Technology

Instructional Technology

BU Google Apps are a set of services provided by IS&T that give people at Boston University access to Google’s features and tools, but with additional special protections and provisions not available with the consumer version of Google services. BU Google Drive is a cloud-based file storage service provided by Google under this special contract. (Note that despite earlier suggestions to the contrary, BU is not discontinuing use of Google Apps.)
Your students all have BU Google accounts that they use for email, and they can log in with those. If you haven’t already done so, new faulty should request that your BU email account be enabled as a Google Apps account; this process happens automatically for students but must be manually requested by faculty. You can then use your Google-enabled BU account to create a shared Google drive for your course and to access Google docs that others might have set up and allowed BU-wide access to. You can then log in to Google docs via Kerberos (the regular BU log-in system).
Please visit the BU Informational Security website to learn more about the benefits of using BU Google Drive and how to set it up with proper security restrictions, which is your personal responsibility.

All WR courses must have a course management site. Blackboard (https://learn.bu.edu/) is the default; other course management systems may be used with Writing Program approval. At a minimum, you must post your syllabus and assignments to your course management site. As of Fall 2024, Blackboard sites are automatically created for all classes 90 days before they begin, though they will not be viewable by students until you make them available.

Digication is web-based software that the Writing Program uses for students to build their cumulative portfolios.

The College’s official policy is that BU email accounts must be used for BU business, including teaching. The reason for the policy is that once email gets onto outside servers (Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.), it is no longer owned by BU and thus the university cannot guarantee that it is secure. In particular, it becomes very difficult when outside servers are involved to protect confidential communications and to maintain FERPA standards.
The same is true for methods of document collection. Please use only BU-sanctioned software such as Blackboard, Digication, BU’s Google Drive, and BU email to collect files from students. Outside third-party programs such as Dropbox should not be used.

As faculty of the CAS Writing Program, you have the option to request a personal folder on Boston University’s computer network. Networked folders are password-protected, backed up regularly, and accessible from most computers on campus. They can also be accessed from home through the use of a BU-authorized VPN client. To get started, contact CAS Computing Services for individual assistance.

Information Services and Technology (IS&T) provides students, faculty, and staff with access to a variety of computing resources. BU accounts provides access to the Web, to electronic mail, and much more. For instance, you will need an BU account (login name and Kerberos password) in order to submit final grades at the end of the term. A BU ID number is required to apply for an account.
If your office computer or printer has a hardware problem, you may submit a help ticket to CAS Computing Services. Computing Services provides repair service only for computers owned by Boston University. If you are having a problem with software on your computer or email accounts, please contact IS&T.
Faculty who would like classroom technology training for themselves can attend regularly scheduled and other training sessions before the semester begins or in the first three weeks of the semester. Faculty can also schedule one-on-one meetings with LETS specialists in their own classrooms, before the semester begins or at a mutually convenient time. Training sessions that are already scheduled and available as well as information on obtaining personalized training can be found here.
Any faculty member who has difficulties with the technology in a Registrar classroom during the semester should call the Classroom Technology Hotline (617-353-3227) to receive help within approximately 5 minutes. The classroom help hotline is posted in every Registrar classroom.

Since Spring 2020, COM Field Production Services (640 Comm. Ave., Room B17, open M-F, 9-6) has hosted a digital media equipment loan program open to all BU students and faculty, available on a first-come, first-served basis for 7-day loans. Equipment includes audio-recording kits and video-recording kits, which can be reserved by emailing COM Director of Technology Brad Fernandes.
If your device does not have the capacity to run software that you use to teach, please contact CAS Information Technology cashelp@bu.edu (617-353-5930 and/or the Writing Program’s admin team (wpadmin@bu.edu) so that we can find a solution that meets your needs.
Students may be referred to a pilot laptop loaner program here.

This is the WPnet–the Writing Program’s internal site of resources for faculty. If you are teaching in the current semester but are unable to access any part of the site, please let us know by emailing us at wpadmin@bu.edu.

BUWorks (Employee Self-Service) allows you to adjust your benefits during open enrollment periods, view paystubs and W2s, etc. To log on, see this link.