IT Basics

To use many U-M computing services you need to enter your uniqname (which identifies you) and your UMICH password (which authorizes and authenticates you). Additionally, you are required to use Duo two-factor authentication, as an extra security step. 

  • Getting Help

    The Information Technology and Audio Visual Services departments at the Law School are known simply as LawIT and LawAV. The most efficient way to request computer or printer assistance, training, consultation, room reservations, or audio visual equipment and services is to place a request via the Law School’s web-based service request system.

    Submit a Service Request

    • Hardware 
    • Software (PowerPoint, Word, etc.)
    • Troubleshooting
    • Maintenance of computers and printers
    • Instruction/training (Canvas, Seating Chart, etc.)
    • Network access
    • General advice concerning computer purchases
    • Audio visual classroom support (see below)
    • Viruses/spyware problems
    • Data security concerns
    • Zoom support

    Audio/Visual (AV) Services

    All requests for AV services and equipment, no matter how simple, must be placed through the online Event Reservations system. Advance notice is extremely important, especially if it requires staff to work overtime and weekends. Give as much notice as possible for major events (at least a month for symposia and one week but preferably more for video conferences). Even simple requests must be made at least two working days in advance to ensure availability of equipment and support staff.

    Submit an Event Request

     

  • Uniqname

    A computing ID (a three-to eight-letter personal identifier) at U-M is called a uniqname (pronounced “unique name”). It is public information and is printed on your MCard along with your full name. You may tell anyone your uniqname because it will be part of your e-mail address. (Your e-mail address is your [email protected]). 

    If you do not already have a uniqname, the Assistants to the Dean aid new regular faculty in acquiring a uniqname. The Assistant to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs performs the same service for visiting and adjunct faculty and lecturers. New staff should receive their uniqname during their orientation. Law IT can also create uniqnames upon request for guests, visitors, and groups for special purposes.

    Submit an IT Service Request

  • UMICH Password

    Your UMICH password authenticates you when you use most centrally-provided and many Law School-provided computing services.

    NEVER tell anyone your UMICH password. Keeping your password secret helps to guard against unauthorized use (or misuse) of U-M computing services in your name and protects against exposure of your personal private information (your social security number, paycheck etc.) stored in Wolverine Access, which is the gateway to all administrative systems at the University.

    Your UMICH password is your key to:

    Create (or change at any time) your UMICH password. Find out how to select a safe password.

     

  • Two-factor Authentication

    Two-factor Authentication means that when you log in, you provide two proofs of your identity. At U-M, that means your password plus Duo.

    You have multiple options for using Duo. See this guide for a list of Duo options as well as considerations for each option.

    This Duo management page will allow you to manage a device that you have already enrolled in Duo or enroll a new device for use with Duo.

    To request assistance with any of these, please submit a service request or ask someone in your department to place a request for you.

  • Phone

    The university is transitioning to Zoom phone.  However, there are still many traditional phones at the Law School still using the old service, ITS Exchange for voice mail. A user guide is available to help you access and manage your voicemail if you are using the old system.  

  • Email

    The Law School uses and supports the university’s Google Mail system for email. The preferred interface is Google Chrome, but other browsers will work as well.

