Welcome to Mercer University! The Mercer Information Technology
Office is here to help you with all your IT needs. The information
presented on this page is meant to be introductory. For
comprehensive details about the various IT services and resources,
explore the rest of the IT
website.
In this section:
Self-Service Tools
Devices
Collaboration Tools
Network Resources
Security
Additional Resources
Self-Service Tools
The IT Self-Service Portal is used to request technology services, report an incident, check the status of existing tickets, and view IT announcements, all in one convenient location! You can access the portal at https://ithelp.mercer.edu. When prompted, enter the same login credentials used to access your computer and/or MyMercer.
MyMercer is a unified academic and administrative platform used to service students at every stage and touch point of their academic experience, from admissions to alumni relations. All current faculty, staff, and students use MyMercer on some level to perform day-to-day functions and access data. For more information, visit our page on MyMercer.
Workday
Workday is Mercer's cloud-based financial, Human Resources, payroll, benefits, and budgeting software system. In Workday, Mercer employees will have access to a variety of self-service options. That means you can view, update and manage your personal information, multiple job-related tasks, and much more. For more information, visit the Workday FAQ website.
On-demand training materials, including quick guides and videos, are available in Canvas. You may access these resources at any time and learn from them at your own pace. Visit Canvas: https://canvas.mercer.edu and log in using your Mercer credentials.
Upon request from your supervisor, all new employees are provided a Mercer email account. Once you receive your account information, you are required to log in to your Microsoft 365 account at https://www.office.com, configure your account security (Multi-Factor Authentication or MFA), and immediately change your password.
Email Desktop Application and Internet Access
Mercer IT installs and configures the Microsoft 365 desktop application on all Mercer computer systems. Your email, contacts, and calendar items reside on the Exchange Online server for the purpose of security, back-ups and ease of access from multiple devices. You can use https://www.office.com to access your email, calendars, contacts, and tasks when you do not have access to the Microsoft 365 desktop application or if you are not provided with a Mercer computer.
For more
information and Frequently Asked Email Questions, visit our Email Access website.
Full-time employees, active adjunct instructors, and active students are provided with 99 GB of storage space, while all others receive 50 GB.
Phishing is a type of cyber attack designed to deceive individuals into providing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, or other personal data. This is typically done by sending emails or messages that appear to be from legitimate sources, such as banks, social media platforms, or government agencies. These messages often contain links to fake websites that mimic the appearance of real ones, tricking users into entering their confidential information. Phishing can also involve phone calls or text messages. Phishing attacks aim to steal personal information for identity theft, financial gain, or other malicious purposes.
For more information, visit our page on Phishing. If you receive a suspicious email, vist the Security Alerts section of the IT website for instructions on how to report it.
Devices
Your Mercer computer is purchased by your department and maintained by Mercer IT. We partner with Apple and Dell to provide several computing options to Mercer employees. For more information, visit our page on Purchasing. IT provides technical support during specific life cycles as outlined per our Computer Equipment Service and Support Policy. Our support covers setup and configuration of your system, Mercer software application installations, and general computer troubleshooting and assistance.Your department purchases your Mercer office phone. IT will establish telephone service for you upon request from your department. For more information, visit our page on the Cisco Telephone System.
Mobile devices may be used to connect to Mercer's network and email system. Due to the plethora of devices on the market today, we cannot guarantee connectivity or provide support above general access and configuration.
Employees are not required to contact Mercer IT to purchase mobile phones or devices. For more information, visit the Mobile Phones and Devices website.
Collaboration Tools
The following
collaboration tools
are available for use by all employees. Most of these tools can be
used with
mobile devices and without a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
connection. For more information, visit the
Collaboration Tools
website.
Canvas is an online course system that supports supplementary learning tools in an online environment. Instructors can share course materials (e.g., course syllabus, supplemental readings), post announcements, edit course calendars, track and calculate grades, or start online discussion boards using Canvas. Canvas accounts are created for all new employees during the IT employee setup process. For more information, visit our page on Canvas.
