Originally published in TLC Tuesday on February 18, 2025

Navigating the New ADA Title II Requirements: A Framework for Higher Education Professionals

Friday, February 28, 12-1pm

Virtual via Zoom

Join us for an insightful hour-long webinar where we delve into the recent updates to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II regulations and their impact on higher education institutions. These regulations significantly change how public colleges and universities need to approach web and digital accessibility compliance. This session is designed to provide higher education administrators, faculty, and staff with a comprehensive understanding of what has changed with the Title II regulations and practical strategies for compliance. We will be collecting questions in advance and will leave time for an interactive segment if time allows. An FAQ will be created as a resource and made available after the webinar.

Takeaways:

• A clear understanding of the new ADA Title II requirements

• Actionable strategies for compliance

Presenter: Mark Greenfield, Strategic Web Accessibility Advisor

Learn more and register here.  

Originally sent to DDC-L email list on February 27, 2025

On April 30, 2025, a new setting in Gmail will automatically delete emails older than 10 years. This change helps Geneseo comply with data retention policies, improve email management, and protect sensitive information by limiting its accessibility over time. You should review old emails and save any important information prior to April 30.  

To view your messages received and sent prior to 2015, open Gmail and type in 'older_than:10y' on the top search bar. Would you like to keep a copy of an old email? In the web client, you can select Download Message from the 3 dots menu or print the message and save it as a PDF. Documents, no matter where they are stored, must comply with the SUNY Records Retention Schedule.  

Originally emailed to faculty-l on February 27, 2025.

The Brightspace Support Team is pleased to announce its spring 2025 schedule of events. Please see below for session titles and brief descriptions. Note that the dates, for all virtual sessions, include a hyperlink for the Teams meeting unique to that date. These activities are also listed in the Geneseo Calendar of Events.

Gradebook: Nuts & Bolts (3/4, 4/29 @ 9-9:30am on Teams)
This session will focus on the nuts and bolts of the gradebook - the basics you need to know to get started using the gradebook in Brightspace.

Gradebook: Hacking the Workflow (3/5, 4/30 @ 9-9:30am on Teams)  
This session focuses on some more advanced features of the gradebook, including adding/deleting columns, extra credit, and resolving Brightspace gradebook errors.

Making accessible course content (3/6, 5/1 @ 9-9:30am on Teams)  
This workshop will break down the new Title II federal rule that requires that all of SUNY Geneseo's digital course content meet accessibility standards. Join us to learn how to check your Brightspace course's accessibility score and fix accessibility issues in your course to make your content inclusive to all students.

Saving time with Intelligent Agents (4/3 @ 1030-11am on Teams)  
Hear from 2 colleagues, Tom Reho (Biology) and Jordain Moore (Study Abroad) who are saving time by using this advanced Brightspace feature, Intelligent Agents. This session will be followed, at a later date and time, by a second more technical session on how to create and deploy Intelligent Agents.

Brightspace user group meeting (5/16 @ 10-11am on Teams)
This session is open to all Brightspace faculty and staff users and is intended to be an open forum to talk about Brightspace, recent and/or upcoming changes, accessibility, course reviews, etc.

Gradebook office hours (3/11, 3/12, 5/7, 5/8 @ 10am – 2pm in South Hall 225)
Bring your questions about the Brightspace gradebook to office hours. The instructional design team will be available to address your questions and walk with you to the answers.

Brightspace office hours (4/23 @ 10am – 2pm in South Hall 225)
Planning to be out and about during GREAT Day? Consider stopping by South Hall 225 with your Brightspace questions.

You can always reach the Brightspace Support Team, with your questions and concerns, at brightspace@geneseo.edu.

Hope to see you at one or more sessions!

Originally sent to the faculty-l email list by Laurie Fox on February 18, 2025.

Updates to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) have introduced new accessibility requirements. This means all digital course content must be accessible by April 2026. 

Visit the Geneseo Title II page for information on our Strive for 85 campaign, workshops (coming soon!), document remediation, and accessibility consultations with CIT’s Digital Accessibility Analyst, Anjali Shiyamsaran. To help faculty meet these standards, the accessibility team will begin by reviewing Fall Brightspace courses for opportunities to improve our digital materials. We will reach out to faculty individually to offer assistance with improving low-scoring courses. You can view your courses’ accessibility scores by selecting Ally Course Report from the Course Tools menu. 

You will need to review the following types of content to ensure accessibility:

• PDF files 

• Scanned documents that are not converted to text from images

• Tables and heading changes on Brightspace pages

• PowerPoint files (including publisher content)

• Video captions

This is a change that will require a Geneseo-wide commitment to creating accessible documents and offering an inclusive and accessible learning environment for everyone. To request an accessibility consultation for digital materials used in courses, departments, or other campus business please submit a Jira request. 

