Support for Business Continuity
Tools
Banner
Banner Administrative Applications and other administrative systems can be accessed from Clark-managed computers only, and are available either off- or on-campus.
If you have a Clark-issued laptop or other device when working off-campus, you can connect to VPN and access Banner directly.
If you are using a personally owned device when working off campus, you should connect to an on-campus device via Remote Desktop and then access Banner.
ClarkYou
While the ClarkYou portal is a tool that you probably use regularly, it will be useful during an unexpected campus closure. Through the portal, you will have access to many of the online tools you may need.
Fileshares
File shares are a common method used by departments to share content. File shares are fully accessible when using the VPN.
If you just need to download a file to work on it or move it to OneDrive, you can read your file shares via a web browser by going to https://webfs.clarku.edu. There you will login with your Clark Account credentials and can browse and read the file shares you have access to. You cannot modify or create files this way, but it can provide quick access to your information.
Laptops
If you have a Clark-issued laptop, we recommend that you use that for remote work.
The campus maintains a small number of loaner laptops. In times of high demand, laptop loans will be limited and managed to maintain critical University functions.
If you need to request the temporary loan of a laptop, please discuss your need with your department head and request that they contact the Help Desk, which will coordinate approvals with the appropriate committee.
Microsoft 365
Staff and faculty can install Microsoft Office 365 applications on a personal device while employed at the University. This includes Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, Skype for Business, OneNote, Outlook, and Publisher.
OneDrive
OneDrive is Clark’s cloud storage solution that provides 1TB of space to create, save, share and collaborate on files from any browser and any device. This service will be particularly useful during a continuity event in order to collaborate with team members on documents, share your current projects with your colleagues, and save your work in an easy-to-access location.
OneDrive is Clark’s cloud storage solution that provides 1TB of space to create, save, share and collaborate on files from any browser and any device. This service will be particularly useful during a continuity event in order to collaborate with team members on documents, share your current projects with your colleagues, and save your work in an easy-to-access location.
You can access OneDrive from the link in ClarkYou or click here to access it directly.
Outlook
Outlook, on your desktop or online, will give you access to your email, voicemail, calendar and shared mailboxes from off-campus. To access Outlook, use the link in ClarkYou, or click here to access it directly.
Automatic Responses
If you are going be off campus, or if there is a campus closure, we recommend setting an automatic response to notify senders about the situation. Click here for instructions on how to do so from Outlook Online.
Shared Mailboxes
If you need to check a departmental or shared mailbox that you have permission to access, you can do so by visiting https://outlook.office.com/mail/[SHARED MAILBOX]@clarku.edu. For example, if you need to visit the info@clarku.edu shared mailbox, you can navigate to https://outlook.office.com/mail/info@clarku.edu and log in with your Clark Account username and password.
Remote Desktop Connection
Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) allows you to access your campus computer from another device. Once connected, you will have access to all of your usual applications and resources. In order to use Remote Desktop Connection you will need to be connected via the VPN, know your computer name, and ensure that your power settings are correct. Due to the setup required, planning ahead to use this option will be important.
Click here for more information on Remote Desktop Connection
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams keeps our workplace connected during an emergency, so you can easily message, call, and work together with your team. Because everything is stored securely in the cloud, you can access your important files and group chats from anywhere on any device.
Phones
Microsoft Teams handles our phone system directly, meaning your daily calling capabilities and phone extensions will remain completely uninterrupted during a disruption. You can make and receive calls seamlessly from any computer, laptop, or mobile device using your normal work phone number.
VPN
VPN is a tool that allows you to access Clark University’s network from off campus. This will allow you to securely access those computing resources which are restricted to on-campus access only.
Zoom
Zoom supports audio and video conferencing, as well as remote meetings. A host can invite up to 300 people to attend a virtual session and can share their video, audio, and screen. Participants are not required to have a Zoom account and can join with video, with audio (via their computer, device, or phone), and participate in text chatting, breakout rooms, and polling.
All Clark community members have access to a fully-licensed Zoom account (previously called a Pro account). Click here to learn more about Zoom at Clark.
Tips for Working at Home
Maintain a Routine & Keep a Schedule – For most of us, a typical morning includes waking up at a certain hour, taking a shower and brewing a pot of coffee or tea. It is recommended you continue your morning routine at home. While a perk of working remotely is sweatpants instead of slacks, continuing to dress the part will help maintain a sense of your normal routine and can even boost professionalism.
Define where you will and will not work – Whether you’re at a desk or sitting on a barstool at your kitchen island, your home workspace should be where your productivity levels are the highest. Having a dedicated space will let others at home know when you are or are not working. You should also define a space where you won’t work – your favorite chair or spot on the couch. When you’re unwinding there, your mind knows it’s not work time.
Remember to Move – On campus we walk from offices to conference rooms, building to building. At home we virtually jump from meeting to meeting. Be sure to stand up multiple times per day, and put aside time for a daily walk.
Focus on Communication – A lot of communication just happens naturally when we see each other in the hallway, before a meeting, or at lunch. Not only should you talk with others about work, but maintain those social conversations you’d have in the office. Also remember that email and text chat is a very difficult way to convey the tone of a conversation. Feel free to call, use video chat tools like Microsoft Teams or Zoom, or if you are communicating via text, remember that everything you’re thinking may not be perfectly conveyed in words alone. Finally, we’re all in this together; be patient, be clear, and if you’re unsure what you heard, just ask.
