Issue 34, February 22, 2022
This communication is generated by UTHSC Information Technology Services to educate
and inform our campus community about available technology tools, training opportunities,
news, and events to help you and the university achieve excellence in patient care, education,
research, and community service.
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Microsoft 11 – Everyone Loves Its Slick New Design! Upgrade Your Device Today!Microsoft recently released new Windows 11 operating system (OS) as they phase out
and cease support for some older versions. Plan to upgrade your computer this week
to take advantage of these new features:
- Windows 11 (W11) offers new productivity features and functionality designed to meet
the challenges of the hybrid world. It has a completely refreshed look and feel that
helps you get more done with less stress. Learn more about what’s new at Windows.com/Windows-11.
- Learn more about the W11 fresh new feel and tools that make it easier to be efficient
at Use W11 like a pro!
- Having all UTHSC-owned computers on Windows 11 streamlines and standardizes support
(read: fewer problems and quicker service for you) while also helping to assure the
security and compliance of the university’s data.
You now may update the latest OS that your machine supports by doing the following:
- The latest OS available for your computer will be listed in the “Updates” section.
- Start your upgrade at the end of the day and allow at least one hour for the upgrade
to complete.
- You do not need to VPN into the UTHSC network to install W11.
If you choose not to move to the new OS at this time, ITS will start automatically
upgrading all qualified UTHSC-owned computers in mid-March.
Please contact the Service Desk at TechConnect or 901.448.2222 if you have questions.
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 RingCentral FAQsHave questions about RingCentral? We have answers!
| Can I go ahead and sign up for RingCentral and start using it now? |
No. You will be notified when your UTHSC phone number is moving to RingCentral and
an account has been created for you. Creating your own RingCentral account will cause
problems that delay service when it is time for your phone number to be moved. |
| Do I still have to dial “9” for an outside line? |
No. Just dial the 10-digit phone number for both internal and external calls. |
| Does RingCentral require me to use my cell phone for work calls? |
You are not required to use your cell phone or other personal devices to make work
calls, but RingCentral can be used on it if you choose to do so. |
| If I choose to use my cell phone, I don't want people I call to see my cell phone
number - is that going to be a problem? |
No! RingCentral conceals your cell phone number and only displays your UTHSC phone
number to the caller. |
| If I set RingCentral to forward to my cell phone, will I receive work calls at night? |
No! You can set work hours within RingCentral to turn your calls off at the end of
the day. |
| I make credit card payments by phone for my department all the time. Do I need to
have a “hard” phone? |
No. A hard phone, or a physical phone like the one you have now, is needed only for
those who take payors’ credit card information. It is not needed by UTHSC members
who are paying for something with a credit card. (Those in safety-related jobs also
will retain a hard phone.) |
| If my UTHSC computer is at my home, do I have to bring it to campus to install RingCentral? |
No. The software will be downloaded from the RingCentral website, so it can be installed
on your computer at any location with an internet connection. (You will receive a
notice when it is time for you to download and install RingCentral.) |
| What do I do with my old phone? |
Nothing. Once your UTHSC phone number is moved to RingCentral, we will collect your
old desk phone later. You can leave it plugged in. |
| What if my old phone rings? |
Answer it. It can still receive internal calls. However, it will not receive external
calls, and you also will be limited in who you can call. Thus, the best thing you
can do is use RingCentral all the time. |
| Do I need a headset to use RingCentral? |
It depends. If the device on which you install RingCentral does not have a microphone,
then a headset with a microphone is a great alternative. In addition to providing
a way to speak during calls, a headset also can increase privacy and reduce distraction.
