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End-of-Year inbox refresh: Clearing the clutter so you have a fresh start in the new year

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

There comes a point when your inbox stops being helpful and starts feeling a little crowded. Messages from the same senders stack up. Subscriptions you never read linger, threads you meant to file keep sitting in your inbox “just in case.” It all adds up.

Eventually, we want that weight lifted. Getting prepared for the next semester is often a time when people do some housekeeping.

Outlook provides several helpful tools to help you cut through the noise. The following are a few ways to get started cleaning up your inbox:

  • Use Sweep to filter messages for easier deletion or archiving.
  • Use Copilot to summarize threaded messages, allowing you to decide whether they are worth keeping.
  • Unsubscribe from outdated mailing lists.
  • Mark low-priority threads as read so they no longer compete for attention.
  • Remove old calendar invites that are no longer relevant.

To learn more about these tips, visit these Microsoft articles:

Headed out for the holidays? Don’t forget these cybersecurity safety tips

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

The holiday season is a time to reconnect. Whether you’re traveling for family dinners, road-trips with friends or just a change of scenery, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle. Your gadgets and data tend to get forgotten until something goes wrong. A little preparation can go a long way toward secure travel.

Secure your devices before you leave

Take a moment to make sure your devices are protected. Use strong passwords, enable multi-factor authentication and install any pending software updates.

Outdated software and weak credentials are among the easiest ways for a bad actor to gain access while you’re away.

Think twice about public Wi-Fi

Coffee shops, airports and hotels often tempt travelers with free Wi-Fi. But those networks can be risky. A public connection can be a hacker’s playground. Never log in to banking, work-related systems, or other sensitive services over open Wi-Fi without added protection, such as using a VPN or your mobile hotspot. Continue reading “Headed out for the holidays? Don’t forget these cybersecurity safety tips” →

Visit the IT Status Hub for real-time updates on K-State IT Services

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

Do you need to check the status of an IT service? K-State continuously monitors core IT services and related components. Service updates are available on the IT Status Hub, categorized as follows:

  • Up (green): Service is running and fully functional.
  • Affected (yellow): Service is experiencing partial disruptions.
    Note: Some services may be marked as Affected during maintenance windows or intermittent disruptions.
  • Down (red): Service is currently unavailable.

On the IT Status Hub page, you can also see notifications of any current events, a maintenance calendar and a service history.

Using Microsoft Loop to keep your meeting notes organized

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

Every meeting has two outcomes. Either your notes work for you, or they vanish into the digital void. Loop provides a simple way to keep track of what has happened, what needs to happen next, and who is responsible for what without having to dig through old notebooks or endless email threads.

Why Loop  for meeting notes

Loop blends the flexibility of a shared document with the structure of a task list. It’s collaborative in real time, easy to reuse for recurring meetings, and it connects naturally to Teams and Planner. That means fewer scattered notes and a smoother handoff after every discussion.

Start with a meeting notes template

Open Loop and create a new page for your meeting. Add a workspace if you want to keep everything in one place for your committee or project team. Use a simple layout with three parts: agenda, notes and decisions, and action items. The template keeps every meeting consistent so you don’t start from scratch each time.

Continue reading “Using Microsoft Loop to keep your meeting notes organized” →

Cybersecurity tips for safer online shopping during the holidays

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

As the holiday season approaches, many people turn to online shopping for convenience and efficiency. This leads to a noticeable increase in promotional messages, delivery updates and account notifications.

Cybercriminals often take advantage of this activity by creating fraudulent emails and fake online stores that appear legitimate. These messages frequently resemble real promotions or shipping notices, making it more difficult to distinguish trustworthy communication from potential scams.

Understanding how to evaluate online deals, verify websites and recognize suspicious messages plays a key role in preventing fraud during this busy season.

To stay safe while shopping online this holiday season, keep these tips in mind when evaluating messages, websites and promotional offers.

Confirm the source before you click

During the holiday season, messages about order updates, shipping notices and limited-time deals become more common. Before opening an email or clicking a link, take a moment to confirm the sender and review the URL for accuracy. Scammers often mimic legitimate retailers or delivery services, using look-alike addresses and convincing designs to direct shoppers to fraudulent sites.

Shop only with reputable retailers Continue reading “Cybersecurity tips for safer online shopping during the holidays” →

Fall break schedule for the IT Service Desk

Posted on by Christine Doucette

The IT Service Desk will have reduced hours during the fall break.

  • Friday, Nov. 21: 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. (all services)
  • Saturday, Nov. 22: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. (chat, phone and service tickets only)
  • Sunday, Nov. 23: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. (chat, phone and service tickets only)
  • Monday, Nov. 24: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (all services)
  • Tuesday, Nov. 25: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (all services)
  • Wednesday, Nov. 26: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (all services)
  • Thursday, Nov. 27: Closed
  • Friday, Nov. 28: Closed
  • Saturday, Nov. 29: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. (chat, phone and service tickets only)
  • Sunday, Nov. 30: 2 – 10 p.m. (all services)

You can contact the IT Service Desk at 800-865-6143 or 785-532-7722 or via Live Chat. For face-to-face service, visit the IT Service Desk on the second floor of Hale Library.

Continue reading “Fall break schedule for the IT Service Desk” →

Build a task system in Microsoft Loop and Teams

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

Managing daily tasks across messages, meetings, and apps can pull your attention in different directions. Microsoft Teams and Loop work together to bring everything into one simple place. By creating a Loop component in your self chat, you can build a lightweight task list that syncs to the Loop app whenever you are ready to expand.

Create your Today task list in Teams

  1. Open Microsoft Teams.
  2. Open Chat, then select your name to open self chat.
  3. In the message field, click the Loop component button.
  4. Select Table to create a small task table.
  5. Add simple table headers for a quick start, such as Task, Due and Notes.
  6. Click Send.

This creates a Loop component directly within your chat, which can update automatically across apps, such as in the Loop on the web.

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Open the task list in the Loop app Continue reading “Build a task system in Microsoft Loop and Teams” →

Streamline your day with Workflows in Microsoft Teams

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

If you find yourself doing the same tasks over and over, such as posting weekly reminders, sending updates, and welcoming new team members, there is an easier way. Workflows in Microsoft Teams can help you automate routine tasks.

Workflows use simple, prebuilt templates that connect Teams to apps like Outlook, Planner, OneDrive and more.

How to Get Started

  1. Open Microsoft Teams.
  2. In any chat or channel, click the More options (⋯) menu at the top.
  3. Choose Workflows.
  4. Browse the list of suggested templates like “Follow up on a message” or “Save a message to OneNote.”
  5. Select a workflow, click Add Workflow, and follow the setup prompts.

Workflow Ideas Continue reading “Streamline your day with Workflows in Microsoft Teams” →