Information Technology

Network drives giving you headaches? Not sure if your files are being backed up? Want quick, self-service file sharing with collaborators? Need to access files from multiple devices?

Forget about your U, I and the alphabet soup of network drives. Move your documents to Google Drive and make your life easier. Plus, moving your documents now will make future computer replacements virtually painless. Check out the Features and Benefits of Google Drive.

An additional, and huge, benefit of starting to store all your data on Google Drive now is that eventually all locally-hosted network storage will be replaced by Google Drive. Moving your files now means you’ll be ahead of the game and only need to look in one place for all your data and files.

Please contact AskIT@amherst.edu with your questions about how to get the most out of Google Drive.

Many network updates and changes were made over the summer. Review our updated instructions to connect to wi-fi. 

Check recent updates to this ongoing issue. 

Incidents of identity theft related to unemployment fraud are on the rise. Bad actors are increasingly exploiting the pandemic financially. One scenario is to steal someone’s identity and apply for unemployment benefits in the victim’s name, with the benefits deposited in an account accessible only to the perpetrator. If you have received a notice from the state of Massachusetts about an application for unemployment benefits which you did not file, please notify the college and the state immediately. A report from the US Secret Service details the scheme, which is already affecting members of our community.

Massachusetts authorities are aware of this scam, which is widespread across the state. They are working on it, but they do not know how people's information is being obtained. They have verified, though, that the identity theft is not happening through any Amherst College systems.  

As at other stressful junctures when our attention is elsewhere, we are more susceptible to fraud and other devious schemes, particularly those appearing to be somehow “official” and of unexpected assistance. Be particularly careful of such offers by confirming their validity.  Also, be suspicious of unexpected requests to verify vendor invoices and transaction approvals by phone. Never provide personally-identifiable information (SSN, birthdate, etc.) over the phone to anyone. Likewise, never provide credit card or bank account numbers over the phone to anyone.   

Falling for a scam could cost you money and time. Play it safe!  Forward suspicious messages to phishing@amherst.edu and contact AskIT@amherst.edu if you have additional concerns. 

If you receive a message on a college computer that the Adobe software license has expired, click the Adobe login link. Or if you're prompted for a license number when you open an Adobe application, quit the licensing window and, from the application's Help menu, select Sign In.Your Adobe username is your Amherst email address.

After logging in you may be asked whether the account is a personal one or a school/organizational account. Select the latter.

If you have further problems running Adobe software on a college computer, contact AskIT.

The new WiFi network requires you to enroll devices before you can connect them to the AmherstGuest network. Follow the link for instructions.

You may also wish to consider online training through LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com).