Visit our headset article in TechConnect for more information on recommended models, etc. |
| I received an error message when trying to put in my home address. Apparently, it
did not recognize it and reverted it back to the campus address. |
This article from RingCentral provides troubleshooting steps to resolve the error message. |
| Can I still call my co-workers or get calls from them if all of us are not moved to
RingCentral at the same time? |
Yes. All you have to do to reach any UTHSC number, whether it’s on RingCentral or
the old system, is to dial the full 10-digit number instead of using the 5-digit extension
(ex., 9014481234 instead of 81234). |
| My current voicemail is set up to send my messages to my email as an audio file. Will
that still happen on RingCentral? |
Yes, voicemail will be set by default to do this for UTHSC members. You also will
have the option to set your voicemail to send a transcription. |
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| Review/Update Your Work and Personal Information We have said it before, and we will say it again - it is SO important to keep your
work and personal information up to date in IRIS.
Not only because it will help with your RingCentral transition, but also because:
- Your paper W-2 form may end up in the hands of a stranger
- Facilities may not be able to find you when you submit a request for service
- Your benefits paperwork could be sent to the wrong home address
- You may not get a UTHSC Alert message in case of an emergency
Follow these simple steps to check your work and personal information in IRIS:
- Click on Resources in the top menu of any UTHSC page and choose MyUT(may require login and/or authentication).
- Click the Employee Self-Service folder icon at the top of the page.
- Click Personal Profile(under Most Frequently Used on the right or click the P in the alphabetical listing
to see it)
- You can change any of these fields by clicking on the pencil in that section:
- Emergency Contact
- Work phone number
- Home address
- Home phone number
- Phone release status
- Make updates, then click the Save and Back button, and the information is automatically updated in IRIS.
You cannot update your name, work address, education information, or immigration or
resident status. Please see the Updating Your Work and Personal Information web page to update any of that information.
Have more questions? Please get in touch with your business manager or HR by calling
901.448.5600. |
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| How Often Do I Have to Change My Password? Does your NetID password expire too often for you? Did you know you could set a password
that never expires?
You can learn more about our NetID password, expiration periods, and how you can set
up a password that never expires in our TechConnect How Often Do I Have to Change My Password? article.
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| MATLAB and Simulink by MathWorks, Inc. MATLAB and Simulink are computational software environments used to perform various
tasks applicable to engineering, science, mathematics, statistics, and finance. The
UT system-wide Total Academic Headcount (TAH) license includes MatLAB, Simulink, and
most of the toolboxes listed on the company product page. The toolboxes are collections
of functions for solving particular classes of problems, such as signal processing,
image processing, control systems, curve fitting, etc. Simulink and the toolboxes
require MATLAB.
Learn more about MATLAB and Simulink on OIT's Research Software website. Learn when to use it, where to run it, how to learn, and where to get help. |
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Microsoft has some excellent FREE training courses we recommend. As UTHSC faculty
or staff, you can access all Microsoft 365 apps listed. Students may not have access
to all these apps.
Beginners Guide to SharePoint
This introductory course will focus on the experience for site members, using Communication
and Team Sites. Attendees will learn how to share and manage content, find information,
and collaborate across their organization. Register
- Feb 28 - 9:30 am - 10:30 am
- Mar 08 - 9:30 am - 10:30 am
- Mar 19 - 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Intermediate Excel Skills - Dive Deeper into Your Data
Take a dive into the intermediate features of Excel’s navigation, functions, and custom
formulas. Expand knowledge of notable functions in Excel. • Understand a wide variety
of cell formatting to manipulate and interpret data. • Learn to create Pivot tables
for data analysis. • Understand options to restrict and protect data in Excel. • Utilize
accessibility options in Excel using the Check Accessibility tool and how to add alternative
text. Register
- Feb 24 - 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Fundamentals of Microsoft Word
Get started by learning to navigate Word, make impactful documents, and review your
content with ease. Navigate the Word interface and view available options. • Use rich
formatting and layout options to express ideas in writing. • Understand how to jump-start
documents with modern templates, themes, and style sets. • Use editing tools to review
your document and get intelligent suggestions. • Learn to share files to quickly invite
others to edit or view your document. Register
- Feb 24 - 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
- Mar 11 - 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
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| Windows 11 New Features Did you just upgrade to Windows 11, but don't know how it's different from Windows
10? Linkedin Learning has a great 4-minutes video that covers the most exciting new
features, and it is free to you!
