Remote Working Resources

Find tips on the technologies and services we offer to help you work from home.

If you missed the CCIT session on "Remote and Collaborative Tools," you can still view the presentation.

Technology and Home Setup

Phone forwarding

Rolm phones, NetPhone and Unified Communications RingCentral users can forward incoming calls and check voicemail messages. You can forward incoming calls to any number.

Rolm Phones

To forward calls on Rolm Phones, do the following:

  • Get a dial tone, and press FORWD (or #9).

  • Dial the extension to which you want your calls forwarded. If you want to forward to a non-Columbia line, dial 9+area code + phone number.

  • Hang up.

To cancel forwarding:

  • Wait for a dial tone and press FORWD (or # # 9).

  • Hang up.

NetPhone

For College staff that use CUIT’s NetPhone, log into the NetPhone portal to setup calling forwarding.

RingCentral


For College staff that use CUIT's Unified Communications tool RingCentral, you can make and receive calls from your work telephone virtually.

​Remotely Accessing Your Desktop

CCIT provides virtual desktops via Microsoft's Remote Desktop Service (RDS). Your "H:\" drive and the shared drives (O, P, R and H drives) are available via RDS, as is much of the same software that is installed on CCIT-issued workstations including Microsoft Office, the OnBase client and PowerFAIDS.

​Remote Access via Virtual Private Network (VPN)

The University offers a virtual private network (VPN) service to all staff.

A VPN allows a desktop or laptop located off campus to securely access the University's network and online resources. Many services offered by both the University and College may only be available while on campus. The VPN allows you to connect to these resources from a remote location. The VPN also creates a secure connection by which you can access resources while using a device not on campus. All staff are automatically provisioned a VPN account.

To connect to the VPN, you will need to install the Cisco AnyConnect client on your device. CUIT’s website provides instructions for downloading and installing the client. All CCIT issued laptops already have the AnyConnect client installed and configured. Please contact the CCIT Service Desk at ccit@columbia.edu for assistance installing the VPN client on your personal device, if needed.

Once connected to the University VPN, College laptops that were issued by CCIT will be able to access shared network storage normally as if you were on campus.

Tips and Tools for Virtual Collaboration

Zoom and Google Hangouts

Zoom

Zoom is a video conferencing platform that can be used to meet with Columbia and non-Columbia affiliates.

All Columbia UNIs are issued a free 40-minute Zoom account that can be used with minimal setup. Zoom Pro accounts can be created by request for individual UNI accounts or for shared departmental mailing lists. Zoom Pro accounts cost $25 per year and will require chartstrings for activation. A Zoom Pro account allows for unlimited meeting times with up to 300 attendees. Zoom offers webinar and “Large Room” accounts for meetings that require up to 500 (or 1,000) attendees. These accounts may cost between $400 and $1400 per year, depending on your specific need. More information regarding Zoom accounts can be found on CUIT’s website. Please contact the CCIT Service Desk at ccit@columbia.edu for assistance obtaining a paid Zoom account.

If you need to use Zoom with audio, you will need a device that has a microphone and speaker. Zoom can be used on a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone.

Google Hangouts

All users with LionMail accounts have access to Google Hangouts, which allows for chat, voice, video calls and group video calls.

RingCentral Suite (Unified Communication and Collaboration)

College staff with RingCentral desktop telephones have access to their suite of voice, video and work collaboration tools for desktop computers, telephones and mobile devices all in one place. On your computer, you can use RingCentral’s Softphone, Meetings and Glip (messaging) software to manage your phone calls from your desktop, hold video conferences and chat with your entire team.

Similarly, the Glip app can be used on any mobile device to make audio, video and conference calls; send messages, share content and even manage your workflow. More information regarding the full RingCentral Suite can be found on CUIT’s website.

RingCentral Meetings is a Video Conferencing service available through the Ring Central Suite. With it, can hold video conferences directly from the desktop app (installed on your PC), mobile app, or web site with up to 100 attendees. Full instructions on RingCentral meetings can be found on the CUIT website.

Collaborative Google Files (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides)

All users with LionMail accounts have access to Google collaborative tools within Google Drive.

Text documents, spreadsheets and presentations can be collaboratively worked with easily through Drive. Google Drive is not approved storage for sensitive information that is not encrypted. Please be careful with data you create, manipulate or collaborate with via Google Drive. Please also be mindful of who you share documents with. For a complete tutorial on how to use the Google suite of collaborative tools, please refer to the CCIT deck on remote working, beginning on page 28.

Instructional Design Tips

  1. 26 Easy Ways to Make Your Online Meetings, Workshops, and Programs a Success.

  2. EdX Courses on Instructional Design

  3. The Columbia Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) has created resources to help instructors adapt to teaching online, including using CourseWorks (Canvas), Zoom, and Panopto. Access their resources and instructions on the CTL website.

The Latest Tips and Guides for Effective Remote Working

From how to work from home as a parent to making virtual meetings more engaging, we’ve put together resources that can help you make the most of a remote environment.