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DTS New Starters Information

DTS have compiled the following information about IT setup and requirements for members of staff joining the University while we continue to operate remotely.

This information may be subject to change.

Set up

  • Each department has an existing set up request process, and this will not need to change in whilst we operate remotely
  • DTS have switched off the requirement for initial log in to take place on campus. The new member of staff will need to log in with the system-generated password and will then be asked to change the password immediately
  • The initial email a new member of staff receives will contain details of their UPN plus a phonetic explanation of their system-generated password
  • Requests for software, other access should be raised via the IT Service Desk as usual
  • At the present time, new starters will not be assigned a Teams calls extension number, but internal calls can be made via Teams. This will be subject to change in April when we embark on the Teams calls rollout to the wider university, and this will then be available to request.

Equipment

  • We would initially recommend that departments ask new members of staff if they have access to personal devices that they could work from remotely during this period.
  • If this is not an option, DTS have been in contact with Finance and our suppliers to agree a process for delivery of equipment to home addresses. Please note: there are limited supplies and it's essential we prioritise the supply chain we have access to. In exceptional circumstances, if you need to purchase a portable device, monitor, tablet or phone equipment to be delivered to a home address, please get in touch with the IT Service Desk via dts@reading.ac.uk to arrange. This process requires additional procedure to our standard purchases which are delivered to campus. Instructions will be provided by DTS on what to do when we return to work with these items to ensure they are safe to go onto the network and asset tagged.
  • We are currently unable to supply staff with University headsets due to the closure of campus, in the meantime we would recommend using any headset or headphones or alternatively if working from a private space making calls via the device's speakers and microphone.
  • Further details of remote working set up, VPN requirements and equipment needed can be found via the DTS Remote Working webpages. Further information for our teaching staff about online delivery of teaching can be found at the CQSD TEL webpages.

Support

The University's IT Service Desk can provide remote support, accessing personal devices and those working remotely to assist with set up or queries.

Please use the IT Self Service Portal to log any queries or faults and check the status of existing tickets. For quick updates and information, as well as hints and tips, please consider following DTS on Twitter - @UniRdg_IT