Getting Started You must go to the UTHSC LinkedIn Learning site to receive full university access to the site.
- Click the Windows 11 New Features video link.
- If you have linked your LinkedIn Learning account to your LinkedIn account, you will be asked to log into LinkedIn.
If you have not linked your LinkedIn Learning account to your LinkedIn account, you will be taken to the LinkedIn Learning main page.
- Click Continue to University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
- Enter your NetID/password (Duo authentication may be required).
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Lean 6 Sigma
CI is Everywhere!
We often overlook it, but continuous improvement (CI) surrounds us! If you think about
day-to-day activities, you realize that without CI, many things in our lives would
be much different.
Some improvements are just simple audio reminders of things we need to do. Here are
examples of how things would change if someone at a company had not once said, “What
if we…”
- Have the credit card machine make a sound to remind you to remove your card (instead of getting distracted and leaving the card behind).
- Put a concrete barrier at the end of a parking space to prevent you from pulling up
too far (or stop you from running into a building if you accidentally press the gas instead
of the brake).
- Create a car notification that reminds you when the oil needs to be changed (instead of remembering the date).
- Put a beeping sound in your car to remind you to buckle your seatbelt (instead of letting you ride around unprotected).
- Create solar-powered speed limit signs that post your speed (so you know to slow down, if needed).
- Have your oven make a sound when it reaches the preheat temperature (so you don’t have to check the oven several times to make sure it was at the correct
temperature).
- Have your cell phone make a sound to notify you when you receive a text (so you don’t have to check every so often for a message).
- Put a clock on your coffee pot so you can set it to automatically brew the coffee
(so it’s ready as soon as you wake up).
- Have a snooze button on your alarm clock (to give you that extra 10 minutes of sleep).
Policy Highlight
Email Best Practices The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) email services support the
educational and administrative activities of the University and serve as official
communication by and between users and UTHSC.
The Standard-InfoSec-GP-006-Email gives requirements and guidance on the appropriate use of this resource for everyone
who has an account. Everyone is responsible for adhering to this standard. |
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Fraud Alert! Beware of Common Tax Scams
From the Center for Internet Security (CIS) Tax season is upon us, a time of year when the scammers go into overdrive. Be extra
careful while online and avoid activities that could put your identity and finances
at risk. It doesn’t matter whether you owe money to the IRS or are expecting a refund,
as the scammers will target you regardless of your situation. Let’s explore some common
tax scams, warning signs that you may be a victim, and steps you can take to protect
yourself, your identity, and your finances.
Common Tax Scams
Cyber criminals use the same tried-and-true methods for tax scams as they do with
other targeted attacks.
- Phishing: This tactic involves using email or malicious websites to infect your device or trick
you into disclosing your information. Phishing emails may appear to come from real
financial institutions, e-commerce sites, charitable organizations, or even government
agencies such as the IRS.
- Phone Calls: This tactic involves making phone calls or leaving voicemails of an urgent or threatening
nature. In the case of tax scams, the calls may advise you of a refund you are owed
or demand that you settle an outstanding payment for back taxes. Caller ID spoofing
may be used, making it appear like the person calling is from the IRS.
Scammers using these tactics generally attempt to create a sense of urgency or have
a good story that would tend to compel you to disclose personal information such as
such as your date of birth, social security number, driver’s license number, or even
usernames and passwords to your accounts. Watch out for these common scams:
- Refund Calculation Scam: “The IRS recalculated your refund. Congratulations, we found an error in the original
calculation of your tax return and owe you additional money. Please verify your account
information so we can make a deposit.”
- Stimulus Payment Scam: “Our records show that you have not claimed your COVID-19 stimulus payment. Please
provide us with your information so we can send it to you.”
- Verification Scam: “We need to verify your W-2 and other personal information. Please take pictures
of your driver’s license, documents, and forms and send them to us.”
- Gift Card Scam: “You owe us back taxes and may be charged with a federal crime. You must pay a penalty
to avoid being prosecuted. Purchase these gift cards and send them to us and we will
wipe your record clean.”
