Category Archives: Services

Security Awareness and FERPA Education

The state of Virginia requires that all employees participate in IT security awareness training every year. Virginia Western has partnered with VCCS Information Security Shared Services (ISSS) to provide a consistent security management and reporting framework at the college.

Are you aware the majority of security breaches occur because of human error? Security awareness education arms you with habits and knowledge that will keep our students, our organization, and us safe. Learn how to recognize and respond to a phishing email, avoid downloading malicious code from the Web, keep your social media posts secure, and more.

Virginia Western is using the KnowBe4 Security Awareness Training application for all full-time and adjunct faculty, full-time staff, and administrators. The training is completed online and a certificate of completion is awarded when all videos/courses have been successfully completed. Trainings on FERPA and PCI (if applicable) are also required.

This training is required annually. You will receive an email when your training is due, and will have 30 days to complete it. That email will also contain login instructions.

Any questions? Contact Security Awareness Education Help at SAEHelp@vccs.edu.

Logging in to MyVWCC

If you know your username and password, you can log in to MyVWCC by going to https://vw.my.vccs.edu. If you are unable to locate your username or reset your password by following these directions, please call the Help Desk at 540-857-7354 for assistance.

First Time Users/Don’t Know Your Username

First time users can look up their Username by clicking on the Forgot my Username button. For students, the personal email must match what you used when you filled out your college admissions application. For employees, the email will be the work email associated with your account.

Don’t Know Your Password

If you do not know what your password is:

  1. Click Forgot my Password on the MyVWCC login page.
  2. In Step 1, enter your Username or personal email address used to create the account.
  3. In Step 2, select the “I am not a robot” captcha box, then click the Continue button.
  4. Next, you will be given three choices for your preferred reset method: a mobile phone number (if entered in your account), your primary email address, or your secondary email address. Select your contact and click Submit. If you have no valid points of contact to select, please call the Help Desk at 540-857-7354.
  5. You will receive an email or text, depending on the method of contact selected, with a link to claim your account and reset your password. This text link will only be valid for 10 minutes, while the email link is valid for 24 hours.
  6. Once you follow the reset link and enter the claim code, you will be redirected to create a new password for your account.
  7. After you successfully reset your password please close all your browsing windows and wait at least 10 minutes before you attempt to login with your new credentials. This waiting period allows your new password to synchronize across all VCCS applications, including Canvas, SIS, and Gmail.

Go back to the MyVWCC login page and login with your username and the new password you created.

Student (VCCS) Email & Google Apps

The Virginia Community College System email system is hosted by Google Apps, and everyone (students, faculty, and staff) with a MyVWCC username is assigned a Gmail account. The Google email system provides you with a very reliable and secure way to send and receive email. Emails are delivered through a web browser and email addresses will not change.

For help with your email check out the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding student email.

Faculty & Staff: This is not your official Virginia Western email address. If you do not want to check multiple email addresses, you should forward your Gmail to your Outlook email account.

Google Apps

In addition to Gmail, you also have access to other Google Apps. Check out the main features you have available to use below; be sure to click on the options to see video demos and Google Help Center information.

Google Calendar

Multiple calendars are available for you to use, including a simple online calendar, shared calendars,  and subscriptions to public calendars. Mobile access is included.

Google Calendar Help Center

Google Docs, Sheets & Slides

Create word processing documents, spreadsheets or presentations. Export them to your favorite desktop and mobile programs. Share them with your groups and make real-time changes together.

Google Docs, Sheets and Slides Help Center

Google Drive

Store and access files anywhere — on the Web, on your hard drive or on your mobile device. Share files easily with others.

Google Drive Help Center

Google Sites

Participate in team website creation where you can embed videos, images and gadgets.

Google Sites Help Center

Canvas for Students

Canvas is a course management system that is maintained by the Virginia Community College System. It allows you to access your course assignments, course announcements, and discuss course issues via the course discussion board.

Canvas is web-based, so there is nothing for you to install or download. All you need is an Internet connection. Canvas is accessible from all browsers and mobile devices.

Tutorials for using Canvas can be found on the Virginia Western online website.

AntiVirus & Anti-Spyware

Free Anti-Spyware Software

Have Questions?

The Help Desk will make a good faith effort to answer installation questions. On-campus support will be given higher priority and resolution of home installation problems is not guaranteed. Note: Support for home use of this software is strictly limited to college-related work.

Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus

VWCC is happy to announce the new Microsoft Student Advantage program.  Current students, faculty, and staff are able to download and install Microsoft Office desktop applications for no cost.

Who is eligible?

All currently enrolled students at VWCC are eligible to download Office 365 ProPlus.  Once you are no longer enrolled, your Microsoft Office ProPlus subscription will end. You may enroll in other available consumer or commercial offers.

Current faculty and staff are also eligible for this offer.

Where can I download Office 365 ProPlus?

Students can access Office 365 ProPlus by going to: http://office.vccs.edu

The login will be your full MyVWCC e-mail address (e.g. student123@email.vccs.edu) and your password is your MyVWCC password.

Does my system meet the requirements?

We strongly recommend that you have high speed Internet access to download Office ProPlus. Minimum System Requirements

What software can I download?

Eligible students will be able to download Microsoft Office ProPlus applications on up to 5 devices (PC, Mac, and/or mobile device). These applications include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote*, Access*, and Publisher*.

*Windows PC client programs and/or features only. Cannot be used across devices!

Adobe Products

For Work Use

VWCC has negotiated an Enterprise Licensing Agreement (ETLA) with Adobe which permits us to install Adobe Creative Cloud and Adobe Acrobat Professional on computers on campus, in the same way we install Microsoft Office products under the Microsoft Campus License.  Unlike in the previous license agreement, however, licenses are now tied to your VWCC email credentials, similar to Microsoft Office 365, and will be deployed through the Software Center shortcut on college computer desktops.  Since Adobe Creative Cloud includes a large number of individual products which take up a lot of space on the computer, you are advised to contact the Help Desk for assistance regarding the specific components of Creative Cloud suite that you need for your classes or for your office computer.

If you require only Adobe Acrobat Professional, you do not need to do anything as it should be installed by default.

For Home Use

The Adobe ETLA license referred to above has been renewed for another three year term starting September 2020.  As per the new terms negotiated with Adobe, free access to annual subscription licenses for Adobe Creative Cloud software is no longer available for home use to VWCC Faculty/Staff.

Note: The terms of the Adobe ETLA restrict Creative Cloud subscriptions to Faculty/Staff so it is not available to students.

Web Services & Campus Communications

VWtv

VWtv is a closed network of displays located in high traffic points around campus that are used to communicate relevant information to students, faculty, and staff. Slides are created and posted within five business days of submission.

For more information or to submit a request, visit the Media Geeks web site.

Audio/Video Conferencing

VWCC uses Zoom as a audio/video conferencing tool. To get started with Zoom:

  1. Go to the Zoom site: https://vccs.zoom.us.
  2. Click on the Settings button and log in with your MyVWCC credentials.
  3. Once you are logged in, you can update your profile and schedule, join or host a meeting.

More information and support options are here.

Software & Hardware

Software Available for Students

Software/Technology Requests

All requests for software or equipment should be submitted to the Help Desk. An IET employee will evaluate the request and contact you to let you know what the next steps are.

Hardware & Peripherals

Hardware/Software Support

Any issue with your desktop, laptop, thin client, or peripheral device (printers, scanners, etc.) should be reported to the Help Desk so a ticket can be opened.