Academic and Student Affairs

Technology & Remote Learning Resources

Student types on her laptop at a table.

Remote Learning Information and Resources for Students PDF

The University has established protocols for academic continuity, which includes courses having a Blackboard section to facilitate communication between students and instructors. During emergency situations, students are asked to prepare for possible disruptions by getting familiar with the following technologies if the need to move classes online becomes necessary.

A checklist has also been provided to help students below:

Student academic responsibilities during campus closure

  • Check your UTMB email regularly for the latest updates. If you believe you are not receiving emails from the University and/or your instructor(s), please email the following:
    • Communications from SHP Office of Academic and Student Affairs: shpstdaf@utmb.edu
    • UTMB Broadcast Announcements: report to shpstdaf@utmb.edu
    • Course related: Faculty instructor directly only after checking Blackboard for messages
  • UTMB employees and students are automatically enrolled in the UTMB Alerts (the University’s mass notification system), using basic directory information such as UTMB email and phone number. If you would like to verify your settings, visit UTMB Alerts
  • Effective March 23rd, begin using Blackboard to ensure academic continuity.
  • Use MS Office 365 applications available to students.
  • Students should expect that instructors will make changes to course syllabi as a result of campus closure. In some cases, instructors will be adjusting courses for remote (online) instruction and assessment, over a short period of time.
  • Carefully review course syllabi for updates and information from instructor(s). Contact your instructor in a timely manner with questions or regarding any necessary accommodations.
  • Please note that during the campus closure, students are expected to continue working on their coursework and education.

Information Services - Service Desk

If at any time you find you need help with any technical issues, please contact the UTMB Service Desk, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The UTMB Service Desk can be contacted by email at ishelp@utmb.edu.

Information Resource Security

Website: https://www.utmb.edu/infosec/welcome-to-infosec/home

Microsoft Office 365

Office 365 is included in a Microsoft partnership with Higher Education to provide powerful messaging, productivity, and collaboration tools to students and employees. This application is currently provided free to all UTMB students, accessible from all modern web browsers (Google Chrome, Mozilla FireFox, Edge, Internet Explorer 11+, Safari etc.) for online use with online interfaces of common Office applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook Mail. Students also have the option to download a local installation of Microsoft Office 365 (the latest version) to their device(s).

Students can log in to their mailbox via the web at https://outlook.office.com/, then proceed to click on the Outlook Mail icon. Information Services is beginning to evaluate Office 365 as a solution to the rest of the University community.

Academic Computing

Educational and research technology resources for UTMB faculty and students are provided by the Academic Computing department. Academic Computing maintains the school's academic course management tools, lecture capture system, student online testing applications, among other resources.

Learning Systems

Blackboard

Web-based access to courses from all four UTMB schools is provided by the Blackboard course management system. Blackboard courses can include many web-based course tools including announcements, blogs, contacts, calendars, discussion boards, glossaries, journals, messages, tasks, tests, assignments, audio messaging, and wikis, as well as course content files.

  • Your login information for Blackboard is your UTMB username and password.
  • Blackboard does not require VPN for off-campus access. https://www.utmb.edu/eclass.

Remote Access/Connectivity

Cisco AnyConnect (VPN)

UTMB's Cisco AnyConnect (VPN) web page allows you to access campus applications and network services protected behind the UTMB firewall. Traveling faculty, staff, and students, as well as those located at home, can connect to the UTMB network using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Blackboard does not require VPN for off-campus access: https://www.utmb.edu/eclass.

Remote Access: https://www.utmb.edu/it-services/remote/vpn

Duo Security
Referred to as two-step or two-factor authentication, this process, which uses Duo Security, asks individuals logging in to confirm their identity using a smartphone, via text, or via automated voice calls. To increase the security of information UTMB uses Duo, a two-factor authentication that can be downloaded as an app on your phone. This two-factor authentication is needed to check your e-mail on or off campus and to login to the VPN to access myStar when off campus.

Instructions: How to install Duo can be found here.

Contact Us

Office of Academic and Student Affairs
301 University Blvd.
Galveston, TX 77555-1036
O: SHP/SON 4.224
P: 409-772-3030
F: 409-772-1550
E: shp.academicaffairs@utmb.edu

Site managed by the School of Health Professions • Last Updated: 17-MAY-2022