Welcome Back!

TROY IT is now patching third-party applications, such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, on University Microsoft Windows remote devices using a cloud-based service. As long as your University Windows device is powered on and connected to the internet, it can be updated remotely, no other action is needed on your part. Please note that your device’s connection to your home network needs to be set to “Private” not “Public.”

• TROY IT has deployed Microsoft Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) to all Windows PCs which reside on a Troy University network. A LAPS-enabled PC will periodically randomize its administrator password, which is then stored centrally on TROY IT servers. Now, if one computer's administrative credentials are compromised, those credentials cannot be used to gain elevated privileges on another computer. A secondary benefit is that these credentials can be given to staff or faculty with a short-term need for privilege escalation and then be set so that the password randomizes again in a few hours.

  If you need immediate assistance regarding temporary administrative rights to install software, you may reach out to our IT Operators. The contact information is below.
  
  334-670-HELP (4357)
  Hours of Operation (Central Time)
  Monday - Friday: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
  Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
  Sunday: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

  

• Training is provided to all TROY faculty and staff through the IT Department. At this time, courses are held online only via Microsoft Teams. They cover commonly used software, systems, professional development, and monthly Canvas updates. You can also view training offered by IT at this site: https://it.troy.edu/training.

• Additional online training resources have been made available at https://it.troy.edu/online/ with links to on-demand training materials, a schedule of live sessions, along with a link to the KnowledgeCity training portal.

• Information Technology continues to implement Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (MBAM) on all faculty and staff computers. MBAM service provides a simplified administrative interface for managing and monitoring BitLocker Drive Encryption on Windows systems. BitLocker offers enhanced protection against data theft and data exposure for Windows systems that are lost or stolen. BitLocker encrypts all data that is stored on a Windows system. IT is continually striving to keep your data protected.

• The Report Message add-in works with Outlook to allow you to report suspicious messages to Microsoft as well as manage how your Microsoft 365 email account treats these messages.
  
  Messages that your Microsoft 365 email account marks as junk are automatically moved to your Junk Email folder. However, spammers and phishing attempts are continually evolving. If you receive a junk email in your inbox, you can use the Report Message add-in to send the message to Microsoft to help us improve our spam filters. If you find an email in your Junk Email folder that's not spam, you can use the Report Message add-in to mark it as a legitimate email, move the message to your Inbox, and report the false positive to help Microsoft improve our spam filters.
  
  Click for more information:
  https://helpdesk.troy.edu/TDClient/1924/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=97429

• Beginning October 1, 2026, in conjunction with Cybersecurity Awareness Month, full-time faculty and staff will receive access to complete their annual SANS Security Awareness Training. This year's training features an adaptive learning experience with a PreCheck assessment that personalizes content and may reduce completion time by allowing participants to test out of topics they have already mastered. Training must be completed by October 30, 2026. Every member of the TROY community plays an important role in safeguarding the information entrusted to us. By completing this training, we strengthen our collective ability to protect university systems, data, and resources while meeting our shared responsibility for cybersecurity.

• Faculty and staff use the VPN (Virtual Private Network) to connect to secure on-line resources such as Colleague and secure shares. We have discontinued the Cisco VPN. The Forticlient is the new VPN client. The Forticlient has been remotely installed on most devices who need this access. If you have been approved for access to secure online resources, and do not have the Forticlient app installed on your device, please review our Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for VPN page and submit a Helpdesk ticket.

• We provide all users with the ability to send encrypted email messages through your Troy University email account. When composing an email, type #Encrypt# into the subject line before you type the subject of the email. Microsoft will recognize the encryption tag and automatically apply the encryption.

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• To view an encrypted message, sign in with your Troy University 365 account or use a one-time passcode

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• Users can change or reset their own TrojanPass passwords for email, Self-Service and other services. Security questions, text PINs sent to the user’s mobile phone using SMS or via alternate email can be utilized. To learn more about TrojanPass please visit https://reset.troy.edu.