Originally published on January 11, 2025, in SUNY Geneseo - Announcements: Looking for assistance? email.

Need help with Brightspace?

Check out our self help index of curated Brightspace resources.

If you can't find what you're looking for, email the support team.

Beyond Brightspace, CIT Self Help offers guides on a wide range of topics! You can find CIT Self Help with this link.

Originally published in What’s Happening on Campus on February 3, 2025.

 TLC & CIT Workshop: AI for Everyday Use

 Tue, Feb 11, 2pm

 Let's be honest--we all need more time and shorter to-do lists. Generative AI won't solve all of our problems, but it can lighten our load on the routine tasks we all sort of dread. 

This session, held virtually via Teams, will demonstrate how Microsoft Copilot is a safe, efficient tool to help with daily administrative work and our mountains of email.  

Workshop Highlights: 

• Introduction to AI: Understand the basics of artificial intelligence and its relevance in today's world.

• AI in Education: Discover how AI can enhance data collection, streamline administrative processes, and support campus engagement.

• Hands-On with Copilot: Learn how to leverage Microsoft Copilot to boost productivity, manage tasks, and facilitate collaboration.

• Real-World Examples: See demonstrations of AI tools in action, tailored to the needs of our college community. Possibilities include

  • generating meeting agendas

  • sketching a semester plan to meet your goals

  • drafting calls for proposals, research statements, job descriptions, etc. 

  • processing survey data

  • suggesting communication plans for large initiatives

  • ensuring inclusive language and appropriate tone for a given audience

• Interactive Q&A: Engage in a lively Q&A session to address your specific questions and concerns about integrating AI into your work.

Note: this workshop will not address potential classroom uses or pitfalls regarding generative AI. Other TLC and Ideas That Matter sessions this semester will cover these aspects in greater detail. 

This workshop aims to empower you with the knowledge and skills to make the most of AI technologies, enhancing both your professional and personal life. Whether you're tech-savvy or just starting to explore AI, this session will provide valuable insights and practical tips.

Facilitators: Laurie Fox (CIT) & Alexis Clifton (TLC) 

Originally published in Today @ Geneseo on January 30, 2025.

Ask CIT to Move Your Phone

To ensure safety and functionality, please remember that only CIT should move or unplug telephones on campus. Here's why:

1. Each phone is registered with Livingston County emergency services to a specific campus address. Moving it could disrupt this vital connection.

2. Telephones broadcast important announcements, just like our outdoor Giant Voice system.

3. Phones need specific network settings. Incorrect connections can lead to poor audio quality.

4. Moving phones can damage cables and connectors over time. We will replace the old cables when we move the phone for you.

To request a phone move, call the CIT HelpDesk at x5588 or submit an online request. Thank you for your cooperation!

Originally published in Today @ Geneseo on January 27, 2025.

January 27–31 is Data Privacy Week.

Data is collected from us every day. Computers, smartphones, smartwatches, and other internet-connected devices gather data (even our cars). We have some choices when it comes to how this data is collected, shared, and sold.

When there is a choice to make concerning data privacy, choose to share only what is needed. Benign information, like preferred restaurants or items purchased, can be used to make assumptions about us and our habits. Many companies monitor user and consumer data and sell it for profit. We cannot lock down all our data; we need to share information with others, and sometimes they need to keep a copy. There are simple steps to manage and take control of who it is shared within many common apps and websites. 

Follow @CITGeneseo on social media for more privacy tips throughout Data Privacy Week.

Originally published in Today at Geneseo on January 17, 2025

In preparation for the start of the spring semester, please be aware that Geneseo's instructional design team is available and ready to assist you in your use of Brightspace.

The best way to reach the team is by emailing brightspace@geneseo.edu. Additionally, CIT will be hosting Brightspace open office hours on January 23 and January 27 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. in South Hall 225. These hours are a great time to come with your questions and concerns specific to your use of Brightspace. Instructional designers will be available to assist you with importing content, or building your course from the ground up, and getting your gradebook set up correctly.

Originally published on January 13, 2025, in Upcoming Campus Events in email.

Join the Center for Integrative Learning, the Career Design Center, and the Teaching & Learning Center for an introduction to the Integrative and Applied Learning (IAL) graduation requirement (January 15th from 10:00 – 11:30 AM in the Hunt Room). We will discuss the key components of IAL and the ways in which co-curricular experiences meet many of the standards of IAL. In this session, we will also focus on the steps students (supported by their supervisors) can take to register co-curricular experiences that fulfill the IAL graduation requirement.

