Faculty, professional staff, and students may need to access Drexel resources and services remotely in the event of campus closure. The below information is provided to help you navigate safely online, and utilize those resources and services that are remotely accessible.

Policies/Information Security

See more information regarding security online in this news article on our News site.

• Best Practices
• Policies and Regulations
• Helpful Links

Phishing Reminders: Stay Safe Online

Drexel will NEVER ask you to:

• Give out your password
• "Verify" sign-in credentials
• Download unsolicited email attachments

Use of Drexel-Provided Devices

Faculty and professional staff who intend on taking a Drexel-provided computer or device home MUST sign into the device on Drexel’s campus first. Ensure that user account profiles, settings, updates, and files are appropriately set up before leaving campus.

Use of Personal Devices

Faculty and Professional Staff: Drexel devices should be used to remotely access Drexel resources and services. This means devices that have Drexel encryption in place, current OS updates, and working Sophos Anti-Virus installed.

However, if personal devices must be used (e.g. students), ensure that the device has current OS updates and anti-virus software installed.

Connecting to Drexel

In order to access Drexel's resources from off campus, confirm internet access.

• Test your network speed. Check your internet speed.
• Please refer to the following FCC guidance for choosing a data plan based on your household usage.

Download speed refers to how many megabits of data per second it takes to download data from a server in the form of images, videos, text and more.

Upload speed refers to how many megabits of data per second it takes to send information from your computer or device to the web. It’s important for video conferencing, sharing files online, interactive learning – as well as "cloud computing." These applications work best if upload speed is as high as download speed, but service providers don’t always offer that option. If these applications are important to you, use our FCC guidance to find the download speed you need, and look for a service that has upload speeds reasonably close to that level.

*Mbps (Megabits per second) is the standard measure of broadband speed. It refers to the speed with which information packets are downloaded from, or uploaded to, the internet.

If Your Internet Connection is Slow

• Move closer to your wi-fi router. Getting closer to your router can improve signal strength. Wi-fi extenders can boost the signal in other rooms.
• Restart your router or computer. Most routers have a reset button. If your computer isn’t connecting but other devices are still working online, reboot your computer.
• Close other programs and limit streaming/large downloads while you work. Other programs on your computer may consume processor or network resources. Try disconnecting or limiting use of other non-essential devices on your network.
• Call your internet service provider or check their status website to determine if there are any known issues. This will help you learn if the problem is widespread in your area or specific to your home
• Use a mobile hotspot. A hotspot lets you share your phone’s data with other devices to access the internet. Check with your mobile provider to see if a hotspot is an option for you.

If You Don't Have Internet Access at Home

Access free or discounted internet / data during COVID-19 period. In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, several internet and telecom service providers have pledged to offer free access to the internet or increased data allowances to ensure people can get online during this unprecedented time.

• The FCC's "Keep America Connected" [PDF] initiative pledges to suspend common penalties and expand internet access [US]
• Xfinity [US]
• Verizon [US]
• T-Mobile [US]

Signing On

• Multi-Factor Authentication - Some services require MFA setup, such as DrexelOne, Drexel Email, and VPN.
• Virtual Private Network (VPN) - Some services require a VPN connection, such as SiteCore, Photo Class List, file shares.
• @drexel.edu Email - Access is possible through portal.office.com.

Resources

Remote Applications

More information about accessing learning technologies remotely can be found on the ITG Blog in Web Conferencing Options and Lecture Recording Options.

OneDrive

Put your critical documents in OneDrive and access them through the online apps. This way, your documents are accessible on multiple devices, on or off campus. Do not sync Drexel documents with a non-Drexel device!

File Server Access

For more information about accessing shared file servers, see our File Shares page.

Training

Please see the IT Workshops page for training sessions, which will be conducted online.

Support

Help Desk

• Submit a Help Ticket (drexel.edu/it/servicedesk)
• helpdesk@drexel.edu

Request A Loaner Laptop

Please submit a Loaner Laptop Service Request.