- Fake Charity Scam: Scammers pose as a legitimate charity, often with a similar name as a real charity,
to trick you into donating money to their own cause–filling their pockets.
- Fake Tax Preparers: Watch out for tax preparers that refuse to sign the returns they prepare. If they
gain access to your information, they may file fraudulent tax returns redirecting
your refund or attempt to access your bank accounts.
Warning Signs
Hopefully, you have avoided the common tax scams, but the cyber criminals may have
other methods of obtaining your information, such as data breaches of companies you
do business with. Watch out for these warning signs that you may already be a victim.
- You attempt to file a tax return, either online or by mail, but are informed by the
IRS or your state that they have already received one.
- You are informed by the IRS that an account has been registered in your name at IRS.gov
even though you have never created one.
- You receive a transcript from the IRS that you did not request
How to Protect Yourself
- Identity Theft Resources
- If you believe you have become a victim of Identity Theft, visit IdentityTheft.gov to report it and create a recovery plan.
- For specific information and resources for tax-related identity theft, visit the Identity Theft Central web page on the IRS web site.
- E-mail and Internet Security Best Practices
- Never use public Wi-Fi to file your taxes or conduct other business such as online
banking. Only connect to networks that you trust.
- Remember that IRS.gov is the only genuine website for the Internal Revenue Service.
All Internet and email communications between you and the IRS would be through this
site.
- Never send sensitive information via email. If you receive an email from an unknown
source or one that seems suspicious, do not reply.
- Report tax-related phishing emails to Phishing@IRS.gov. Visit Tax Scams - How to Report Them on the IRS web site for additional information.
- IRS Representatives – Know How They Operate
- The first point of contact by the IRS is typically via postal mail. The IRS will not
contact you via email, text messaging, or your social network, nor does it advertise
on websites.
- IRS representatives always carry two forms of official credentials, and you can confirm
their identity by calling a dedicated IRS telephone number for verification.
- The IRS does not accept payments by gift cards.
- Review How to know it’s really the IRS calling or knocking on your door on the IRS
web site for additional information.
- Donating to Charities
- Only donate to charitable organizations that you trust. Beware of charities that require
you to give or send cash.
- Verify charitable organizations using the Tax-Exempt Organization Search web page on the IRS web site.
- Using Tax Preparers
- Beware of tax preparers that only accept cash payments or offer to claim fake deductions
to inflate your tax refund.
- Only use a preparer that can provide you with their Tax Preparer Identification. You
can verify your tax preparer through the Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications on the IRS web site.
- Visit Topic No. 254 How to Choose a Tax Return Preparer for best practices on selecting
your tax preparer.
- Secure Your Identity
- Get An Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) from the IRS to prevent someone else from filing a tax return in your name.
- Check with your state to see if they offer a similar program to file your state taxes.
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| Lokesh Chinthala  In each issue, we feature one of our amazing ITS team members. We learn more about
Lokesh Chinthala with our Research IT team in this segment.
What is your role and how long have you been in ITS at UTHSC? I work as a Medical Informatics Scientist, and I have been associated with UTHSC for
the last 4 years. I manage the rEDW (Research Enterprise Datawarehouse), which contains
EHR (Electronic Health Record) data from multiple Healthcare organizations around
the state of Tennessee. I am also the admin for TriNetX a prep-to-research tool that
is built over the rEDW.
What is a day in the life of Lokesh like? My day usually starts at 7:30 AM with a cup of lemon tea. I check my calendar and
plan for the day. Though not all the days are the same, I split my work between assisting
the Investigators with the data curation, extraction, and coordinating with offsite
stakeholders to receive EHR data for the rEDW. Apart from these, I am responsible
for data harmonization and the data refresh on the TriNetX appliance.
What is your favorite thing about working at UTHSC? Work-life balance, thanks to my amazing supervisor, Dr. Davis. People here are friendly
and easy to work with.
What’s something most people don’t know about you? I am pursuing a PhD in the Health Outcomes and Policy Research (HOPR) program. While
I am not working and studying, I spend considerable time on Xbox and traveling.
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