Network Upgrades and Maintenance

During the last few months St. Thomas University has embarked on a campus-wide network upgrade focused on delivering improvements to speed, reliability, security and ease of use. Our Internet access has been greatly augmented through new hardware purchases and a partnership with Florida LambdaRail (FLR) and Internet2. These new partnerships will provide enhanced services to popular websites like YouTube, Facebook, Netflix, Google, Microsoft, Amazon and many other popular destinations. 

Every building has also received new network switches and there are new wireless Access Points (WiFi) in every classroom and dorm room on campus.  Network security was also greatly improved by the upgrade of our Intrusion Detection System (IDS) and the deployment of a Network Access Control system which will protect and help safeguard computer usage while on our network. 

We plan on completing all of these upgrades by the second week of August, and we will continue to fine-tune the new network environment throughout the Fall Semester. 

Introduction to Canvas

We would like to announce the addition of Canvas training to our list of instructional technology resources available to our faculty on the following Canvas topics/components:

• Login
• Canvas Requirements and Recommendations
• Contacting Technical or Student Services Support 
• Dashboard
• Course Navigation
• Profile & User Settings
• Communication
• Course Announcements
• Discussions
• Files
• Quizzes
• Assignments
• Grading
• Course Statistics
• People (roster)
• Collaboration

Canvas LMS is now supported by OIT as part of our STU-HotChalk online learning project.  For additional information on Canvas LMS, please visit the Instructor Guide.

To schedule a training or learn more about our services, please send an email to the OIT Training Center at oitat@stu.edu.

Quicker, Easier Remote Desktop Connection

A VPN connection is no longer needed to connect to you STU computer from off campus.

Utilizing a Remote Desktop Gateway (RD Gateway), STU users can now connect to their campus desktop computers without having to set up virtual private network (VPN) connections. The RD Gateway not only simplifies your connection process, but also helps create a more secure, encrypted connection.

Follow the instructions below to set up a Remote Desktop connection from any off campus computer.

Note:  You must be off campus in order to establish this type of connection.  

Remote Desktop Connection Setup

  

1. Open your Remote Desktop Client or (if using Windows 7) click on the Start button and start typing “Remote Desktop” to find it.

  

2.  Enter the name of the remote computer and input your STU User name: 

3.  Click the Advanced tab to make additional changes:

4.  In Advanced settings, select Connect and don’t warn me on the drop down and then click Settings under Connect from anywhere

5.  Under RD Gateway Server Settings, select Use these RD Gateway server settings:

6.  Input remote.stu.edu as the Server name. 

7.  Check the Use my RD Gateway credentials for the remote computer box. 

8.  Click Ok

9.  Click Connect

10. Enter your password.

You should now be logged onto your campus computer.