• When weather or other emergencies happen on campus, you’ll want to be notified right away. With the new free Omnilert app, you can receive these notifications instantly. In addition, the app lets you contact police with a single button, as well as send the police tips on anything you may find suspicious. The Omnilert app can be found at Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store, and step-by-step instructions can be found in the Helpdesk.

• The Omnilert system is used to send text messages and email notifications about safety issues that impact our locations.

  All faculty, staff and students have an Omnilert account assigned to them. Safety notifications will be sent to your Troy University email address by default. However, you can log into your Omnilert account using your TrojanPass credentials at sos.troy.edu. There, you can provide an alternate email address and phone number to receive alerts.

  You may also view safety/weather notifications and system outages at sos.troy.edu and most alerts are also posted via our TROYUSOS X account. The status of online services, such as Canvas and E-mail, are posted to the website and to our X account.

  See suspicious activity? Visit our TrojanTip Page to learn how to report it quickly and easily.

• Computer Notifications, or “Toast”, on Windows systems, is a small message that shows up in a box at the bottom right of the screen and disappears on its own after a few seconds. The notification, created by Information Technology, informs the users about relevant information and timely events that they should read and act on if noted.

  
  
  

• TrojanTXT is an SMS communication service that will swiftly notify students of Student Services topics and deadlines such as: registration dates, financial aid deadlines, drop/add dates, and billing. To sign up to receive TrojanTXT messages, click here.

• Over 54 Visix digital displays are positioned around Troy University campuses providing important information to students, faculty and staff, including current events, weather and important notices. You will notice a new look to the displays after receiving a redesigned and more modern layout. New players have been installed on each campus to continue to provide ongoing support for our digital signage.

• Visix serves as a signage suite for the University. Through utilizing the Visix system, students and employees can view announcements that consist of scheduling information, alerts, notices, policies, live weather updates, live news, and other relevant content.

• Salesforce Email is available for faculty and staff use. Salesforce offers an email service that should be utilized when sending out mass emails to external email addresses. These emails are sent from a TROY email address and are compliant with current FTC regulations. If your department sends out emails that need to be sent to external email addresses, please submit a helpdesk ticket to have an account set up.

• Email/Office 365 Licensing

  Email/Office 365 Licensing is dependent on your status as an active student. Your TROY email account will remain active for as long as you're enrolled in classes at Troy University. When you graduate, or stop taking classes, you enter a licensing grace period for Academic Inactivity.

  How long is the grace period?

  The grace period is just under two years. To be exact, your license will be automatically removed at the beginning of the Term or Semester two years after the last Term or Semester in which a grade was earned.
  Example:
  Your last grade was earned spring semester of 2024. Your email license will be automatically removed within the first 21 days of spring semester 2026.

  What should I do to avoid issues from my expiring Microsoft 365/Troy email account?

  • Avoid using your Troy email account as the contact email address for other services like social media, banking, streaming services, etc. Use a personal email account like GMAIL, Hotmail, or iCloud.
  • Transfer any important files from your OneDrive storage space to your personal computer or other cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or iCloud.

As part of Troy University's ongoing commitment to safeguarding university systems and user accounts, and in response to the recent cybersecurity incidents affecting Canvas institutions, the University will be implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all Canvas users. This proactive security enhancement is designed to strengthen account protection and help reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

Because Troy University already requires Multi-Factor Authentication for Microsoft 365, most users will not need to complete any additional enrollment. Canvas will use the same authentication methods you have already configured for your TROY accounts, such as the Microsoft Authenticator app, text message, phone call, or any other approved verification method you have selected. This provides a familiar and consistent sign-in experience across university systems.

What to Expect

• MFA will be required when signing in to Canvas.
• Depending on your sign-in activity, device, and security settings, you may be prompted for MFA every time you log in.

We appreciate your cooperation as we continue to strengthen the security of Troy University's technology services while protecting the integrity of our learning environment.

We are pleased to announce that New Quizzes is now available for instructors to use when creating assessments in Canvas. New Quizzes is the next generation assessment engine designed to provide enhanced functionality, improved question types, and a more flexible quiz-building experience.

