McMaster’s central IT unit, University Technology Services (UTS), has now launched a new website to enhance students’, faculty’s and staff’s experiences as they navigate the technology, tools and services the university offers on its virtual campus.
Whether it’s meeting someone for an online coffee chat or collaborating on a document with a study group, there are many university-provided IT tools and services that can help.
“As the fall term begins, we want the campus community to know we are here to support them,” says Sue McKinlay, UTS senior manager, client services.
The new UTS website is designed to get users the technical support and resources they require more quickly and easily.
The website provides access to core UTS services and tools, including Mosaic and MAC ID, as well as quick links to software available across campus, such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
The new site will also serve as a “go-to resource” for IT service updates, providing information on outages or changes to institutional systems like email or the network.
The UTS website also features a homepage filter, allowing students, staff and faculty members to each see the services they need.
A new live chat feature on the bottom right of the screen connects users with UTS analysts who are ready to provide technical support and answer questions in real time.
“In addition to the website and Live Chat feature, we’re also extending our support hours to ensure learners and educators have what they need to kick off the school year,” McKinlay says.
Effective Monday, Aug. 24, UTS extended service hours are:
- Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The updated UTS website, organized with user behaviour in mind, will highlight information and services considered the most important by the McMaster community.
“Feedback from website visitors, the UTS team, and our campus partners all informed the design of the new website and live chat feature,” explains Assistant Vice-President and Chief Technology Officer Gayleen Gray.
“We look forward to continued collaboration and will undertake ongoing enhancements as we continue to support the campus community.”