1. Introduction
Welcome to Okanagan College! As you start your new position, setting up an effective work-from-home environment is essential. This guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to set up your home office for optimal productivity.
Please refer to People Services for documentation on eligibility for Work from Home:
Flex Place / Okanagan College
2. Workspace Setup
A conducive workspace is crucial for maintaining productivity and focus:
- Choose a Quiet Location: Select a quiet area in your home where you can work without distractions.
- Ergonomic Setup: Ensure your chair, desk, and computer setup are ergonomically friendly to prevent strain and discomfort.
- Good Lighting: Natural light is best, but if not possible, invest in good lighting to reduce eye strain.
- Minimize Distractions: Keep your workspace clutter-free to help maintain focus during work hours.
3. IT Equipment and Software
To ensure smooth operations, make sure you have the necessary IT equipment and software:
- Laptop - If you are full time continuing then a laptop may be assigned to your position, if you are a term faculty employee please reach out to your admin office to arrange a laptop
- Desktop - If you currently have a desktop assigned to you please reach out to your admin department to start the process in obtaining a WFH laptop.
- Headset with Microphone: Invest in a good-quality headset with a microphone for clear communication during virtual meetings. This is not provided by IT Services, please reach out to your admin office or purchase on your own.
- Webcam: A high-definition webcam for video conferencing and virtual meetings, all Okanagan College laptops will have a web cam built in.
- Required Software: Install and set up all required software provided by Okanagan College for your role. If you need assistance with software installs please reach out to IT Services.
- Monitor: Please submit an IT Services request for a monitor for home use (stock permitting)
4. Using Personal Equipment
When setting up a work-from-home (WFH) environment, having the right personal equipment is crucial for efficiency and security.
- A reliable computer or laptop with sufficient processing power and memory to handle your workload. It should meet the minimum requirements for any software or applications you use.
- Install antivirus and anti-malware software to protect your devices from online threats. Ensure all software is regularly updated for the latest security patches.
- VPN - Due to provincial privacy legislation and requirements for encryption this service is normally restricted to only college owned devices.
- Access to M365, as an employee you can install Office on up to 5 PCs or Macs, 5 tablets, and 5 smartphones, this can be installed from office.com or you may use the online version. You can find instructions here:
M365 Subscription
5. Remote Access and Security
Security is of utmost importance when working remotely. Follow these steps to ensure a secure work environment:
- Virtual Private Network (VPN): Connect to the Okanagan College VPN for secure access to the college's network resources:
VPN / Global Protect
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA will be activated when you log into your account the first time, if you are having difficulties please see the following or reach out to IT Services:
Multi-Factor Authentication
6. Communication and Collaboration Tools
Effective communication and collaboration are essential in a remote work environment:
- Microsoft Teams: Use Teams for video conferencing, chat, and collaboration with colleagues. Teams will come preinstalled if you are using a Okanagan College assigned laptop. If you need Teams for a personal computer you can use the web browser version or download from here:
Download Microsoft Teams
- Zoom: Video conferencing, web conferencing, and webinar software. If you are using Zoom within our Moodle platform and need to conduct meetings longer than 40 minutes please request a Pro License here:
Submit Zoom Request
7. Support
Should you need support for any technical issues please reach out to IT Services:
8. Conclusion
Setting up your work-from-home environment is crucial for success at Okanagan College. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you will be well on your way to creating an efficient and productive workspace.