    Tour Gmail 
    Google at U-M

  • Email Groups

    Name

    Owner

    Law School staff and Faculty

    Jenny Rickard

    Law School Faculty

    Robyn Grimes

    Law Emeritus Faculty

    Robyn Grimes

    Law Fall Visiting Faculty

    Robyn Grimes, Jenny Rickard

    Law Regular Faculty

    Robyn Grimes

    law voting faculty

    Robyn Grimes

    Law TenureTrack Faculty

    Robyn Grimes

    Law Tenured Faculty

    Robyn Grimes

    Law Visiting Faculty Winter

    Robyn Grimes

    Law School Staff

    Robyn Grimes, Jenny Rickard

    Law Library Staff

    Naomi Eberle

    Law School Above Ground Staff

    Robyn Grimes, Jenny Rickard

    Law School Development and Alumni Relations

    Jenni Borden

    Law School Staff Admissions

    Shannon Briscoe

    Law School Staff Career Planning

    Tammy Sindlinger

    Law School Career Services

    Tammy Sindlinger

    Law School Staff Clerical

    Jenny Rickard

    Law School Staff Communications

    Shelley Rodgers

    Law School Staff Dean’s Office and HR

    Rachel Perrell

    Law School Staff Facilities Distribution and Receiving

    Jenny Rickard

    Law School Staff Financial Aid

    Nate Bauer, Kathy Johnson

    Law School Staff Financial Operations

    Christina Luo, Joe Castillo

    Law School Staff Information Technology

    Jason Jude

    Law School Staff International Programs

    Stephanie Wiederhold

    Law School Staff Records

    Rashida Douglas

    Law Temporary Staff

    Robyn Grimes, Rachel Perrell

     

  • Email Away Message
  • Calendar

    The Law School uses and supports the university’s Google Calendar as its shared calendaring system.

    Tour Google Calendar

    About U-M and Google Calendar

     

  • Computer Backups

    Individual user devices (laptops or desktops) can be backed up with the University supported program called CrashPlan. The program will backup your local user folder and all sub-folders on up to nine University owned and supported devices.  

    Law School Information Technology staff can help you set up CrashPlan on your workstation or laptop to help you get started, and explain the basic functions of the program. After that you can fully manage the system without intervention. 

    Law IT highly recommends using U-M Dropbox for all of your storage needs, so we do not install this software by default.

    About U-M Computer Backups

  • Standard Software

    The standard software package provided to new employees varies from time to time. Currently, it consists of:

     

    Windows

    Mac

    Operating System

    Windows 11 Enterprise

    macOS

    E-mail

    Google Mail

    Business/Productivity

    Microsoft Office 365

    Microsoft Office 365

     

    Adobe Acrobat DC

     

    Adobe Reader DC

    Collaboration

    Google Apps (Docs/Spreadsheet/Presentation)

     

    Dropbox

    Communication

    Zoom

     

    Google Meet

    Web Browsers

    Edge

    Safari

     

    Mozilla Firefox

     

    Google Chrome

    Utilities

    IrfanView

     

    7-Zip

     

    NotePad ++

     

    VLC

     

    Cisco SecureClient VPN

     

    Crash Plan

    Security

    Crowdstrike Falcon

     

    Several applications are available upon request. You may request specialized software not included in the standard software package by submitting a service request.  

  • Shared Equipment

    Laptop Loaners

    There are a few laptop computers available to faculty and staff for limited periods of time. Laptops should be reserved at least 48 hours in advance by submitting a service request. A Request for Removal and Use of University Equipment form must be completed and signed prior to taking the laptop out of the Law School.

    Network Printers, Copiers, Scanners, Fax Machines

    The university has encouraged schools and colleges on campus to decrease local printing/personal printers and move toward shared network printing in order to save money and resources. Employee computers will be configured to print to the most convenient network printers in their area. 

    Many of our printers are multi-function devices, incorporating print, copy, scan to email, and fax features in one machine. 

    If you wish to use any of the network printers listed in the table of shared equipment locations and features, please submit a service request

    Toner

    To facilitate distribution of toner cartridges and track toner usage of Law School-owned printers, please request toner cartridge replacements by completing the toner cartridge request form

  • Energy Efficient Computing

    Computer/monitor

    • Do not leave your computer running overnight and on weekends
    • Try to plan your computer-related activities so you can do them all at once, keeping the computer off at other times
    • A modest amount of turning on and off will not harm the computer or monitor. The life of a monitor is related to the amount of time it is in use, not the number of on and off cycles
    • The best screen saver is no screen saver at all - turn off your monitor when you are not using it. This option is second best only to turning off your computer all together

    Printing/copying

    • Review your document on the screen instead of printing a draft. If you must print a draft, use the blank back side of used paper
    • When making copies, use double-sided copying
    • Do not print out copies of email unless necessary
    • Use “paperless” methods of communication such as email, Google Chat, and scan-to-email

     

  • Statistical Assistance

    The Center for Statistical Consultation and Research (CSCAR) provides free statistical consulting to all UM faculty, staff, and graduate students to help with the design, planning, analysis, and presentation of results of research studies.

