Need to work from home? No problem! As a CBC employee, you have access to many applications and resources to help you work from home successfully. 

What You Need to Work from Home

You will need the following items to work successfully from home:

• CBC-issued or personal fully patched laptop or desktop computer with Windows 10 (or higher) or Mac OS (Mojave or later) with current antivirus software
• Internet connectivity
• Speakers and microphone (required for SoftPhone and Zoom communications)
• Webcam for Zoom video conferencing (if needed)

If you don’t have access to some of the items above, no worries! Please have your Dean or VP contact TS Help Desk with the request and we’d be happy to assist you.

Data Security

As a reminder, it is critical that employees continue to be mindful of good data handling practices and vigilant in response to email phishing attempts. CBC data and account information should be protected at all times, even when working from home. All Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy provisions apply.

Each employee must ensure they have the most current operating system patches and working, up-to-date antivirus software installed on home computers. All private CBC data must be protected from unauthorized disclosure.

Additionally, all FERPA-protected information (including social security numbers, credit card numbers and confidential health records) must remain on CBC computers and servers (i.e. M and P drives) at all times. They should not be stored on portable thumb drives or home personal computers. If you have questions about secure data handling, please reach out to your supervisor or TS Help Desk for guidance.

Email

You can access  CBC email using any browser through the Student Email link at the very top of our homepage.

Phone

To check your voicemail from off-campus, dial 509-546-0407 and press pound (#). When prompted, enter your mailbox number (4-digit phone extension) and password.

If you have a local number, it is possible to forward your desk phone to your cellphone with these instructions.

You may also wish to setup the ability to check your voicemails from Outlook or on your iPhone*.

*There is currently an issue with the security certificate that requires you to accept the certificate any time you open Outlook, but that should be resolved soon. 

If you have other phone related questions, visit telephone frequently asked questions to learn more.

SoftPhone

New to campus, we now have the Avaya Software Phone available. This brings your office phone to an application on your computer.  If you have a CBC issued laptop, the software will need to be installed by Technology Services. If you are installing it on your home computer, you will first need to get VPN up and running (see below).  Here are the instructions on how to install and configure your Softphone.

Zoom

Zoom is a useful tool for voice or video conferencing allowing you to hold remote meetings or classes! View more details regarding how to download and sign-in to Zoom.

Once you have it installed, you can view short videos on Zoom’s website for how to use Zoom. Assistance using Zoom for classes can also be requested through CBC’s eLearning team.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

CBC staff who need access to the campus network will need VPN access. VPN allows you to access all of your online campus resources by connecting you to your office desktop – as if you never left!

The first thing you will need to do is request VPN access by submitting a Request for VPN Access eForm to your supervisor. Once that is completed, you are cleared to download and install the VPN software. If you have a computer at home, you can install it there, or you can use your departmental laptop. Here are the VPN installation and connection instructions.

As a note, remember that once you connect to VPN, you are connected to CBC’s network remotely.  Connecting to VPN will also disconnect any internet-based applications you have running on your local computer at the time.

TS Help Contact Information

If you need assistance, please email tshelp@columbiabasin.edu or call extension 2353 if you’re on campus or 509-542-5553 if you’re off campus.

Additionally, the TS Help Portal allows you to open a service request and provides helpful knowledge base articles which may also answer some of your questions.