UNH Tech Briefing: Tuesday, March 25, 2025

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Summary of this week’s Enterprise Technology & Services (ET&S) Tech Briefing:

  • Kaltura Player Upgrade: Timeline and Impact: This summer, Kaltura is upgrading its Canvas and MediaSpace media players. Content using the Kaltura Embed/Share function must be migrated manually to utilize the new, improved player.
  • Enhanced Rubrics in Canvas: Canvas’ Enhanced Rubrics is available to explore, bringing simplicity to rubric organization.
  • Reminder: Faculty Administrative Computer Rights: As part of its commitment to cybersecurity, ET&S will begin removing faculty users’ administrative rights on UNH-managed computers starting on April 8. ET&S will host office hours to field questions about this initiative. 
  • Browse the latest training sessions.

Kaltura Player Upgrade: Timeline and Impacts
To Know: Kaltura is upgrading its Canvas and MediaSpace media players, found in Canvas and other webpages and websites, this summer. This next-generation player, V7, brings several functionality and security improvements. You can find out more about the updated player features here: https://knowledge.kaltura.com/help/what-are-the-differences-between-the-players.

The upgrade is scheduled for August 2025. After this date embed codes created in MediaSpace and posted elsewhere that have not been manually migrated to the new player may break. To avoid this, please update your Kaltura embed codes before the deadline.

Most video players will be automatically updated as part of the upgrade, this includes:

To Do: Content not included in the bulleted list above that uses the Kaltura Embed/Share function must be migrated manually to utilize the new player. Information on that process is being developed and released over the coming months. Stay tuned for more details.

In the meantime, you can proactively update your embed codes. Here are the steps:

  1. Use Kaltura Analytics to identify which embeds will break.
  2. To update your embed codes, collaborate with the Kaltura media owner, co-publisher, or co-editor and follow these steps to replace old MediaSpace embed codes.

Enhanced Rubrics in Canvas
To Know: Canvas' Enhanced Rubrics is an opt-in feature designed to simplify rubric organization and marking for faculty and course designers.

Key Features:

  • Drag-and-Drop: Easily reorder ratings or criteria.
  • Copy and Duplicate: Save time by reusing rubric elements.
  • Customizable Ordering: Choose between "low to high" or "high to low" rating scales.

To Do: Enhanced Rubrics is still in development. To try it out, enable the feature in your course settings under the Feature Options tab. We recommend exploring this feature as you prepare for your fall courses to see if it benefits your Canvas courses.

Reminder: ET&S to Remove Administrative Rights on UNH-Managed Computers for Faculty
To Know: As USNH continues its commitment to adopting cybersecurity policies, ET&S will begin removing faculty users’ administrative rights on UNH-managed computers starting Tuesday, April 8, to improve security by limiting access to only essential resources. The impact on most users will be minimal, as most computing functions do not require administrative rights. A similar process was completed for UNH staff in fall 2024.
 
ET&S will remove administrative rights over several weeks, and each user will receive a more detailed time frame one week prior to ET&S updating their access. 

To Do: For the occasional need for administrative rights required to perform tasks such as installing non-standard software or updating non-standard drivers, users have the following support options: 
 

  • Install pre-approved standard software from the Company Portal (Windows) or Self-Service App (Mac).  Installing standard software using these tools does not require administrative rights.   
  • All other occasional needs for administrative rights, contact Desktop Support for additional assistance. 

 For those who believe ongoing administrative rights are needed, Privileged Access Management (PAM) is available. To request use of PAM: 

  • Review the PAM training and informational materials.
  • Submit the Privileged Access Management request form, including the signed usage agreement form.  
  • Usage of PAM is dependent upon supervisor/department chair approval. 
  • ET&S is committed to both improving USNH’s cybersecurity position and providing support and assistance throughout this transition period. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us by contacting Desktop Support. 

Reminder: Privileged Access Management Virtual Office Hours for Faculty
To Know: To help address questions and concerns regarding Privileged Access Management or users’ administrative rights on UNH-managed computers, ET&S will host virtual office hours. These sessions are open to all UNH employees affected by this change. No registration is required. 
 
To Do: To attend a Privileged Access Management office hours session, click on the link following the session listed below. No registration is required.  

Training Opportunities
ET&S offers free training to USNH employees. For a full list of sessions, go to https://at-training.unh.edu/apps/ssr.

  • Canvas (myCourses): Office Hours | Register
    Thurs., March 27, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Intro to Microsoft Teams Meetings | Register
    Thurs., March 27, 1-2 p.m.
  • myPortal: Editors/Publishers Office Hours | Register
    Mon., March 31, 10-11 a.m.
  • Intro to Microsoft SharePoint Online | Register
    Tues., April 1, 3-4 p.m.

How to Get Tech Support        
The Enterprise Technology Help Desk        
http://www.usnh.edu/it/need-it-help

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