Some of the features available in New Quizzes include:

• Additional question types
• Improved accommodation options for students
• Enhanced quiz management and moderation tools
• Better support for future Canvas assessment enhancements

While Classic Quizzes will remain available for the time being, instructors are encouraged to begin exploring New Quizzes and consider using it for newly created assessments. As Canvas continues to develop and improve the platform, New Quizzes will become the primary assessment tool.

To help you get started, training resources and documentation are available through the Educational Technology Knowledge Base.

Respondus has released several new enhancements to LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor, providing instructors with additional tools to improve the online testing experience while supporting academic integrity.

The latest updates include new features designed to increase flexibility, improve usability, and provide enhanced exam monitoring capabilities.

New Features

• Improved Student Experience – Enhanced performance and stability provide a smoother testing experience across supported devices.
• Enhanced Proctoring Review – Updates to Respondus Monitor make it easier for instructors to review proctoring results and identify exam sessions that may require additional attention.
• Improved Accessibility – Ongoing accessibility improvements help create a more inclusive testing environment for all students.
• Performance and Security Enhancements – Regular updates continue to strengthen browser security and compatibility with the latest operating systems and Canvas updates.
• User Interface Improvements – A refreshed interface provides a more intuitive experience for both instructors and students.

Reminder for Instructors

Before administering a quiz or exam that requires LockDown Browser or Respondus Monitor, we recommend reviewing your assessment settings and testing the student experience to ensure everything functions as expected.

If you are new to Respondus LockDown Browser or Respondus Monitor, training materials and Knowledge Base articles are available to help you get started.

For assistance, please contact the IT Help Desk and select Teaching and Learning as the service, or visit the Educational Technology Knowledge Base for documentation and training resources.

We are pleased to announce the availability of the new Accessibility tool in Canvas. This feature is now available in the course navigation menu for all Canvas courses, providing instructors with an easier way to identify and improve the accessibility of course content.

While Canvas has long included an Accessibility Checker within the Rich Content Editor, this new course-level tool offers a more comprehensive approach. Instead of reviewing content one page at a time, the Accessibility tool scans your entire course and generates a consolidated list of accessibility issues, allowing you to quickly locate and address areas that may require attention.

Benefits of the Accessibility Tool

• Scan your entire Canvas course for accessibility issues.
• View a centralized report of identified concerns.
• Navigate directly to affected content for easier remediation.
• Help create a more accessible learning experience for all students.
• Support compliance with evolving digital accessibility standards.

The introduction of this tool comes at an important time as higher education institutions prepare to meet updated digital accessibility requirements established by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The Turnitin Plagiarism Framework is available for all Canvas instructors and can be enabled on any Canvas-created assignment to help promote academic integrity.

When enabled, Turnitin automatically analyzes student submissions for similarity by comparing them against an extensive database of academic publications, websites, and previously submitted student papers. The resulting Similarity Report is available directly within Canvas, allowing instructors to review originality results alongside student submissions in SpeedGrader.

• Turnitin Draft Coach, when integrated with Microsoft Word within Office 365, will help students improve their academic writing and research skills by providing instant feedback where they write.


• Draft Coach will provide students with:


• 1. Similarity Checks: This feature allows students to compare their work against Turnitin's comprehensive database, directly within their Word documents, aiding in the prevention of plagiarism.
  2. Citation Improvement: The tool assists in identifying and correcting citation errors, ensuring proper referencing in MLA and APA formats within their Word documents.
  3. Grammar Assistance: Students will receive immediate feedback on grammatical errors, enhancing the quality and clarity of their writing.
  
  
• For faculty, this integration into Microsoft Word means:


• 1. Ensuring Academic Integrity: Easier identification of originality issues, leading to a more efficient review process.
  2. Enhanced Feedback Capability: With basic issues like grammar and citations already addressed, faculty can focus on providing deeper, content-focused feedback.
  3. Consistent Evaluation Standards: The tool aids in maintaining uniform academic standards across all student submissions in Word.
  