Originally published on January 9, 2025, in Today at Geneseo Email

Strengthening Security with Crowdstrike Falcon

As part of the SUNY Digital Transformation Project and our ongoing efforts to enhance cybersecurity, CIT will be installing Crowdstrike Falcon on all campus-owned computers and servers.

Crowdstrike Falcon provides 24/7 security response capabilities from Crowdstrike’s team of experts, enabling real-time responses to evolving cyber threats and minimizing potential damage. While the software is designed to operate seamlessly in the background, you may notice a new program with a falcon icon on your computer as early as this week.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to Ask CIT.

CIT & TLC: Making Brightspace a Better Space

1 min read

5 people viewed

Originally published on November 5, 2024 in TLC Tuesday Email

CIT’s Educational Technology team & the TLC would like to invite you to participate in focus group conversations centered on the Geneseo Brightspace experience. These crucial conversations will focus on what Brightspace currently does well for your courses, and where you encounter problems or barriers. Together we’ll explore how we can make it easier for our students to succeed in this online environment.

Please click here to register for one of the following time slots.

Each session will have a maximum of 15 participants so that everyone can engage fully in the conversation.

• Tuesday, November 19th, 3:00-4:00pm (in person)

• Wednesday, November 20th, 8:30-9:30am (virtual)

• Thursday, November 21st, 1:00-2:00pm (virtual)

Originally published on January 6, 2025, in Today at Geneseo

Are you sending personalized emails from your Geneseo Google email? There is a new add-on available to assist you. Mailmeteor allows users to personalize emails with merge tags, subject lines, and email content. Users can track when their emails are opened, clicked, or replied to. For detailed information about Mailmeteor, please refer to CIT’s self help guides.

YAMM discontinued the site licensing plan previously available to all Geneseo users. While individuals can still purchase an annual subscription, we recommend giving Mailmeteor a try. If you need any assistance with Mailmeteor, please don't hesitate to contact CIT.

Originally published on December 12, 2024, in Today at Geneseo

If you're getting a new mobile phone during break, here are a few tips for a smooth transition:

1. Backups: ensure your important data is backed up

2. Transfers: use cloud services or transfer tools to move your data to the new phone

3. Contacts: make sure your contacts are up-to-date and synced

4. Apps: reinstall and log into your essential apps

5. Security: set up security features like passwords, fingerprints, or face recognition

6. MFA options: re-download the Microsoft Authenticator app and connect it to your Geneseo account. For detailed instructions, review the full guide on the CIT Self-Help page.

If you have any questions about re-establishing a working MFA method, call the CIT HelpDesk at 585-245-5588. They will verify your identity over the phone and walk you through the process.

Originally distributed via DDC-L on October 3, 2024.

January is a great time to clean out old documents saved in filing cabinets and desk drawers! Take a few minutes to review SUNY's Record Retention Policy and consider doing some paper shredding over intersession! 

Locked storage bins will be available in a number of locations across campus from December 16 through February 4th for disposal of old documents containing personally identifiable information (PII). Examples of PII include social security, bank account, driver's license, and credit card numbers. Documents placed in these bins will be shredded by an outside vendor. You should only place paper in the bins (staples and paper clips can be included). 

Thank you for taking part in this event! 

Find the bin nearest you: 

• Bailey 227, Geography & Sustainability Studies 

• Blake A 108, CAS 

• Brodie Hall 229, Theatre & Dance 

• College Union 354A, Dean of Students  

• Doty Hall 200, Admissions 

• Doty 318, Human Resources 

• Erwin 103, Student Accounts 

• ISC 235, Geological Sciences 

• Milne, 2^nd floor near CIT HelpDesk 

• Schrader, outside the University Police office 

• Welles 103, Philosophy  

Paul Jackson, Chief Information Officer 

Karen Mach, Acting Dean of Students 

Keely Soltow, Registrar 

Information Security Program Team and Shredding Event Committee Members 

Originally published on December 3, 2024, in What’s Happening on Campus email.

Tuesday, December 10

Starting at 10am
South Hall, 225

As a conclusion to the Brightspace Gradebook Workout Series from CIT, drop into South 225 anytime between 10 am - 2 pm on Study Day.

For more information go to, https://events.geneseo.edu/event/open-gym-brightspace-help

Originally published on November 5, 2024 in TLC Tuesday Email

CIT’s Educational Technology team & the TLC would like to invite you to participate in focus group conversations centered on the Geneseo Brightspace experience. These crucial conversations will focus on what Brightspace currently does well for your courses, and where you encounter problems or barriers. Together we’ll explore how we can make it easier for our students to succeed in this online environment.

