August 2025

We're excited to share helpful updates, tips, and resources to support you as you navigate the ever-evolving world of technology at NKU.

For more information, visit the NKU IT website anytime, or reach out to the IT Help Desk—we're here to help!

Make sure to give yourself extra time to log in to classroom computers on the first day of class. These computers may have been updated over summer break and it may take a few minutes to reconfigure your profile.

Remember, you should not save documents locally on classroom computers. Instead, use cloud storage via OneDrive, which can be accessed through webmail.nku.edu. Contact the IT Help Desk for more information on this process.

During the first two days of the semester, IT staff will be located in key areas of campus to help with smart classroom support and other technical questions. Support staff will be centrally located in academic buildings, but will be able to move around to assist faculty. As always, faculty can call the Help Desk at 859-572-6911 for assistance. We hope this in-person service will smooth early issues by providing an immediate response to technical problems.

Locations include:
BC 1st floor entrance nearest MP
FA 3rd floor near plaza entrance (near Art Office)
GH 2nd floor in the Informatics Commons
HE 2nd floor in the grand forum near room 221
LA 4th  floor near elevators
MP 3rd floor near elevators in the center of the building
SC 3rd  floor opposite elevators

NKU IT has a Media & Event Team to help with your AV needs.  Offers include height-adjustable, mobile podiums (Ergotron Teachwell) as well as wireless keyboards, large mobile monitors, projectors, Public Address (PA) systems, and mice to assist with accessibility needs in the classroom and campus events.  Quantities are limited and are offered on a first-come basis for short-term or semester-long reservations. Equipment for off-campus events is also available. 

This team can expertly advise you throughout the process for new installations or upgrades. Assistance is available to adapt classroom teaching stations to meet accessibility needs.  To schedule a consultation or reservation for equipment, please submit a request.

Two-week equipment checkout for students includes the following devices: iPad, iPad mini, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Dell Latitude. Equipment is loaned for two-week intervals, and may be renewed once, if there is no wait-list for the item. Renewals must be conducted in person, not via email or phone.

The IT Help Desk is open for phone (859-572-6911) and chat support during the following hours:

• Monday – Friday: 7:00 am – 10:00 pm
  
• Saturday – Sunday: Closed

Email and online service requests may be submitted at any time. A support specialist will respond during open hours.

 

The Norse Tech Bar provides walk-in assistance in the University Center on the plaza level. Technology experts are available to answer questions and troubleshoot computer, tablet, and smartphone problems. Printers, lab computers with Microsoft Office, and specialized software are ready for use.  Equipment loans are obtainable for Dell laptops, MacBook Airs, and iPads. Hours of service are:

• Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm 
  
• Saturday – Sunday: Closed

In our ongoing efforts to fortify our campus's digital defenses, we're excited to continue Multifactor Authentication (MFA) for all faculty, staff, and students — a crucial step in safeguarding your online experience, especially when accessing the campus network remotely.
 
To help protect your accounts and personal information, DUO multifactor authentication will be required for all incoming students and employees. Automatic enrollment in DUO will occur on September 5. Want to get ahead? You can enroll early—it's quick and easy. 
 
If you have a smartphone, we encourage you to download the DUO Mobile app for a smoother and more secure login experience. With the app, you can simply tap “Accept” instead of manually entering a text message code, saving you time and reducing NKU costs. Need help setting it up?  Contact the IT Help Desk, or visit the Norse Tech Bar where our team will be happy to assist you!
 
What You Need to Know:

• Why MFA?
  • Your digital safety is our top priority. MFA acts as an additional security layer, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access and cyber threats.
• On-Campus Convenience
  • There's no need for MFA when you are using campus network computers, making your on-site access seamless.
    
Ease of Use
• Enrollment is straightforward. Comprehensive guides are readily available in our IT Knowledge Base.

Recently, NKU faculty, staff, and students have reported an increase in scam emails offering seemingly lucrative employment opportunities. These scams prey on people (primarily students), often leading to financial losses or identity theft.

How the Scam Works

1. Initial contact: Scammers send emails posing as employers, alumni, or even NKU faculty.
   
2. Attractive Offers: These emails present job opportunities with promises of high pay for minimal work or flexible hours.
   
3. Personal Information Request: Once a student expresses interest, scammers ask for personal information, such as bank details, Social Security numbers, or other sensitive data.
   
4. Check or Money Transfer: In some cases, the scammer sends a fake check and asks the student to deposit and then transfer a portion of the amount to another account. When the bank eventually identifies the check as fraudulent, the student is left to cover the entire amount.