  
• How to install the Turnitin Draft Coach.

• TROY Online would like to welcome online students to a new year. We are excited about the opportunity to serve you! Please find below a number of helpful resources to support you as you take courses within the online learning environment.

  What is an ASA? Students are assigned an Academic Services Associate (ASA) after admission to an online program. ASAs are available to assist students outside of the online classroom and within the Ask the Associate discussion forum in each online course. ASAs can assist with online forms, registration, graduation applications, and other advising tasks. Visit Academic Services Staff to find the ASA assigned to your program and other members of the Online Academic Services team.

  First-time online student? Getting Started with Canvas is an online orientation course designed to help students understand the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) and get a feel for how online courses are designed. You can work through each module to learn how to become a successful online learner. This optional, self-paced orientation course provides a wealth of information for new students.

  What resources are available to online students? The Student Resources webpage is a great place for online students to find helpful information and services available. The Student Guide provides systematic instructions for accessing the various technology available to students in the online learning environment.

  Have a proctored exam? Students can find proctoring information by visiting the Testing Services webpage, an overview of the proctoring process and instructions to assist students with proctoring options.

  Need an online tutor? NetTutor provides free, one-on-one tutoring with highly trained professionals in a number of subjects. Simply click the NetTutor link on the course menu inside Canvas to schedule an appointment.

  Need career information? TROY Online Career Services can assist students with the development of a resume to communicate skills more efficiently, virtual mock interviews, learning to network, and access to hundreds of jobs posted daily. TROY Online Career Services is available to support students up to three years post-graduation. Email troyonlinecareer@troy.edu to get started.

  Need Disability Services information? Please visit Student Disability Services for information related to accommodation needs for online students with documented disabilities, or email ada@troy.edu to schedule a meeting with the TROY Online Disability Services Coordinator.

• We are looking forward to a rewarding semester ahead, and wish to take this opportunity to share with you some updates to the Canvas Learning Management system.

  Having trouble logging into Canvas? (Instructors & Students)

  You can gain access to your Canvas account by visiting my.troy.edu and logging in. On this page you will simply select Canvas from the services menu at the top or by clicking on the designated tile on the MyTroy homepage.

  First Time Canvas User? (Student)

  All new TROY students are enrolled in the Getting Started with Canvas course. Not a new student? Need a refresher? Click here to access the Getting Started with Canvas Course. By exploring this informational, self-paced, non-credit course, you will gain a better understanding of what to expect with a Canvas course, how to prepare yourself to succeed with a Canvas course, where to go for help with a Canvas course, and what resources are available for you.

  Canvas Student Mobile App

  The Canvas Student app is the mobile version of Canvas that helps students stay current with their courses anywhere. This app provides quick access to announcements, assignments and discussions. Download the Canvas Student app on Android and iOS devices.

  Canvas Teacher Mobile App

  The Canvas Teacher app allows teachers to facilitate their courses on the go, both inside and outside the classroom. This app provides quick access to grading, communicating, and updating—three of the most frequent course facilitation tasks for teachers through announcements, assignments and discussions. Download the Canvas Teacher app on Android and iOS devices.

  Keep Your Favorite Courses Front and Center!

  Did you know you can favorite your Canvas courses to control which courses appear on your Dashboard?

  Simply open Courses > All Courses and click the star icon next to the courses you use most often. Favorited courses will automatically appear on your Canvas Dashboard, making it easier to access the courses you need every day.

  A little ⭐ can make a big difference!

  Discover the New Microsoft Education Experience in Canvas

  We're excited to announce that the existing Teams Classes and Teams Meetings tools in Canvas have been replaced with the new Microsoft Education integration.

  Microsoft Education provides a modern, streamlined experience that brings your favorite Microsoft 365 tools together directly within Canvas, making it easier than ever to teach, collaborate, and manage course activities.

  What's New?

