Dear Faculty Members,
Information Technology Services welcomes new and returning faculty members to Highline College! We are providing important information to assist you with Highline resources, requesting technology support and working remotely. You may view this message online here.
Our Mission: Information Technology Services (ITS) is a customer-focused organization that strives to provide secure, reliable, efficient, and accessible technology solutions for Highline College students, faculty, and staff.
Technology Assistance and Resources
The ITS Help Desk located in Building 30 is available to provide technology and support to all campus users. Our operating hours are as follows.
Building 30 Operating Hours
Monday: 7:45 am – 5 pm
Tuesday: 7:45 am – 8:30 pm
Wednesday: 7:45 am – 8:30 pm
Thursday: 7:45 am – 5 pm
Friday: 7:45 am – 5 pm
Saturday: 9 am – 1 pm
Sunday: Closed
How to Contact the Help Desk:
Please contact the Help Desk at ext. 4357 (206-592-4357), email helpdesk@highline.edu, or submit a ticket at http://helpdesk.highline.edu
Please provide as much information as possible to help us troubleshoot and resolve the issue. You can help us respond most efficiently by submitting your ticket through the helpdesk web site and correctly categorizing your issue.
Online Support
A wealth of information and technology resources for faculty is available online at https://its.highline.edu/. Click on the Help Desk button, Tools for Staff, for additional technology resources and documentation.
Open Computer Lab for Students
The Building 30 computers in the open lab space will be open during building hours. Also, computers are available in the library Info Commons located on the 2nd floor of Building 25.
Student Devices for Checkout
ITS has a limited supply of Chromebooks and Windows laptops to students for checkout. Students must fill out a technology request form here. Computers are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis for each quarter.
Highline Resources
Your Highline username and password will access Highline computing resources such as:
• Canvas
• Email account
• Outlook Web Access: outlook.highline.edu
• Google Drive
• Wireless network
• Watermark (advising and student support system)
• Other electronic resources
To reset your password, go to myHighline Web page: https://my.highline.edu/
The following Highline resources are available on the web and can be accessed from a browser on any computer using Wi-Fi. No VPN or Remote Desktop is needed.
Go to myapps.highline.edu, log in, and see the various apps to connect to–
• Canvas
• Email – Outlook Web Access or Outlook365
• ctcLink
• Office 365: Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Google Drive
• Watermark
Canvas is the Learning Management System in use for most Highline classes.
• Log in at: https://canvas.highline.edu/
• Additional Canvas information and support
Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) has been enabled for account security, to protect student and employee data, and to help prevent cyber-attacks. We are required to use MFA for systems that contain legally protected data, such as student information.
We have several updates about the upcoming multi-factor authentication (MFA) change (https://its.highline.edu/important-multi-factor-authentication-changes) .
• The last day to make this change will be Tuesday, October 14. After that, users who only have SMS/text message set up will need to contact the helpdesk for assistance logging in.
• We have updated our documentation for setting up Okta Verify and using push notifications with better detail and screenshots.
• Drop by or contact the Help Desk at any time during open hours.
• Remember that you are able to get to ctcLink using your myHighline login by either logging in to the Highline MyApps Dashboard and clicking on the ctcLink or ctcLink Mobile tiles, or by going directly to https://ctclink.highline.edu.
As a reminder, we recommend that everyone set up 2 methods in order to provide flexibility and a backup option in case one option does fail. Our primary recommendation is the Okta Verify app, and our secondary recommendation is another standard One Time Password (OTP) app such as Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, or Authy. All of these apps are free to download and install. If you need assistance with setting up any of these apps, or need assistance with alternatives, please drop by the Help Desk in Building 30, call us at 206-592-4357, or email helpdesk@highline.edu.
We have communicated this information to students, but please assist us in making sure students are aware of this change if you are working directly with them. Additionally, we will still be connecting directly with staff, faculty, and students who have used text or voice in the last 3 months to let them know that these are no longer viable options.
Google Drive
Faculty, students and staff have a Highline Google Drive to save and share files. To log in, go to drive.highline.edu and sign in with your Highline username and password.
Best Practices for Teaching and Working Remotely
Saving Documents
Documents should be saved on Google Drive or OneDrive to access from anywhere and to protect your data. Documents with protected information such as student personally identifying information (PII) should not be saved long-term on local devices, and should never be saved on personal devices.
You can view your Google Drive files directly from the cloud to your Mac or PC, freeing up disk space and network bandwidth. For additional information on Google Drive, visit here.
Save your documents to OneDrive by clicking on Save and OneDrive-Highline College.
Note: Sensitive data should not be stored locally. Any information that can be used to identify you or another person is sensitive information.and should not be saved locally on Highline or personal devices, including USB and external hard drives.
Systems Accessed Only by Connection to Highline Network
• Highline Resources:
• Teaching applications (ex. AutoCad, SmartView, SolidWork)
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
• It is best while working remotely, especially on public networks, to log into VPN to ensure you are working in a safe and secure environment.
• There are some sites and services that can only be accessed from Highline’s network.
• You will need to log into VPN daily and logout when you are done with work.
How to Connect to the VPN
• You will connect to the VPN using the GlobalProtect application.
• VPN Instructions and Tools for Remote Work:
• https://its.highline.edu/helpdesk/tools-for-staff/
• vpn.highline.edu
• VPN Best Practice and Disconnect Instructions
• ****NOTE****PLEASE Remember to disconnect your VPN connection when not in use
IT Security
It is important to protect all Highline usernames and passwords, as well as personal information and College data, from cybersecurity attacks. Cybercriminals continually refine their tools to infiltrate systems and networks to access data, attempting to steal institutional information and personal credentials, and access valuable resources, with the ultimate goal of financial gain. They also try to make devices and systems inaccessible until the targeted individuals or organizations pay a fee.
Highline faculty and staff have a responsibility to secure College data from potential attacks and data breaches, and to use Highline College computing resources appropriately. Additional security information is here:https://its.highline.edu/cyber-security/
IT Security Awareness Training is required for all employees on an annual basis. Employees are automatically enrolled and assigned training. Training will begin annually in the Fall quarter.
ITS pushes out Windows updates every Wednesday night and your PC may be restarted. Please remember to log in to the VPN weekly to ensure that your Highline PC is updated!
ITS is here to support you. We hope that you have a great Fall quarter and academic year!
The ITS Leadership Team
Tim Wrye
Chief Information Officer
Patricia Daniels,
Deputy CIO; ctcLink Director
Jesse Chiem
Director of IT Infrastructure and System Administration
Theresa Duhart
Director of Technology Support Services
Jennifer Jovanovich
IT Security & Compliance Officer