Hampton University’s Provost has directed faculty and staff to use Blackboard’s Collaborate Ultra for remote teaching and advising. Administration and staff personnel should use the approved Zoom user account provided for all internal and external meetings. Additionally, the CIT is exploring access to Microsoft teams to promote collaboration and productivity among groups.
- Blackboard Collaborate Ultra – Blackboard Collaborate is a real-time video conferencing tool that lets you add files, share applications, and use a virtual whiteboard to interact. Collaborate with the Ultra experience opens right in your browser, so you don’t have to install any software to join a session. More information on Blackboard Collaborate can be found on the CIT website’s Blackboard Learn section.
- Zoom – Recent news about privacy and security issues involved with using the video communications tool, Zoom, raised concerns among Hampton’s faculty, staff, students, and many other organizations using this tool. Many of the incidents appearing on the news are unauthorized users entering an unsecured Zoom meeting and causing disruptions, popularly known as Zoom bombing. To defend against this and other unwanted meeting interruptions, we recommend keeping your Zoom client updated and using one of many available safeguards including:
- The most recent Zoom update provides a Security button directly on the meeting window.
- Requiring authentication.
- Adding a meeting password.
- Enabling a waiting room.
- Limit screen sharing.
- Locking meetings after participants have joined.
Details of these security options and more can be found in the Security section of the CIT website’s FAQs. Helpful tutorials for using Zoom security features can be found on the Zoom website: Zoom Training Resources.Read Zoom’s response to the recent security concerns.Hampton’s CIT feels confident that the risks identified to date are either avoidable with the proper security settings or being mitigated by Zoom. We will continue to vigilantly monitor Zoom’s security situation and advise accordingly. We ask you to remain informed by checking our CIT website frequently for new information and implementing the practices we define.If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the ATM Help Desk by emailing helpdesk@hamptonu.edu.
- Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Teams is a chat-based collaboration tool that provides global, remote, and dispersed teams with the ability to work together and share information via a common space. The CIT is currently utilizing the features like document collaboration, one-on-one chat, team chat, and more to work remotely. The Computer Center is managing “setting up” the teams. Submit a Help Desk request if you want to implement this feature for your department.
- You do not need VPN access to use Blackboard Collaborate, Zoom, or Teams.