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Author: Cathy Rodriguez

Software available for students, faculty and staff

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez
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Bangkok, Thailand. June 8, 2025; Person using a laptop displaying the Microsoft Copilot AI assistant logo, illustrating modern technology and productivity tools.

K-State provides a variety of free and paid software options to students, faculty and staff. These resources ensure the university community has the digital tools needed to support academic success, research and daily operations.

Available software

  • Microsoft 365: Free office collaboration suite with access to tools such as email, calendar, Office applications and cloud storage for use on desktop, web and mobile devices.

  • Adobe Creative Cloud: Free for faculty and staff, with access available for student employees whose roles require Adobe applications.

  • Mediasite: Available to all K-State users for recording, uploading and sharing instructional and presentation videos.

  • Qualtrics: Available to faculty and staff for surveys and data collection, with student access provided upon request for coursework or research needs.

  • Discipline-specific software

    Tools such as SAS, SPSS, MATLAB, Mathematica and Minitab are available through departmental licensing based on academic and research needs.

Visit the Application Licenses page to browse available software and review eligibility requirements.

 

The hidden cost of convenience: Are your time-saving habits putting you at risk?

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

We all love shortcuts. Saved passwords, autofill forms and single sign-on make it easier to log in, shop, and get work done without thinking twice. But that same convenience can quietly open the door to cyber risks if you’re not paying attention.

Each click that saves you time might also save a cybercriminal time, giving them easier access to your personal or university accounts.

The tradeoff we forget

Many of today’s digital tools are designed to remember things for us. That’s helpful until it’s not. When your browser automatically stores credentials or keeps you logged in, anyone who gets access to your device — even briefly — could have access to your accounts.

The same applies to syncing across multiple devices. If your phone, laptop, and tablet all share the same saved logins but one device is lost or stolen, every connected account becomes vulnerable. Continue reading “The hidden cost of convenience: Are your time-saving habits putting you at risk?” →

Qualtrics Customer Success Hub: Everything you need in one place

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

The Customer Success Hub is Qualtrics’ self-service portal where you can access learning materials, contact technical support, and more. Access is included at no additional cost, but what you see inside may depend on your license, role or service package.

Getting started

  1. Visit the Customer Success Hub.
  2. In the upper-right corner, click Login.
  3. Click Sign in with SSO.
  4. Type kstate as the organization ID.
  5. Sign in with your eID and password

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At this point, you can go through their learning materials, submit a support ticket, or view the tickets you have already submitted.

Grow your skills Continue reading “Qualtrics Customer Success Hub: Everything you need in one place” →

Wireless printing from a personal laptop

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

""In order to print wirelessly, users must be on campus and connected to the KSU Wireless or KSU Housing network. Wireless printing can be done from anywhere on campus to PaperCut print stations in several locations:

  • Hale Library: First, second, third and fourth floors
  • Media Center: First floor, Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab
  • K-State Student Union: First floor
  • Justin Hall: Lobby
  • Weigel Library: Room 0081
  • Math/Physics Library: Cardwell Hall, room 105C

How to print Continue reading “Wireless printing from a personal laptop” →

Personalizing Copilot with an About Me page

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

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When you start using Microsoft 365 Copilot, it’s ready to jump in by summarizing notes, generating ideas and finding information across your files. But for Copilot to give you its best work, it needs to know a little about you.

That’s where your About Me page comes in. It gives Copilot insight into who you are, what you do and how you like to communicate. The result? Smarter, more natural responses that sound more like you.

Copilot learns context from what you share. When you tell it about your role, background, and goals, it can adjust its tone, suggest better phrasing, and tailor examples that fit your work.

For example, a faculty member might get more academic-style examples, while a communicator could receive more conversational ones. Your About Me page helps bridge that gap, which turns Copilot into a more personal and precise assistant. Continue reading “Personalizing Copilot with an About Me page” →

Stay secure by keeping your software up to date

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

""Cybercriminals often exploit weaknesses in outdated software. Updates fix those vulnerabilities and help keep your devices secure. Skipping updates leaves the door open for attacks.

