Continuity and Community has changed our timing! We are now a biweekly digest—be sure to look for us every other Wednesday through the summer semester for timely information about new and changing UC Merced services, tips for how to use existing services more effectively, and resources that may be of value to staff and faculty alike.

Be sure to visit the OIT pages dedicated to Educational Continuity For Instruction , Continuity For Learning , and Continuity for Remote Work . These pages, along with a broader set of crowd-sourced, curated resources for faculty , students , and staff are being updated frequently with new information to aid your transition.
ISSUE 7: May 27, 2020
IN THIS ISSUE
  • COVID-19 Security Alerts
  • TRS (Staff Time Reporting System) Change
  • New Microsoft Teams Resource Page
  • Zoom Auto Logout Change
  • Zoom Bombing Webinars
  • CETL-Resources for Summer Session Instructors
  • Technology Resources Available for Checkout
  • Adobe Free Access Extended Through July
  • Curated Resources
  • Dania Matos on Virtual Focus Groups and More
  • Tech Tip: Microsoft FindTime
  • Student & Staff Job Bank
  • Service Desk Moves to AOA
  • Staff Excellence Awards
  • Curated Resources
UPDATES FOR ALL
COVID-19 SECURITY ALERTS
The shift to remote learning, remote instruction, and remote work (and the associated rise in use of personal devices to do University work) has led to an increased risk to UC Merced’s information security posture. The threat of social engineering, phishing, and disinformation campaigns surrounding COVID-19 remains high.

Visit the Information Security Alerts page for more detailed information. You can also review our frequently updated Phishing Archive to see what threats currently exist. Finally, if you're unsure if an email is legitimate, please report it directly to infosecurity@ucmerced.edu.
NEW STAFF TIME REPORTING SYSTEM
On June 4, UC Merced’s staff Time Reporting System (TRS) is shifting hosts from UCLA to UC Irvine. Please be aware:

  • Employees on monthly schedules should not create their May timesheets until June 4
  • Employees on biweekly schedules should not create a timesheet for the May 31-June 13 period until June 4
  • Timesheets created before June 4 won’t be processed, and employees will have to create another one in the new system.

If you have concerns or questions, please contact trs-support@ucmerced.edu .
NEW MICROSOFT TEAMS RESOURCES NOW AVAILABLE
OIT has launched a new Microsoft Teams page to help you get started with Teams and learn about features that will make the platform more useful for remote teaching, learning, and working.

Some Teams features:

  • unified communication and collaboration platform
  • persistent workplace chat
  • host video meetings/online classes/discussion sessions for as few as 2 or up to 250 participants
  • file storage (including collaboration on files)
  • application integration with the Office 365 productivity suite
  • feature extensions integrate with non-Microsoft products
ZOOM AUTO LOGOUT CHANGE
In response to UC Merced user feedback, OIT has changed a configuration in Zoom related to how frequently the desktop client requires you to log in. UC Merced Zoom desktop client users will now only be prompted to log in every 90 days.
ZOOM SECURITY WEBINARS
Before you kick off your summer course or schedule your next Zoom meeting, arm yourself with information about how to prevent Zoom bombing.

OIT staff are hosting weekly webinars on the Zoom settings that will keep your meetings most secure. Register for your spot today!
UPDATES FOR FACULTY
CETL: RESOURCES FOR SUMMER SESSION INSTRUCTORS
With Summer Session A right on the heels of spring term, there is little time to be intentional in developing an "online" course. This means that Emergency Remote Instruction (ERI) continues for now.

The good new is, many excellent resources have been developed in the last two months to help faculty work through the pedagogical process and become familiar with the instructional tools needed to move course content online.
TECHNOLOGY DEVICES AVAILABLE FOR CHECKOUT
The Technology Resources program provides technology loans to instructors, TAs, and students for instructional needs, especially in light of the unique needs of remote instruction.

Instructors, as you prepare for summer, you can request webcams or headsets to produce instructional material. We also encourage you to let your students know about the Technology Resources available—students can check out laptops and other technology to support remote learning.
ADOBE CC FREE ACCESS EXTENDED
Adobe has extended the free temporary at-home access to Adobe Creative Cloud for students and faculty impacted by COVID-19 campus closures through July 6, 2020.

POTENTIAL LIGHTROOM ISSUES
Taking advantage of the free Adobe CC access? Be aware that cloud-first apps like Lightroom CC, Lightroom Mobile, or Adobe Fresco may not work as expected if you do not have a paid account with Creative Cloud storage. Quick fix: use Lightroom Classic instead of Lightroom CC.
CURATED RESOURCES FOR FACULTY
Have a great resource that you'd like to share? Tell us about it!
UPDATES FOR STAFF
EQUITY, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSION INITIATIVES
VIRTUAL FOCUS GROUPS
The People First workgroup is designed to ensure that the campus is providing adequate support and responding to gaps and issues related to UC Merced campus-wide strategies on COVID-19.
CALM APP
The Calm app is a resource to practice mindfulness to reduce anxiety and stress, improve sleep and focus, and enhance academic and workplace productivity and performance.
VIRTUAL DIALOGUE SERIES
Community Mindfulness Meditation Session
MAY 27 | 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm
Developing Confidence as a Tool for Resilience & Well-Being
May 28 | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
TECH TIP: MICROSOFT FINDTIME PLANNING TOOL
If you've ever found yourself needing to ask a group of people when they are available to meet, you know it can take a significant amount of emails to arrange. FindTime is a Microsoft feature that works with your UCMerced email to send out a meeting times poll. You can even set it up to automatically send out the meeting invite once everyone indicates their availability.

When creating a new calendar appointment with FindTime:

  1. add attendees
  2. open FindTime
  3. chose times to include in the poll

All attendees will receive an email asking them to chose their available or preferred times.

To add FindTime to your account, go to the link below and chose Install . You'll be asked to sign in to your UCMerced account and then will be able to use FindTime on webmail, or through Outlook on PC or Mac. ( Note: If you have the Outlook apps open, you will need to close and restart them. )
SERVICE DESK NOW IN AOA!
As a reminder, the Service Desk has moved locations for the summer!

If you need to visit the Service Desk in person, you can find them in the Academic Office Annex (AOA) in the lobby (Area 100).
STUDENT JOB BANK PROGRAM
The Division of Finance and Administration has developed a   Student Job Exchange Program  to identify currently underutilized student staff who might be able to provide help in other areas of campus and match them with departments that have special assignments/tasks and/or projects. 
STAFF JOB BANK PROGRAM
Human Resources has developed a   Job Exchange Bank   for represented and non-represented UC Merced staff employees.

The program is designed to identify underused staff and match them with departments and units that can use their abilities for other tasks, assignments or projects.
STAFF EXCELLENCE AWARDS
UC Merced Staff Assembly have announced that nominations are open for the 2019 Staff Citation of Excellence Award Program. which acknowledges and celebrates outstanding achievements and meritorious service. Up to seven individuals will be honored this year and presented with the award at the annual fall Staff Convocation.
CURATED RESOURCES FOR STAFF
Have a great resource that you'd like to share? Tell us about it!
PAST DIGESTS
Missed an issue? Explore past issues of Continuity and Community
to look back on important news and updates.