Remote Classes

• Zoom is a web-conferencing software that allows users to schedule and attend online meetings with computers or mobile devices. You can share audio, video, desktop and more with other participants. More information about Zoom can be found on our local Zoom support page.
• Remote Labs and RooLabs Online offer remote access to a variety of software commonly used by UMKC students, faculty, and staff. These two solutions allow students to access licensed software that is otherwise only available in on-campus Computer Labs.
• Faculty- The UM Office of eLearning has published a Quick Start Guide to Teaching Online. Information on UMKC-specific teaching tools is available on the UMKC Online Support page.

Remote Meetings

Several options are available to support work-related phone calls for remote workers.

• Unified Communication Portal allows you to manage voicemail communications and check your voicemail online.
• Zoom account for audio.
• Jabber can be installed on a computer or mobile device and configured to make and receive calls on your UMKC phone number.
• Teams is Microsoft's chat and collaboration solution.

• Box Cloud Storage allows you to access your files remotely. Its use, along with the installation and configuration of Box Drive, will ensure that your files are protected, as well as available for off-network use. More information on the Box service may be found here.
• Microsoft OneDrive allows you to securely store your files in a single place that's accessible from multiple platforms and devices.
• The N and Q drives are not ideal for file storage when working remotely, because connecting to these resources requires first connecting to the UMKC VPN service. Other storage tools, such as Box and OneDrive, do not require VPN and require only an internet connection to work.

Access to on campus resources MyHR, Peoplesoft and other tools

Some on-campus IT resources require the use of Virtual Private Networking (VPN), a tool that provides encryption between your computer and campus resources. All UMKC laptops come with the VPN client installed.

If you are using your personally owned computer, please contact the Technology Support Center for assistance troubleshooting VPN issues.

Automatic joining to unknown or untrusted networks should be turned off and devices should not be used as a hotspot/access point for other devices. University business must not be conducted on public/unsecured wireless networks (e.g., coffee shop WiFi networks) except through the use of VPN or other secure remote access services as provided or authorized by your campus IT department.

Are there security issues that I should know about if I choose to work remotely?

As always, best practices regarding cybersecurity should be followed.

Now, more than ever, you should be vigilant about recognizing phishing scams. Phishing scams occur when cybercriminals send emails claiming to be from legitimate organizations with important information. Any time something receives a lot of news coverage (such as a virus outbreak), criminals will use that as an opportunity to prey on your uncertainties. While designed to appear authentic, these emails direct you to links that are actually controlled by the attacker and are intended to harvest your personal information.

Increased remote work can increase challenges to information security, please be aware of UMKC's information security policies.

• The University of Missouri System uses an automated, rapid notification system to notify students, faculty and staff about campus emergencies and closings, as well as class cancellations. More information on RAVE can be found on UMKC's Rave site.
• UMKC IT system outages and updates can be found on the UMKC IS Status page.
• UM IT System outages and updates can be found on the UM System status page.

Hardware

Laptops are recommended for remote work. UMKC maintains several standard recommendations for computer models and configurations that meet almost every type of usage.

The Teach from Home Bundle is aimed at faculty who may need additional equipment to pair with their laptop to more effectively hold classes and mentor students from home. It includes the following items:

• Two (2) monitors
• One (1) USB soundbar
• One (1) docking station
• One (1) keyboard
• One (1) mouse
• One (1) USB headset
• One (1) standard HD webcam

What equipment will UMKC pay for at my home office?

In general, the university will provide a laptop or desktop/monitor solution for those working at home. The end user must still follow university policies protecting the equipment. Depending upon the circumstance, the university may pay for a headset.

In general, the university will not provide the following:

• Desk
• Chair
• Printer
• Scanner
• Additional speakers beyond those attached to laptop or monitor
• Additional microphones beyond those attached to laptop or monitor
• Lighting
• Shredder
• Internet access
• Office supplies

Personal Computer use

You can use your home/personal computer to work remotely, with some caveats:

• UMKC Remote Labs has software available for use to all faculty and staff.
• Microsoft Office Pro Plus (Outlook, Word, Excel, OneNote, etc.) is available for installation on up to 5 personal devices at no cost for eligible faculty and staff.

You are responsible for keeping sensitive work-related information safe and private. If your computer at home is shared by others in your house, you may not want to use it for work purposes. There are specific security requirements for using personally owned devices for University business.

If you work with patient information, credit cards, or other highly sensitive information, please make sure you follow all security standards including encryption where required.