Tools and Services

All staff and students have access to the Adobe Suite. Staff have access on their work computers while students have access on lab computers on campus. The Adobe Training and Certification page on the Adobe website has training options for most of their products, like Adobe Acrobat Professional and the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator). The options range from self-paced and instructor-led courses to books and videos; please note that some must be purchased and others are free.

Before checking outside sources for information or troubleshooting, see if the program you are working with has a help section and/or tutorial. The Technology Services support page has more information on Adobe Programs.

LinkedIn Learning also provides online learning on Adobe products.

Alertus Desktop Notification is a computer software that authorizes dispatchers to quickly send emergency notification alerts. This software is already installed on all university-owned PCs and Macs.

Campus Login is a webpage for the most common logins that are used by the UW-Superior campus. This webpage lists links to your email, E-Hive, Learn@UWSuperior, OneDrive, and more.

UW-Superior offers phones and a voicemail system. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

The Barracuda Security Gateway helps prevent unwanted bulk emails from clogging up your inbox. If you have messages in the quarantine inbox, you will receive a Spam Quarantine Summary email report from Barracuda Email Security Gateway that lists the subject and the sender, along with a few actions:

  • “Deliver” will simply transfer the email to your inbox.
  • “Delete” will remove the email from your quarantine list.
  • “Whitelist” will add the sender’s email address to a “safe” list, which will ensure future emails sent from that email address are not quarantined, but instead are delivered to your inbox.

To get started, go to the Barracuda Email Security Gateway login page, type your UW-Superior email address in the Username field and click on “Create New Password.” An email will be sent to your email address with a generated password for you to use to access your account.

Windows users can download an Outlook plug-in that allows you to classify messages as either spam or not spam. Look for the small link that says “Download Outlook Add-In Installer” under the login box on the Barracuda Email Security Gateway login page. The plug-in adds a small green mail icon and red mail icon in Outlook. Green will submit the message as “not spam,” while red will submit it as spam.

DocuSign is a document-signing tool that allows you to electronically sign and send documents using your phone, tablet, or computer. Anyone can use DocuSign to sign a document but will need an account to create documents and route them to people. To have an account created please send a request to the Technology Help Desk. DocuSign has many resources and brief training videos and a Technology Services support page if you are unfamiliar with this product.

All UW-Superior students, faculty, and staff have an email account through Microsoft Outlook; your email address is username@uwsuper.edu, where “username” is your login ID. Users can either use the Outlook client on their computer, the Outlook app on their mobile device, or access it through the web by logging in through Campus Login.

Email is the official form of communication on campus. You can find additional information regarding email in our Campus Spam Firewall section and our Campus Email Digest section.

To ensure that the university complies with the data storage section of UW-System policy 1031b, data may not be stored on external hard drives, nor can these devices be purchased with any university funds regardless of funding source except as waived by the Campus CIO. Flash/thumb drives are considered external digital storage units and thus pose a significant risk to the campus because they can include imbedded malicious software.

GIS software is designed to store, retrieve, manage, display, and analyze types of geographic and spatial data, allowing you to produce maps and other graphic displays of geographic information for analysis and presentation. If this software is required for your class, it is available to you at no additional cost. Download the GIS software.

Greenshot is a screen-capture tool for Windows computers that offers many advanced features beyond your typical screenshot program. Greenshot comes pre-installed on all lab computers, is available through Software Center on a staff computer, or for download on your personal computer.

The Technology Help Desk has a ticketing system that tracks and organizes help requests; when you contact the Technology Help Desk, a ticket is created in our system and you will receive an email with a copy of your ticket.

  1. Each ticket has a number for organization and tracking. Use this number whenever referencing your ticket.
  2. The status of the ticket shows what state the ticket is in. Here are some common statuses:
    • Request: The ticket was submitted and received at the Help Desk.
    • Pending-Customer: An IT Technician is asking you a question about your ticket and is waiting for you to reply.
    • Closed: The issue has been resolved and the ticket is now closed. If you reply to the ticket it will automatically reopen.
  3. The description logs the conversations between you and IT technicians. When reading a ticket, the oldest response will be at the top and the newest messages are at the end of the description.
  4. When responding to a message from an IT technician, make sure you type above the line. If you type below the line, the Technology Help Desk will receive a blank message from you.

KeePass is a free password manager that helps you to manage your passwords in a secure way. You can put all your passwords in one database, which is locked with one master key or a key file. UWS cannot help you reset your password or master key if you forget it. KeePass is available through Software Center on a staff computer. View the KeePass User Guide.

All students and employees have access to LinkedIn Learning, which provides video courses taught by industry experts in software, creative, and business skills.

Microsoft 365 is the suite of Microsoft Office products we use on campus. They are available online and on your computer. Office applications include Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, Teams, and more. All students and staff on campus have access to Microsoft Office 365 using their UW-Superior Login. All students can download Microsoft Office on their computers when logged in. All staff computers come with Microsoft Office pre-installed.

