Planning Guide for Students - University of Houston
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UH and faculty want you to be successful and will provide all the support they can. Communication is the key to success when studying on your own. There is a community of support from your instructor, the academic support staff, advisors, and University Information Technology (UIT). Bookmark the UIT GetHelp page for quick access to all the ways to reach IT Support.

The IT Support Center (helpdesk) will remain open to support you even from off campus. The helpdesk will be answering phones, text messages, email, and responding to social media. The quickest and easiest way to get help is to call or text message the helpdesk at 713-743-1411. You can also get real time support through chat or you can send an email to uitsupport@uh.edu and we'll get back to you ASAP. Follow UIT on social media for tips and hints to be successful and to see if there are any service disruptions that might interrupt classes. Download UH Go, UH’s official mobile app and use the IT Support module or visit the UIT website for the latest information and the current status of all IT services including Blackboard and Microsoft Office 365.

Prepare now by doing the following:

  1. Go to AccessUH and log in with your Cougarnet ID and password. AccessUH will tell you when your password will expire. If you can't log in or if your password is expiring in the near future go to the Password Reset Wizard and reset your password.
     
  2. In AccessUH, click on the MyUH icon () and update your contact information. The University and your instructors may be sending you regular updates or instructions and you will need to make sure that we have the most current contact information.
     
  3. Click on the Canvas Learn icon () in AccessUH to make sure that you can get in and you see all your classes. Every UH class has a Canvas section set up so faculty can communicate with students.
     
  4. In AccessUH, click on the Microsoft 365 icon () to get access to the online version of Microsoft Office and get your free copies of Microsoft products. All students can download Microsoft products for free on their personal computer. If your computer is slow or your out of storage you can use the web version of the Microsoft suite if you have an internet connection.
     
  5. Check your course syllabi to see if there is any special software you need for your courses. Your syllabus should tell you where to get the software. AccessUH has a Software Download icon () that you can use to download some of the commonly used software titles.
     
  6. Check your syllabi to see if you will need to access any resources that are only available from on campus like retrieving files on campus servers or logging into a remote computer. If so, you will need to set up a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Go to the UIT VPN page for instruction.
     
  7. When working off campus be sure to keep your data secure and your computer safe. Getting hacked, losing your computer, or being locked out by Malware will set you back a long way. Take these steps to make sure you're secure:
    1. Update your anti-virus and anti-spyware software frequently.
    2. Run a full scan on your computer once a week to detect any problems.
    3. Report any suspicious activity on your computer to security@uh.edu.
    4. Avoid giving others physical access to UH equipment.
    5. Don't leave sensitive information unattended.
    6. Logout before you walk away from your computer.

 

Remember, you still have support even when the campus is closed.