Steps to Stay Safe

1. Verify the Sender: Always check the sender's email address. Scammers can use addresses that seem legitimate at first glance. If in doubt, contact the purported sender directly using a known, trusted method. (Not anything from within the email.)
   
2. Never Share Personal Information: Legitimate employers won't ask for sensitive information via email.
   
3. Be Wary of Too-Good-To-Be-True Offers: High pay for little work or vague job descriptions should raise red flags.
   
4. Research the Company: If you've never heard of the company, do a quick Google search. Check for reviews or other information that might indicate its legitimacy.
   
5. Don't Cash Suspicious Checks: If someone sends you a check and asks you to send money back or to another party, it's likely a scam.
   
6. Contact NKU: If you receive a suspicious email, forward it to abuse@nku.edu, or contact the IT Help Desk. They can offer guidance and alert others.
   
7. Educate Yourself: Familiarize yourself with common scam tactics so you can recognize red flags. There are many resources online that detail various scams and how to avoid them.

Remember to always exercise caution and trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. Stay informed and stay safe!

The following computer labs are operated by IT, open to all students, and available during each building's open hours. All labs have printing available.

Location	Computers
BC 364	Windows
FH 253	Windows
GH 322	Mac
SC 3rd & 4th Floor	Windows
SL 1st Floor	Windows and Mac
SL 4th Floor	Windows
UC 252 (Norse Tech Bar)	Windows and Mac

To help ensure a safe, smooth journey through all of your virtual experiences, please follow these security best practices:

1. Password Power-Up: Use a strong password (12+ characters if possible), and avoid using easily guessed information like your birth date or NKU ID number.
   
2. Multi Factor Authentication (MFA): Enable MFA wherever available. This double-checks your identity by requiring a second form of verification, like an app notification on your phone, before allowing access. 
   
3. Phishing: If an email looks suspicious, it probably is. NKU will never ask for your personal information via email. When in doubt, don't click! Forward any suspicious emails to abuse@nku.edu.
   
4. Protect Your Devices: Make sure all your devices are equipped with the latest antivirus software, and use the most up-to-date security patches. Avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive tasks unless you're using a trusted VPN. (Note: NKU's VPN protects you only between you and NKU, not you and your bank or other locations.)
   
5. Protect Your Data: Do not share sensitive information (social security numbers, credit card information, bank accounts) via email, text, or public Wi-Fi as this puts your data at tremendous risk.  Use only verified sites or apps.
   

NKU offers two primary wireless networks: NORSE_NET and NORSE_GUEST.

To access internal network resources such as shared drives (e.g., J: and K:), please connect to NORSE_NET using your NKU username and password. Both NORSE_NET and NORSE_GUEST are available for use on university-owned and personal devices.

For students living in the Residential Village, NKU MyWiFi provides a private wireless network for individual rooms and shared areas within your building. Step-by-step setup instructions are available to guide you through the process.

If you need additional support or have any questions, please contact the IT Help Desk or submit a service request through our website.

Consider adding technical resource information to your syllabi. We can help free your valuable teaching time by providing technical support to your students. We are available to assist students with hardware, viruses, email, and academic software. Please send students seeking support to the Norse Tech Bar in the University Center or refer them to the IT Help Desk.

Kaltura is NKU's video storage, lecture capture, and editing tool. It allows faculty to easily record and caption videos for classes. Machine captioning is turned on for all videos, and a simple editor tool is available to increase the reliability of the caption. For assistance, please see IT's Kaltura knowledge base videos and articles or contact CETI or the IT Help Desk.

NKU provides Microsoft Office 365 to every employee free of charge. This means the latest version of the full Microsoft Office productivity suite (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and more) is available for offline and online use. As long as you are an NKU employee, this software is free for you to use. You may install it on up to five compatible devices, and you can use OneDrive for automatic syncing between all your devices. 

Do not post your NKU ID card on Social Media. The information on NKU ID cards can be used to access and control your NKU accounts from anywhere, on or off campus. This includes but is not limited to your email, personal information, academic transcripts, and grades.

NKU's spam filters block over 100,000 spam emails per day from arriving in NKU inboxes; however, it does not catch them all. If you receive a malicious email, please forward it to abuse@nku.edu.  Do not release emails from your quarantine unless you are confident they are legitimate. If you have questions, please contact the IT Help Desk.

Please read the Acceptable Use Policy and the Information Security Policy. This information applies to everyone using and/or accessing NKU's computing resources, regardless of whether they are accessed from NKU's campus or remote locations.