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NOTE: HCPS = Hendricks Center Science Planetary and SB = Slipher Building
Accounts and Passwords
We used User accounts are mostly managed via Microsoft Active Directory (AD). This is a centralized database of staff information and their accounts. Your AD account is used to log into:
- Almost all Windows PCs at Lowell
- Gmail / Google
- RingCentral (via Google login)
- Microsoft
- Slack (via Google login)
- Confluence (this website)
Your AD password is synced to these other services, and potentially others. You will not be able to reset your password for any of these services on their website; you must reset your password at password.lowell.edu, which will then get synced to the other services.
to create your Lowell account (email). To learn more, visit our Accounts and Passwords page.
TwoFactor Authentication on email
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In case of an emergency, Management will notify staff through email and text messages (optional). In order to receive text messages, you'll need to go to the Emergency Form, sign up and IT will place that into the Emergency Group.
Software and Services Used at Lowell
Slack
A Slack is a chat tool we used use to communicate & and collaborate with among staff and others. To learn more, visit our Slack page.
RingCentral
It's RingCentral our VOIP communication tool with Video conferencing option. . It is used to provide work phone numbers to staff, may be used via PC or mobile app, and be connected to physical IP phones for your office. It's important that you read through the RingCentral page to understand the usage.
Lowell Vehicle Checkout
This is a Google sheet that staff can access to from a web browser. Be familiar with the Vehicle Usage Policy before checking out a vehicle. There is also a kiosk setup in the HCPS mail room with login credentials placed on the monitor; this is where the vehicles keys are located. Link to 2023 - Lowell Vehicle Checkout.
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NOTE: You'll need to be on the Lowell network in order to access the wiki.
Wireless
Wifi
Our business wifi network is The broadcast SSID is mars-hill-net. . You will need to use this for most purposes. We ask that you avoid connecting personal devices to the business network unless needed for work purposes. See IT for the passphrase.
Our guest wifi network is Guest Wifi. On Guest Wifi you cannot reach various network locations that are limited to our business network. For that purpose, you must use mars-hill-net. Guest Wifi can be useful for testing if your VPN is working for remote access, however.
HCPS's Free Table
There is a long standing tradition of leaving free food / items you would like to get rid of/share on the counter in the HCPS lobby.
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Random office supplies are kept in the HCPS mail room / printers.
Lowell Email Groups
There are some email distribution groups that are used for different purposes. You may request to be added to these groups, or email the listed email address to reach members of that group.
Groups for Help
These are groups you can email to to get specific help.
| Group Email | Purpose |
|---|---|
Technology related issues or questions; more info about getting IT support on Public Home |
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HR related issues, questions, or generals | |
Facilities maintenance related issues | |
Lowell vehicle related issues, ie. if something physical is broken |
Groups for Fun
IMPORTANT: "Company email lists, including Cafe@lowell.edu, are not an appropriate place for discussion of politics, public policy topics, citizen petitions, and so forth." - Jeff Hall
These are groups (optional) used to partake in fun activities. If you want to be on the group, please email it@lowell.edu.
| Group Email | Purpose |
|---|---|
Non- |
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work related place to post about things (please keep it PG13) |
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Where staff gathers to play Switch videogames, usually on Friday (now changed to TUESDAY) as the name imply; Todd Gonzales (astrotodd@lowell.edu) coordinate the event | |
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Where staff partake in hikes around Mars Hill. Dyer Lytle (dlytle@lowell.edu) coordinate the event | |
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Mountain bike group rides. Todd Gonzales (tgonzales@lowell.edu) coordinate the event | |
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Usually active during the summer and sometimes into fall season; Dave Schleicher (dgs@lowell.edu) coordinate the event |
Lowell HELP Groups
These are groups you can email to to get specific help.
- cartalk@lowell.edu - vehicle related issues
- fixit@lowell.edu - facilities maintenance related issues
- it@lowell.edu - computers related issues, questions, or generals; you can also hit up IT on Slack as well
- hr@lowell.edu - for HR related issues, questions, or generals
Spam/Phish/Scam
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Scam Emails - Phishing and Spam
Please review our page on Phishing for guidance on recognizing illegitmate emails and reporting them to IT. Vigilance is a responsibility of every staff member at Lowell Observatory.