Please click here to register for one of the following time slots.

Each session will have a maximum of 15 participants so that everyone can engage fully in the conversation.

• Tuesday, November 19th, 3:00-4:00pm (in person)

• Wednesday, November 20th, 8:30-9:30am (virtual)

• Thursday, November 21st, 1:00-2:00pm (virtual)

Originally published in Today at Geneseo on October 30, 2024

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. As the end of October approaches, CIT would like to remind all employees to complete their annual cybersecurity training. The training can also be accessed via the KnowBe4 link in my.geneseo.edu.

Ghosts and ghouls aren’t the only threats this Halloween—learn how to protect yourself online in less than 30 minutes.

Originally published in Today at Geneseo on October 25, 2024

Human durable skills, traditionally known as soft skills, are even more important with the evolution of AI. These skills withstand changes in tech and automation. Challenge yourself to accelerate your growth and stay ahead in your career. Join Geneseo colleagues in the LinkedIn AI Learning Challenge. Faculty and staff who successfully complete the 20-day challenge will be entered into a raffle for a free six-month premium LinkedIn membership. Each day, you will engage in a brief lesson and exercise, learning more about AI. Stay tuned for more learning opportunities with LinkedIn Learning!

Originally published in Today @ Geneseo on October 25, 2024

Scanning processes will update on Friday, October 25 to provide the ability to scan documents directly to SharePoint. This will send your documents to a shared, secure location and avoid the 25MB scan to email size limitation.

To use this new feature, you will need to complete a one-time authentication process. Need help? Ask CIT! Call x5588, chat, or submit a request, and we'll be happy to assist you.

Originally published in Today @ Geneseo on October 8, 2024.

As educators, faculty and staff must create accessible documents to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 laws, and improve the learning experience for all students at SUNY Geneseo. Please keep these tips in mind:

1. Use properly tagged PDFs with alternative text for images.

2. Avoid embedded text in images; use actual text within documents.

3. Choose easy-to-read fonts and colors with high contrast and legibility.

4. Add captions to videos and audio content.

Use built-in accessibility checkers in Adobe Acrobat, Word, and PowerPoint before sharing your documents to help ensure they’re accessible. As you upload documents to Brightspace, click on the green, red, or orange icon beside each document indicating its Ally accessibility score. For your course’s overall accessibility, visit the “Accessibility Report” link at the top of your Brightspace course. Check out CIT’s accessibility documents for more information.

For questions, contact Anjali Shiyamsaran, digital accessibility analyst.

Published in Today @ Geneseo on September 13, 2024

The virtual SUNY Accessibility Advocates & Allies Faculty Fellowship Program invites faculty members to apply for a unique opportunity to improve accessibility and inclusivity on campus. Participants will work with accessibility experts and collaborate with colleagues across SUNY to develop strategies for addressing challenges faced by students with disabilities.

Fellows will engage in professional development workshops and have the opportunity to implement campus change. To learn more about the program and application process, visit the SUNY Accessibility Advocates & Allies Faculty Fellowship Program website. Complete a nomination form online.

Applications are due by September 30, and selected fellows will be announced in November 2024. For any questions or assistance, please contact Anjali Shiyamsaran, digital accessibility analyst.

Originally published on August 26, 2024 in Today @ Geneseo

If you are interested in the possibilities of generative AI, try Microsoft Copilot AI on your laptop or mobile device. Copilot, fueled by technologies like GPT-4 and DALL-E, can use the hidden patterns in previously seen text and images to generate new human-sounding text or images in response to your questions and prompts.

There are several reasons to choose Copilot. First, when you sign in with your Geneseo account, your prompts and responses are protected by commercial data privacy. Microsoft doesn’t save your information or use it to train the AI models. Second, Copilot can rapidly generate ideas, rescuing you from a blank canvas.

Generative AI tools, like Microsoft Copilot, have costs and tradeoffs, and they exist in a social context. They require unprecedented electricity, capital, and training data. Geneseo is exploring these ideas and more in our Ideas That Matter: Artificial Intelligence event series this academic year.

Originally published in Today at Geneseo on August 26, 2024

All Geneseo accounts held by Geneseo faculty, staff, and students are protected by multi-factor authentication (MFA). Please configure multiple MFA methods so that losing one does not prevent you from accessing your Geneseo account!

1. Access your Microsoft security info, or sign into http://my.geneseo.edu, click on your initials in the upper right corner, and select "Manage Security Info".

2. To Add a method, click + Add method.

3. Select the type of method you want to add and follow the prompts.

Common ways to lose access to MFA methods are deleting the Microsoft Authenticator app, transferring the Authenticator to a new phone, and traveling abroad and losing access to text messaging or phone calls on your primary phone number.

