Technology

For Faculty & Staff

Technology for Faculty and Staff

This section of the Technology site provides information that is relevant only for Simmons faculty and staff.  However, the rest of the Technology site describes services and provides information relevant to the general Simmons Community, including faculty and staff, so you will find much useful information throughout the site to meet your needs.

If you are new to Simmons, welcome! The list below is a good way to become acquainted with the technology available to you at Simmons.

Also see: learning more about what we support for software on your personally-owned computer.

Top 10 Technology Things New Employees Should Know

  1. Take advantage of the Help Desk
  2. About the Simmons Computing Environment
  3. Email at Simmons
  4. Our Administrative Databases
  5. Scheduling with Meeting Maker
  6. User Names and Passwords
  7. Telephone and Voicemail
  8. Technology Training for Faculty and Staff
  9. Media Equipment, Anti-virus Software, and other Benefits
  10. Technology and Academics
  1. Help Desk: my.simmons.edu/technology/helpdesk
    The Technology Help Desk can assist you with computer hardware or software, such as configuring an office computer to print to a department printer, installing software, resetting passwords, etc. With any technology related question, a call to the Help Desk is a good way to start. Help is available through the web site, email, or by dialing 617-521-2222.
  2. Computing Environment
    Simmons gives you access to a PC or Macintosh computer and networked printer. The software available is listed at my.simmons.edu/technology/helpdesk/software; the Help Desk will install additional software upon departmental purchase and by request. You are encouraged to store files on a file server that is accessible from anywhere on or off campus.
  3. Simmons Email: my.simmons.edu/technology/helpdesk/email
    Every community member at Simmons has a Simmons email account, which is accessible through supported clients (Thunderbird, Outlook, Apple Mail) and other standards-based email software.  The College policy is that official Simmons information will be sent to Simmons email accounts and that you should use your Simmons email for communication with faculty, staff, and students.  Off-campus, you may access email through a web client.
  4. Administrative databases for academic, financial, and fundraising information
    Colleague, made by Datatel Inc., contains Simmons' core administrative and financial data.  Some employees may use the web-based interface to Colleague (AARC) to view class rosters, enter grades, or manage budgets.  Others may use Colleague directly, or Raiser's Edge, the Simmons fundraising system.  All staff use Kronos, the online time and attendance application.  There are other administrative applications on campus that you may use, depending on your job responsibilities.
  5. Scheduling
    Meeting Maker is Simmons standard tool for sharing people's calendar information; all faculty and staff have a Meeting Maker account, which is accessible through software on all office computers, and through the web.  Simmons room schedules are kept in Resource 25; most of the content in R25 is maintained by the Registrar's Office and Conferences & Special Events.
  6. Username/Passwords: my.simmons.edu/technology/helpdesk/ username-password.shtml
    Call the Help Desk at 617-521-2222 to obtain your username for all Simmons systems.  You have one password for most Simmons systems, including for Email, Simmons eLearning, AARC, your MySimmons Portal, Library resources, and Kronos; reset it on the preferences page.  You have another password for computer access (in offices, classrooms, and the file server), and will be prompted to change it the first time you log in using a PC.
  7. Telephone & Voice Mail: my.simmons.edu/technology/helpdesk/phone.shtml
    To obtain your initial PIN so that you can log into your voice mail, call the Help Desk at 617-521-2222.  Consult the online guide for help with basic operations, including changing your PIN. To obtain a long distance code, required to make long distance calls, contact Technology.  As is true of all passwords: do not share your code with anyone!
  8. Staff Technology Training: my.simmons.edu/technology/ptrc 
    You may sign up for technology workshops or online trainings on applications including office productivity and web design.
  9. Benefits
    You may borrow equipment, such as digital cameras from Media Services in Palace Road room P108. Disinfect & Protect your personally-owned computer with free antivirus software and other tools. Purchase Dell and Apple computers, and Microsoft software at Simmons discounts.
  10. On the academic side
    Simmons has created an environment where every teaching space is a technology-enabled space.  Most teaching and event spaces have a projector, computer, VCR/DVD, and ports that allow you to connect a laptop to the system.  Media Services will deliver equipment or media if you give 3 days notice using the online form, or by calling 617-521-2165. Simmons eLearning is powered by WebCT Vista, which is the learning management system used by Simmons; for more about academic technology at Simmons, see my.simmons.edu/technology/ptrc.  Also see our Top 10 Things New Faculty Should Know Adobe Acrobat icon.