Mercer IT offers access to Microsoft Teams to all faculty, staff, and students. Microsoft Teams is cloud-based team collaboration software that is part of the Microsoft 365 suite of applications. Microsoft Teams accounts are created for all new employees and installed on your office computer during the IT employee setup process. For more information, visit our page on Microsoft Teams.
Mercer IT offers access to Zoom to all faculty, staff, and students. Zoom Video Conferencing is a simple to use cloud-based video solution that offers many features including integration with Canvas, hosting online meetings, video conferences, webinars, questionnaires within meetings, and much more. Zoom accounts are created for all new employees and installed on your office computer during the IT employee setup process. For more information, visit our page on Zoom.
All faculty, staff, and students receive free Zoom cloud storage. In order to maintain this free service, per the Zoom Cloud Storage Policy, all Zoom recordings over 180 days are automatically deleted at the end of each semester.
Network Resources
Departmental Data Storage (M: Drive)
Many departments at Mercer have shared network resources. Shared network resources, located on Mercer’s secure servers, are a set of files and folders with materials available to everyone in your department. Mercer IT will provide you with access to these shared resources during your new employee setup process.
Personal Data Storage (P: Drive)
Mercer IT also provides personal network resources. Personal network resources, located on Mercer’s secure servers, is a folder that can be used for data storage and only accessible to you personally. You are provided with 1 GB of storage space on your personal shared drive (P: drive). If you require more storage space, it can be purchased through IT. For more information, visit our page on Services & Fees. Mercer IT will provide you with access to these shared resources during your new employee setup process.
Data Management
It is a vital part of your job here at Mercer to respect and
protect all personal data collected on our students and employees.
Therefore, all Mercer data should be stored in either a
departmental or personal network location. When you log into any
Mercer computer, your M: and P: drives will be automatically
mapped to these network locations. If you are a Mac user, Mercer
IT will create an alias to these locations on your Mac desktop.
Security
Your Mercer username and password grants you access to many different Mercer resources. Keeping that password secure is very important. Listed below are some common best practices.- Never share your password with anyone else.
- Never write your password down.
- Never leave your computer unattended without locking or logging off of your system. You can quickly lock your system by using the Windows key + L.
- Change your password periodically.
Your department provides you with a computer system to make it
easier for you to accomplish the tasks associated with your job.
You should not download and/or install any software, which is not
work-related. If you have a need
for a software package which was not installed by Mercer IT,
contact the
IT Help Desk
to ensure you get a properly licensed, legitimate copy of the
application. For more information, visit our page on
Security Best Practices.
Mercer IT attempts to protect you from spam, viruses, and other scams by filtering spam emails, automatically installing software security patches, and constantly updating our antivirus software. For more information, visit our page on Virus Protection website.
Mercer's IT department has implemented industry-standard network and system security measures to ensure our employees and students are protected from computer security breaches and vulnerabilities. We have also compiled a list of security best practices to help you help yourself. For more information, visit our page on Security Best Practices.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is an authentication method that allows access to an application or website after successfully presenting two or more verification factors. Instead of using just a username and password, MFA requires additional verification to help keep your accounts secure. This extra layer of security means that if your password is hacked, your account will remain secure. MFA is used with Mercer applications, including mobile BearCard ID, Canvas, Workday, Zoom, and Microsoft 365.
A strong password is the best way to protect yourself from unauthorized access to confidential information. Mercer IT highly recommends periodic password changes. Visit the Password Self-Service website for instructions on how to change your password.
Additional Resources
CampusNexus Student is a fully unified academic and administrative enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution used to service students at every stage and touch point of their academic experience, from admissions to alumni relations. For more information, visit our page on CampusNexus Student.
Mercer IT offers access to Echo360 to all faculty, staff, and students. Echo360 is an active learning platform that allows instructors to capture, edit, and distribute lectures and screencasts. Classrooms across Mercer's campuses are being equipped with Echo360 which can be used to record live classes, including audio, video, and more. Echo360 accounts are created for all new employees and installed on your office computer during the IT employee setup process. For more information, visit our page on Echo360.
We actively hire students throughout the academic year, offering them a great opportunity to gain practical experience and develop valuable skills for their future. If you know a motivated student seeking a part-time position, encourage them to apply. The IT Student Employment section of the student website provides information on joining our team.
