring is Microsoft Outlook. Therefore, Google’s Gmail and Calendar are not available.
See the following link to learn more about G Suite for Education.
Where do I get help with G Suite?
To learn how to log in to G Suite with your BYU-Idaho account, visit the G Suite Login Process article for a step-by-step guide. If you are not able to log in, contact the I.T. Service Desk at (208) 496-1411 or through the Live Chat bubble for assistance.
G Suite products are not administered or supported by the Information Technology department. To find answers to questions about G Suite products and to get support, visit G Suite for Education.
Can BYU-Idaho expand network services to provide service off-campus?
BYU-Idaho is not equipped to provide internet or network services to students or employees off-campus. Faculty with unreliable connectivity at home may continue to operate from their campus offices as appropriate.
Contact Us
If you still need help, call us at (208) 496-9009 or start a Live Chat with us.
Hours of Operation: Mon - Fri 7:30 AM - 8:00 PM, Sat 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Mountain Time
(excluding weekly devotional, forum hour and University Recognized holidays)