    CSCAR also offers workshops for a fee on statistical methods, including sample size calculation, basic and advanced regression, structural equation models, data mining, and spatial statistics; basic and intermediate use of statistical software, including SAS, Stata, R, SPSS, and ArcGIS; and a brief one-day overview of important statistical topics called Statistics: A Review, which is offered in the Fall and Winter.

    Read more

  • Other Resources

Other Services

Classroom Applications

Administration

Data Security

Data security at the Law School is a cooperative effort. LawIT can provide firewalls, update your computer software with patches, lock down your machine with access restrictions, and provide other tools for preventing inappropriate access to the sensitive data used in the course of carrying out your duties, but a major part of security is user behavior. Most security incidents occurring at the Law School are a result of web browsing to infected web sites and clicking on email links with infected content.

Some safety tips:

  • When possible, rather than clicking on links, type them in manually
  • Minimize browsing Websites you are not familiar with
  • Think before you click – Think twice before you click banner ads or pop-up windows
  • Protection provided by the Law School

    The Law School has several measures in place for protecting computers and the network:

    • The school is firewalled as a whole.
    • Each computer has a local firewall enabled.
    • Anti-virus protection software is loaded on each computer and is updated regularly through the University.
    • CrashPlan is installed on some computers to provide a daily backup of local files to the network, the purpose of which is to restore lost data from local machines.  LawIT recommends using U-M Dropbox to store data on computers without CrashPlan.
    • LawIT maintains regular backups of network servers. 
    • We have an incident response team for security incidents and questions who should be alerted by way of the service request system.
    • LawIT gives ‘User’ level access to reduce the exposure of workstations by default.
    • LawIT maintains a “white list” of safe applications that can be run on PCs.
    • LawIT uses computer patch management software to automatically update software on school computers as needed. 
  • U-M Resources

    The threat landscape is constantly changing. To address this, the University has departments that keep up with all the changes and provide information and tips to the U-M community. Some of the issues tracked include phishing, virus outbreaks, security updates for operating systems and applications, and hoaxes.  The links below point to some of the security services offered by the University.

    Antivirus information

    Consult an IT User Advocate

    Read about U-M information assurance

    U-M IT policies

  • Personal Identifiable Information (PII)

    As a member of the University community, you may have access to personally identifiable information (PII). It is essential that this PII is protected. Never save PII to your workstation without consulting with LawIT about encrypting the data.

    What is PII?

    PII is Personally Identifiable Information. It is information which can be used to uniquely identify, contact or locate a single person, or may enable disclosure of personal information.

    See more examples of sensitive data.

    Why protect PII?

    • Unauthorized disclosure of PII may lead to identity theft or may otherwise harm the University or an individual
    • It is required by U-M’s Standard Practice Guide 601.12
    • It is required by federal, state and industry regulations

    Note: Any malware on any machine with PII constitutes a security breach, according to the University’s Information Assurance security group (IA).

    Who should I tell if I recognize that PII has been compromised?

    We have an incident response team for security incidents and questions who should be alerted by way of the service request system.

  • Computer Patch and Power Management

    Patch management

    In order for LawIT to successfully perform security updates and patches to Law School computers to protect our machines from ever-increasing vulnerabilities and malware attacks, it is required that you turn off your computer at the end of your work day. Shutting down your computer at night and on weekends will ensure that your work is saved properly before the patches are applied. Not doing so could jeopardize the integrity of unsaved work. Your assistance will not only protect your computer from security threats but will also have a big impact on the Law School‘s efforts to save energy.

    If there are reasons why you cannot participate in this process, please contact LawIT via the service request system.

    Power management

    As part of the university’s green computing effort, the Law School has implemented power management strategies to reduce electricity consumption by default on local work computers. Power management is a feature that turns off computers or switches them to a low power state when not in use. Applying power management settings to faculty and staff workstations at the Law School will save substantial energy over time.