This guide is designed to help new and existing administrators get answers to some frequently asked technology questions.
How do I get Technology Help?
If you need technology support or have questions, you should first contact the Help Desk at help@lafayette.edu or (610) 330-5501.
It is important to contact the Help Desk whenever you’re experiencing an issue using technology. Using the Help Desk helps you because it:
- Fixes your problem faster than trying to reach out to a specific ITS staff member on your own.
- Creates a support ticket to track your issue and makes sure it gets solved quickly. These tickets also help the technology team notice if the same problem is happening to a lot of other people.
If the Help Desk cannot fix your problem right away, they will pass the information along to the right ITS staff member, who will contact you directly to help.
New Administrators
As a newly hired administrator, you will receive Lafayette credentials and directions for setting your password. Your Lafayette credentials are used for email, Spaces, Banner Self-Service, Google Workspace for Education, wireless access, logging into public computers, and most other campus services.
How do I change my password?
How do I update my recovery email?
If you ever forget your password, you must have a backup recovery email connected to your account to reset it. You can use the password change tool at any time to add or update this backup email address.
How do I use Two-step login?
Two-step login, also called two-factor authentication, protects your Lafayette account by adding an extra step when you log in. It adds a second layer of security so that hackers cannot break into your account, even if they somehow steal your password.
Do I need different accounts for email and other various services?
In general, no. An account and username, called your NetID, are automatically created for you as soon as you start working at Lafayette. Together, your NetID and password are known as your Lafayette credentials.
These credentials give you access to almost everything you need, including:
- Google Workspace (for email and documents)
- Moodle (for managing your classes)
- Banner Self-Service (for viewing paychecks, seeing class lists, and entering grades)
While you might occasionally need a special, separate account for a specific system, that is very rare. The easiest way to see and open all of these tools is to log into the My Lafayette portal, which puts nearly all of your important links and services into one single webpage.
What is the Campus Portal?
Located at my.lafayette.edu, the campus portal provides single sign-on and a starting point for various online services. These include Moodle, Spaces, Google Workspace for Education, and Banner Self-Service.
See more at Learn How to Customize your Portal.
How do I get started with Email?
Use your Lafayette credentials to access your Lafayette Gmail account at Gmail. See “Gmail and Contacts” on the Google Workspace help page for more information.
What is Google Workspace?
Google Workspace provides access to productivity and collaboration tools such as Gmail, Calendar, Meet, Chat, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, and more.
- Access Google Workspace tools by logging in to the Campus Portal at my.lafayette.edu and navigating to the “My Google Workspace” block.
- Visit our Google Workspace help page for information related to using these tools.
Can I set up my Lafayette email, calendar and contacts on my smartphone?
Lafayette uses Gmail for email and calendars. This system automatically syncs your messages, contacts, and calendar events between the main computer system and most smartphones in real time.
While the Help Desk cannot fix or set up every individual type of phone, we do provide a step-by-step guide to help you connect your email, contacts, and calendar to your smartphone.
Can I use VPN (virtual private network)?
VPN access is available for College employees. For additional information and installation directions, take a look at the VPN at Lafayette help document.
What software is licensed by Lafayette?
Does the College provide software to protect my computer from viruses and malware?
ITS equips all College-owned devices with endpoint protection. See Endpoint Protection for more information.
What about spam and phishing emails?
Gmail automatically checks all incoming email for spam and dangerous files. While these safety rules protect every account, users can also manually report spam and fake emails (called phishing).
Even though Gmail is very good at catching bad emails, it isn’t perfect. Some spam or dangerous trick messages can still sneak through the filters. Because of this, the best advice is to be careful. Never open an email that seems even a little bit suspicious—even if it looks like it came from someone you know. This is especially true if the email asks you to click a link or download a file.
Additional Security Resources and Information
For additional information about safe computing and security best practices, see Security.
Is training available for software and hardware?
The Learning and Research Technologies team can work with you to develop or offer training, resources, and help documentation, depending on the technology needs. For more information, contact the Help Desk at help@lafayette.edu.
How do I contact the Help Desk?
For nearly all support needs that involve a problem with equipment or services, such as your desktop computer, email, or course website, you should first contact the Help Desk at help@lafayette.edu or (610) 330-5501.
What technology workshops are available?
ITS offers technology workshops throughout the semester for students and employees on a variety of applications. Scheduled workshops are announced in the Lafayette Today and ITS News.