Don’t be stuck without your MFA – configure multiple methods today! For more details about MFA Management visit CIT’s self help document.

Originally published in Today @ Geneseo on August 23, 2024

SUNY has renewed system-wide access to Deque University through August 2025. Access to Deque University is made possible via funding from the Enhancing Supports and Services for Students with Disabilities for Postsecondary Success grant program administered by the New York State Education Department.

Deque University is an online training platform that focuses on digital accessibility. It offers over 30 courses covering accessibility for various platforms and digital types, including web, mobile, and documents (MS Word, PDF). SUNY procured the service university-wide, and all courses in the curriculum are available to Geneseo employees free of charge.

Please visit the Deque University information page for more details, including how to request an account.

Shared with academic departments on July 2, 2024

I’m writing to notify faculty of security concerns with their research systems that have Linux components or Linux as their operating system. The “RegreSSHion” bug is a critical vulnerability in the command line remote access service on Linux. This vulnerability impacts faculty-managed research systems on the campus network.  

Faculty managing research systems should engage with their vendor partners and apply system updates as soon as possible to address this security issue. Please reach out to the CIT HelpDesk if you have any questions. 

Thank you for your help keeping the campus network safe and secure. 

Originally distributed to campus via DDC-L and Today @ Geneseo June 28, 2024

As announced in early June, there are changes to digital storage on campus that will happen July 8, 2024. These changes are not expected to affect your current storage locations or workflows. 

• Geneseo Google accounts will have quotas applied (100GB for individual users). Quotas should not impact you on July 8th! 

  • If you exceed this quota, it will automatically be adjusted to accommodate your current files.  

  • 95% of our users are under the planned quota so this likely will not impact you. 

  • You may run into quota limits in future. We ask everyone to clean unneeded files where possible and to contact CIT if you believe you have a case for storage needs exceeding the current quota limits. 

• Google Shared Drives will be created by request only from CIT.   

• Microsoft 365 Teams and SharePoint sites must also be requested from CIT.  

• Microsoft OneDrive file stream will be enabled for all users. 

  • Mac users will need to login into OneDrive before the syncing stream begins. 

  • Mac users may also receive notifications about file name errors. On Geneseo Mac computers, in CIT Self Service, there is a "Fix OneDrive file names" program that goes through the desktop and documents folders to fix punctuation issues. 

RESOURCES 

• The Digital Storage Strategy project page has more details about each of these changes.  

• We highly recommend attending an informational webinar about this project.  

• There is also a recorded version if you prefer to get the information on your own time.

Originally published in Today @ Geneseo on June 26, 2024

Thank you to all who have attended a digital storage strategy webinar to learn more about how your department can benefit from organizing your digital files. Webinars are held every week; signups are available.

Additionally, CIT recently recorded a webinar that can be watched on your own time. CIT continues to meet with departments to discuss their digital storage strategy. Actions you can do anytime:

• Organize your files and delete what you do not need.

• Remove all non-work related files from Geneseo account storage locations.

Originally published in Today @ Geneseo on June 3, 2024.

Geneseo currently has many different storage platforms for users. Google has begun charging digital storage fees to educational institutions. Geneseo needs to reduce our storage and we will need your help. CIT has developed a plan to help you through these changes. Don’t panic! 

CIT will work with departments and users to move their digital files to proper locations. The Digital Storage Strategy will improve productivity, collaboration, accessibility, and security for our community.   

CIT will guide departments and users through the process of: 

• identifying the types of files they own 

• classification of data 

• locating the different storage locations being used 

• moving files as needed  

There are changes you will notice this summer: 

• Geneseo Google accounts will have quotas applied (100GB for individual users).  

  • Over 95% of our users are already under the planned quota so this may not impact you.

• Google Shared Drives will be created by request only from CIT.  

• SharePoint and OneDrive will be recommended storage locations. This helps to prevent growth of our data usage.

While we are preparing to meet with departments to discuss their Digital Storage Strategy, there are actions you can do anytime: Organize your files. Please delete what you do not need. Remove all non-work related files from Geneseo account storage locations. 

Are you ready to learn all the details? Attend an informational webinar or visit this self-help page.

Geneseo students can purchase 12-month subscriptions of Adobe Creative Cloud All-Apps Pro Edition at a substantially discounted price in the SUNY Adobe Storefront. For information on purchasing and installing this Adobe subscription please visit the Adobe Storefront for Students Self-Help page. If you have questions about Adobe subscriptions Ask CIT! Call (585-245-5588), chat, or submit a request and we'll be happy to assist you.