  With Microsoft Education, instructors can enjoy:

  • Simplified setup and navigation for Microsoft tools within Canvas.
  • Streamlined class meetings and collaboration using Microsoft Teams.
  • Direct access to Microsoft 365 applications, including OneDrive.
  • Integrated communication, file sharing, and scheduling through Microsoft Teams—all without leaving Canvas.
  • A refreshed, user-friendly interface designed to improve your overall teaching experience.

  The new Microsoft Education integration creates a more seamless connection between Canvas and Microsoft 365, allowing instructors and students to access the tools they use every day from one convenient location.

  We encourage all instructors to explore the new Microsoft Education navigation item in their Canvas courses and begin taking advantage of its enhanced features.

  
  

  This is an exciting time at our University, and we are incredibly grateful to each of you for your contributions and extraordinary commitment to our students. For additional information and/or assistance with any Canvas features, please feel free to contact us at helpdesk.troy.edu by submitting a Canvas for Faculty/Staff ticket. We look forward to hearing from you!

• For assistance, submit a Online HelpDesk Request form or call 1-334-670-HELP (4357)
  
  Hours of Operation (Central Time)
  Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
  Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
  Sunday: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Troy University helpdesk aids students, faculty, and staff with a wide variety of issues they may encounter while attending or working at Troy University. Over 25 departments offer support through the helpdesk, including: Information Technology, Admissions, Student Financial Services, Financial Aid, Records, Housing, University Police, Canvas, Instructional Design, Human Resources, Marketing, Event Management, and several others.

Included in the helpdesk is a knowledge base that offers a library of information about Troy University. Anytime you have a question or a problem and cannot find an answer, try searching the knowledge base. The knowledge base contains articles relating to all departments that offer support through the helpdesk and more.

Easily find the services that you need using the helpdesk search feature. The helpdesk’s search feature will allow you to perform a “Google” like search of the helpdesk to find exactly what you need. If you need to submit a helpdesk ticket and you are not sure where to locate the service, enter a few keywords describing what you need and select Service Catalog. This will return a list of the services specific to search and will allow you to submit tickets from this page. If you are looking for an answer to a question or instructions, select Knowledge Base and hopefully avoid a ticket. 

If you receive an update on a helpdesk ticket and you don’t have time to log into the helpdesk to update your ticket, remember you can always reply to the email notification you receive, and your ticket will be updated with your response, and everyone included in the notification you received will be notified of your response.

Things to Know

• How to place a ticket for another user
• Have Serial Number and Asset tag numbers ready for all new setups and transfers.
• All new employees require a new employee ticket, even user transferring positions.

• Remote Productivity Tools offers a single point of reference to assist students, faculty and staff with identifying and learning more about resources that are key to participating in online courses or working at a distance. This page offers direct links to a number of online resources and related training and support resources. The page will continue to be updated with new information.

  Please visit https://it.troy.edu/remote to access this resource.

• The official mobile app of TROY provides users with access to information tailored to their affiliation with the university. For example, after installing the app users can set their role as “Students,” “Faculty & Staff,” “Prospective Students,” or “Alumni.” Each role delivers links and resources that are specific to each group.

  Via the app, students can easily access Canvas, view Troy Campus bus routes and events. Faculty and staff have access to similar resources Self Service and the faculty and staff directory.

  For more information, and to download the app, which is available for Android and iOS, visit it.troy.edu/mobile.

  

  

• On behalf of the Office of Development, we welcome all new and returning students, faculty, and staff; with TROJAN SPIRIT, welcome back to everyone returning for another great year here at Troy University! We are proud to have each of you as part of our TROY family.

  Our faculty and staff campaign will begin in January. Please watch for an email with all the new things for this upcoming year! Remember, your donation shows students, alumni, and friends that Troy University is an institution worthy of support. No matter the size of the gift, your participation is a crucial element to the campaign's success. Your participation shows others that Troy University employees are united and committed to the students and the University. This commitment positively impacts contributions from corporations, foundations, and the community.

  As students, you can participate in giving to the University that you love by choosing an area that means the most to you - academics, athletics, or participating in group fundraising efforts. We are working with SGA to find fun new ways for you to join the philanthropy community here at TROY!