Whether it is your operating system, web browser or phone apps, keeping everything current is a critical step in cybersecurity. Updates often include security patches in addition to new features.

Set your devices to update automatically when possible. Make time to restart your computer and apply updates promptly. Delaying updates, even by a few days, can increase your risk.

For K-State, keeping systems updated is essential to protecting sensitive university data, maintaining secure networks and preventing service disruptions. Outdated software can create vulnerabilities not only for you, but also for the university as a whole. Staying current helps everyone.

By applying updates, you close the gaps that attackers try to exploit. It is one of the simplest ways to protect your information and keep your technology running smoothly.

Microsoft Loop or Copilot Pages?

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

Screenshot of Loop and Copilot comparison. The Loop side shows a task list and a poll. The Copilot side shows a summary page.Microsoft 365 offers a variety of tools to help you collaborate, organize and create content. But with so many options, knowing which one fits your needs can be tricky. Two tools, Loop and Copilot Pages, both support collaboration and content creation, yet they shine in different ways. Here’s how to decide which one to use.

Loop: Your evolving workspace

Loop works whether you’re organizing ideas for yourself or building resources with a team. It’s a space where content can grow and adapt over time.

Example: Create a personal planning page to track goals, or set up a shared reference page for project guidelines.

Loop is ideal for any content you’ll keep revisiting and refining.

Copilot Pages: Organize and fine-tune

Copilot Pages can also be used on your own or with others. It helps you take scattered notes and conversations and turn them into something clear and usable.

Example: Pull together research notes into a first draft, or combine team updates into a structured summary everyone can build on.

Copilot Pages works best when you need help organizing, explaining and refining your content.

Which tool to choose

  • Use Loop for evolving and collaborative workspaces.
  • Use Copilot Pages when you want assistance turning loose pieces into clear, usable content.

 

Get technology help at the IT Service Desk

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

The IT Service Desk is here to support you with your technology needs. Whether it’s resolving an incident, fixing a computer issue, or ordering an IT service, our staff are ready to assist.

  • Phone:  785-532-7722 or 800-865-6143.
  • Live Chat.
  • Walk-in: Second floor of Hale Library.

IT Service Desk Hours

  • Sunday: 1 p.m.-10 p.m.
  • Monday – Thursday: 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
  • Friday: 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
  • Saturday: 1 p.m.-6 p.m.

Self help

  • IT Knowledge Base: A one-stop resource with articles to help you troubleshoot and learn on your own.
  • IT Website: The IT website features how to get help, services, resources and more.

Resources

Using Copilot to support your communication efforts

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

If you’re new to using Copilot to support your communications work, the most important skill to build is prompting—how you ask for help. Whether you’re formatting emails, organizing data or creating content, the way you phrase your request can make a big difference.

What you can ask for

You can:

  • Extract and format content from files like Excel, Word or PDFs. (Don’t share sensitive data.)
  • Search the web to find information, verify facts or gather examples.
  • Automate formatting for emails, reports and templates.
  • Generate content such as summaries, blog posts or social media drafts.

How to structure your prompts Continue reading “Using Copilot to support your communication efforts” →

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Follow along for tips on how to stay safe online.October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global effort to help everyone stay safe and secure whenever and however they connect.

This month, the Division of Information Technology (IT) will highlight four key habits that make a big difference in protecting your accounts and information:

  • Using strong passwords and a password manager
  • Turning on multifactor authentication
  • Updating software regularly
  • Recognizing and reporting phishing scams

Cybersecurity news often focuses on major data breaches and hackers, which can feel overwhelming. But the truth is, small steps add up. Practicing just a few basics can protect you, your family and K-State from online threats.

Throughout October, IT will share practical tips, along with posts on Twitter (@kstateITservice), to help you strengthen your digital security. Knowledge is power, and when we all take proactive steps, our entire community becomes more secure.