Microsoft OneDrive provides a place in the cloud where you can store, share, and sync your work files. All staff and students have 5 terabytes of storage available to them and can set their computer up to automatically back up all files on their computer. You can update and share your files from any device with OneDrive; you can even work on Office documents with others at the same time.

All UW-Superior students, faculty, and staff have an email account through Microsoft Outlook. Your email address is username@uwsuper.edu, where “username” is your login ID. Users can either use the Outlook client on their computer, the Outlook app on their mobile device, or access it through the web by logging in through Campus Logins.

Email is the official form of communication on campus. You can find additional information regarding email in our Campus Spam Firewall section and our Campus Email Digest section.

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration app you can use to send chat messages, make audio and video calls, screenshare, share files, and more. This is a great product for collaborating on a group project, talking to other students or staff, and working together. You can access Teams through the web or using the app on your computer; if you are using a personal computer, you would have to download the app through the Microsoft Office 365 Portal.

Please see the Multi-Factor Authentication FAQ to learn more about Multi-Factor Authentication.

The Okta SSO is used by all UW-Superior students, faculty, and staff to create/change their password, as well as manage their Multi-Factor and password account options.

How to set up MFA with Okta

  1. Download the Okta Verify app. You will use this every time you log in. You can also use an approved alternative (i.e. the Google Authenticator app or a physical security key).
  2. Visit https://myapps.uwsuper.edu
  3. Start setting up your Okta account. Returning users sign in with their current uwsuper password. New users need to set up their first password.

Returning Users:

  • Sign in with your uwsuper username and password
  • Skip changing your password if prompted (change it next time)
  • Go to Continue instructions to set up your MFA security method

New Users:

  • Click the “New user/forgot password…” link under the sign in button
  • Enter your uwsuper username and click next
  • Click the send me an email button
  • Check your personal email, open the email from Okta with the subject “UW-Superior Password Reset,” and click on the reset password button; If setting up a student employee account, check your student email.
  • Return to myapps.uwsuper.edu and set up your password. Consider using a unique and easy to remember passphrase.
  • Proceed to the Continue instructions to set up your MFA security method

Continue by Registering Your MFA Method (Okta Verify)

  1. Under Okta Verify click set up to start
  2. Follow the prompts on the Okta login page and the Okta Verify app
  3. Click continue at myapps.uwsuper.edu to complete your account setup
  4. Enjoy your Okta Dashboard

UW-Superior partners with software publishers to offer discounted software to students and employees for home use OnTheHub. You can get bundles or individual software. While a lot of software is included with your uwsuper account and we do not have any specific recommendations for purchase, you can find some great deals using your university account on the website.

Here are a few considerations of security software. Click the links below to learn more about these tools.

  • Antivirus: Antivirus will help protect your devices from malware. Free built-in Windows protection is another option, but you can purchase antivirus software at a discount for Apple and Windows devices alike — yes, Apple devices can get viruses, too.
  • Password Manager: Password managers allow you to have all of your unique passwords stored so you only need to know the login info for that account. The free built-in Apple password manager or Okta are also options.
  • Virtual Private Network (VPN): Protection is important when using Wi-Fi off-campus. Employees with a business need can contact the Help Desk to get access to a free VPN for work.

Check out our buying guides to learn more about software you might want to purchase and our laptop recommendations. Visit OnTheHub for discounts.

All university-owned technology on campus must be purchased through Technology Services. This includes computers, software, phones, computer peripherals, etc. Most technology purchases are covered under mandatory state contracts and purchasing agreements. This means they must be bought from certain vendors using guidelines the state has set up. The campus requires that all technology purchases be pre-approved by Technology Services, for three reasons. First: it ensures that proper purchasing rules are being observed; second: it helps ensure the purchases will be compatible with campus technology; and third: it ensures that we don’t already own what is being requested. If you have questions regarding purchasing technology for your department, please contact the Technology Help Desk.

By State law, Technology Services cannot help with personal computer purchases for home use. The following vendors currently offer educational discounts for computer purchases by University of Wisconsin-Superior faculty, staff, and students. For more advice on purchasing a computer for personal use, please see our Laptop Buying Suggestions guide that we send to incoming students.

Each UW-Superior student has a printing account on the campus network. This account is charged when you print documents in campus computer labs. The Student Technology Fee provides funds for $30 worth of printing each academic term. Charges are 10 cents per black and white page; 17 cents per black and white duplex (double sided printing); or 40 cents per color page. Color laser printing is available in Swenson Hall 1019, Jim Dan Hill Library, and the Yellowjacket Union.

When you log into a campus computer, your printing credit amount will be displayed in the upper right-hand corner. If you use your $30 allocation before the end of the term, you can add money to your account via cash or check at the Technology Help Desk.