  Office of Development
  301 Adams Administration Building
  (334) 670-3608 or (334) 808-6595
  annualfund@troy.edu

• The Online Training Portal is available for all staff and faculty at Troy University!  Please visit https://troy.knowledgecity.com/ to log in and begin learning.  Explore the Course Library to view the available courses.  You can choose from Business, Computer, and Safety Courses.  There are also Training Courses specific to Troy University. Within the courses you can select specific items as you learn a new feature or just brushing up on what you already know! 

• Have questions about TROY and do not know who to ask? You can contact the Troy University Call Center at 1-800-414-5756 for assistance with all of your questions related to the University. If they do not have an answer to your question, they will connect you to the right office for help. The Call Center is available Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. You can also send your questions to Ask A Question, and the Call Center will reply with an answer to your troy.edu email address. The Call Center responds to the Ask A Question link during office hours.

Since March 2020, there has been a large influx of interest in processing forms electronically through AdobeSign. Currently, over 150 electronic forms have been deployed through AdobeSign. Because of the number of new electronic forms, we recommend that if you need to send a form, check employee forms or student forms for the most up-to-date version of a form.

This is a reminder of Troy University’s Asset Management policies, procedures and associated form. These policies and procedures relate to all University-owned assets, regardless of condition or age, and relate to any relocation, retirement or disposal of those assets. All relocation, reassignment or disposal of University assets require an Asset Management Asset Pick Up/Deliver Request form be completed.

Asset Pickup and Deliver Request Form

In order for your request to be approved by Asset Management, you must ensure that all fields are marked appropriately, especially the asset tag number and serial number fields for all technology. It is imperative that this information be included on the form in order for Asset Management and IT to be able properly track the asset as is required by the state. If these fields are not completed, the form will not be approved and the action on the asset will not be approved. Once Asset Management has approved your request, you will receive a copy of the completed Adobe Sign form via email. If you require assistance with the physical movement of the asset, you will then need to schedule relocation with the Physical Plant.

It is essential that all unused assets be returned to Asset Management and not stored within departmental areas.

As always, if you have questions or are experiencing issues, please reach out to any of the Purchasing and Asset Management staff. We are happy to assist in any way possible.

For assistance, Submit an Online Work Request or call 1-334-670-3342

• If you are unable to submit request, call x13342 or email physicalplanttroy@troy.edu
• Hours of Operation (Central Time): Monday – Friday 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Fill out the Project Request Form and Submit the signed request on the Online Work Request System selecting the Projects Category

• The purpose of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, also known as the Buckley Amendment, is to provide students certain rights with respect to their student records. This Act also protects the student's privacy from the indiscriminate collection, maintenance, disclosure and release of personally identifiable student information, including information regarding student status or performance.

• More information is available on the FERPA page in the Academic Records website.

• A compilation of copyright information is available in the IT Website for review. The page includes general guidelines and links for topics such as Fair Use, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and the university's Electronic Copyrights Infringements Policy.

• As a reminder, Troy University is committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in the University’s programs and activities offered through the University’s website, or equally effective alternate access. A compilation of ADA compliance documents and policies are available at my.troy.edu/accessibility. The page includes policy statements and resource links.

• The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 requires that universities make available to current and prospective students important information concerning each institution's academic programs, retention rates, graduation rates, crime reports, financial aid procedures and more in an effort to ensure fairness and transparency for all higher education consumers. Troy University is committed to providing prospective students, students, their families and the community full disclosure of all consumer information as required by state and federal law.

• Visit the Student Consumer Information Disclosure page.

• Follow TROY's official blog, TROY.Today, to keep up with the latest news about students, faculty, staff, alumni and more.

• Our chat system, TrojanBot, is featured on every page of my.troy.edu and it.troy.edu. It offers answers to common questions and links to key resources. Students, faculty and staff can quickly find information about resetting one’s password, basic Canvas questions, how to obtain technical support and more.