Return TO CAMPUS
Find information here that will help you navigate new and changing services for the start of in-person instruction.
Classroom Technology in the time of CoViD
As we return for the Fall 2022 semester, we are continuing to address concerns and impacts from COVID-19 on all our lives.
In alignment with university policy and campus needs, Academic and Emerging Technology (AET) continues to make adjustments to classroom technology to support teaching and learning while still taking precautions.
In Fall 2021, we created a web page to keep faculty and staff informed of current restrictions and changing precautions. We have updated the page for Fall 2022 and will keep it updated as guidance and policy changes.
All Things Zoom
OIT maintains a Zoom information page to keep users informed about key features and issues. There, you'll find a searchable, interactive database detailing the level of Zoom capability of campus classrooms and meeting spaces, documentation for commonly used features, best practices, and FAQs.
New Features
Zoom has added a number of features you may find useful:
- Advanced polling offers more question types like matching and ranking
- Dual screen sharing allows multiple people to share their screens at the same time
- Non-verbal feedback and emoji reactions have merged into on place: Reactions
- Spotlight allows you to set what videos participants see
- Machine-generated automated real-time captions and transcriptions
- Co-hosts can now perform most host actions like managing wait rooms and breakouts
The OIT System Status Page
In 2021, OIT released a new status page that tracks the functionality of all major campus IT systems, including a number of key vendor-hosted services such as Office 365, Zoom, and more.
The Status page provides campus users quicker and more accurate information during outages, as well as increased transparency into the significant amount of work we do maintaining our campus systems, platforms, and technologies.
Visit the page or subscribe to automatic alerts via the method of your choice: email, webhook, RSS, Teams, or Slack.
OIT Behind the Scenes
During the 2021-2022 academic year, OIT launched our OIT Behind the Scenes webinar series. During the year, we hosted 10 webinars about various OIT technologies and service groups....with more to come!
We also created a Behind the Scenes webinar page where you can browse session recordings, slides, resources, Q&A, and more.
We look forward to seeing you in the sessions that look most interesting to you!
We've linked directly to past webinar recordings and noted highlights from some of our favorite sessions below. We invite you to browse and take a quick peak...this is fun way to catch the highlights and get refreshed on key information!
UC Merced CONNECT
UC Merced Connect is our campus app, desktop portal, communications platform, and one-stop-shop for access to key campus systems and information.
This year, you'll see more event-based content and more communication happening in the Connect platform. Join us as we build a more Connect-ed campus!
What You'll FIND in CONNECT
Tap MY MERCED to find:
- Persistent log in - sign in once with your UCMNetID and move seamlessly between most platforms from Connect
- Quick links to popular campus applications like email, Box, and Zoom
- Employee resources like UCPATH, APO, TRS, and more
- Faculty-specific resources like Digital Measures and Academic Case Management System (ACRS)
Tap TEACH to find:
- Access to course & student management systems like CatCourses, GRIP, Banner SIS, and Slate
Tap CAMPUS RESOURCES to find:
- Key campus resources all in one place: Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS), Office of Information Technology (OIT), Campus Safety, Library, plus many more
Remote Lab
Created due to urgent need during remote instruction, RemoteLab is a service that allows faculty, staff, and students to connect remotely to computing environments and specialized instructional software. With one or two exceptions, the software available via RemoteLab is identical to the software installed in OIT's physical computer labs.
You don't have to download any special programs to access the RemoteLab environment - it's all available through your web browser!
OUR Spaces:
As you return to campus (or arrive for the first time!), we encourage you to take a look at Our Spaces, an interactive database that details room status, updates, and features of the over 350 campus classrooms and spaces that AET supports.
- Click on a room to bring up more details about the space.
- Click on the magnifying glass to use the Filter, Sort, and Search functions to find spaces with specific features or to get insight into your fall classrooms or conference spaces.
- Find links to report technology or facility problems in your room, reserve the room, or even request event support.
Comprehensive Searchable Database