Mobile Printing

Mobile printing is available from your phone, computer, or any device you can browse the web with. Go to https://green.uwsuper.edu/user, sign in with your UWS credentials, and click on “Web Print” on the left hand side. Not all printers on campus are available for mobile printing; log in to see what printers are currently available.

SharePoint News is a feature on SharePoint sites that allows people to easily share dynamic news content. People who posted to the digest will instead post to the site (similar to posting on social media).

Software Center is installed on all staff Windows computers on campus; it is used to install software and Windows update on your own time. To see what software is available to you, go to your Start Menu and type Software Center in the search field. Click the Software Center link and a window will open showing you all of your software download choices. To install any of the software listed, simply click on the application you want, and choose “Install”.

Through Software Center, you can install necessary Windows updates on your own schedule to avoid interruptions while you are working. Technology Services will send these updates out to you the third full week of every month. You will have approximately one week to install the updates before they are installed automatically. Updates that require a reboot will give you a 24-hour warning. To install Windows Updates from the Software Center, go to the Updates tab in the left column. Click the “Install all” button in the top right corner of your screen. You can continue working while the updates are being installed, but be aware that a reboot may be required during the update process.

View the Software Center/Windows Updates Guide.

SPSS Statistics is a software package offering advanced statistical analysis, a library of machine learning algorithms, text analysis, open source extensibility, integration with big data, and seamless deployment into applications. All staff, faculty, and students have access to SPSS at no cost.

UW-Superior has many options for Video Conferencing. We recommend using Zoom and Microsoft Teams. We also have information on the My UW-System Portal Web Conference (Blackboard) tool, a Video Conferencing Room that can be reserved, and Webinars.

We have one Video Conferencing location available that can accommodate up to 15 participants in Old Main 316.

The video conference coordinator for your event should send an email with specific instructions of how to connect to your video conference. Please include the following information in an email to the Technology Help Desk:

  • Dates and times of conference and possibly connection testing sessions
  • An IP address
  • System requirements i.e if UW-Superior can send and receive content
  • Technical contact prior to and day of conference

Unfortunately, there is no VPN for students or employee personal use, but we encourage you to look into purchasing a subscription to one if you plan to use public Wi-Fi off campus. You can find discounts on select software for personal or school use OntheHub. Learn more about why you should use a VPN from the National Cybersecurity Alliance.

If you are participating in a webinar in your office or another location and need assistance setting up your computer, please contact the Technology Help Desk, and include all the information below in your request. Some webinars may require the use of computer speakers, computer headphones with an integrated microphone, and a web camera; these items can be checked out at the Technology Help Desk if needed. We recommend using Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

The Webinar provider will usually send an email with specific instructions on how to connect to their sessions. This may include:

  • Dates and times.
  • A telephone number to call if the audio is a separate component from their online presentation.
  • A meeting session login and or password.
  • Computer hardware and software requirements.
  • A link to the online component of webinar.
  • A link to specific presentation software that may be required to participate.
  • Test session times and dates to test your connection to the webinar.
  • Technical assistance and contact information for testing and day of the webinar.

Wireless Internet Access is available in all buildings on campus. Below are instructions on how to connect your device to the wireless network. If you are having issues accessing the wireless network, please contact the Technology Help Desk. If you are having issues accessing the wireless network in the Residence Halls, you can also contact ResNet.

Connecting Your Computer

  • Select the eduroam wireless network.
  • Enter your full UWS email address as the username and enter your password.
  • Select Connect.

Connecting Your Phone: iPhone

  • Open WiFi Settings and select the eduroam wireless network.
  • Enter your full UWS email address as the username and enter your password.
  • Select Trust in the upper right-hand corner.

Connecting Your Phone: Android

  1. Open WiFi Settings and select the eduroam wireless network.
  2. For EAP Option, select TTLS from the drop-down menu.
  3. If asked for a Domain enter uwsuper.edu.
  4. For CA Certificate, select Don’t Validate.
  5. Under Identity (or user), enter your full UWS email address and password.
  6. Select Auto Connect.
  7. Select Connect.

Connecting All Other Devices

  • Use your computer or phone to go to My Devices to register your device.
  • Sign in with your UWS credentials, select the box I agree to the terms and conditions, and click Sign On.
  • Click on Add.
  • Enter a Device Name for the device you would like to add.
  • Enter the Device ID. This will be the MAC/Wi-Fi address, typically found within the settings or listed outside of the device.
  • Click Submit.
  • Your device will now be automatically connected to the UWSUPER wireless network.

Note: My Devices will remove any devices added after 270 days.

Zoom is a videoconference tool that allows up to 300 people to connect and interact. All faculty, staff, and students on campus have a pro account and can access all features related to chatting, video calling, screensharing, recording, and more. Zoom has many resources and brief training videos if you are unfamiliar with this product.