Penn State faculty and staff have access to a wide range of digital tools and services to support teaching, collaboration, administration, research, and remote work.
The IT Help Desk supports faculty and staff with account access, email setup, WiFi connectivity, classroom technology, software installation, and general troubleshooting.
If you need assistance, submit a support ticket or contact the Help Desk directly to get started.
Accounts and Access
Penn State Account
Access University systems and services using your Penn State Account throughout your affiliation with the University.
Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
Adds an extra layer of security by requiring identity verification on a secondary device.
WiFi
Step-by-step instructions and support for connecting to Penn State’s wireless network.
GlobalProtect VPN
Creates a secure connection to the University network when working remotely and is required to access certain secured resources.
Communication and Collaboration
Office 365 (Microsoft 365)
Includes Outlook email and calendar, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
Google Workspace
Includes Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, and more — available to all faculty and staff.
Zoom
Host, join, and record virtual meetings and classes.
Yammer
An internal social network for connecting with colleagues, sharing updates, and collaborating across departments.
Kaltura
Cloud-based video storage and streaming tool that integrates with Zoom and Canvas.
Teaching and Academic Tools
Canvas
Penn State’s learning management system for course setup, communication, grading, and content delivery.
Top Hat
Interactive classroom engagement tool for polls, questions, discussions, and real-time feedback.
Turnitin
Provides originality reports, markup tools, rubrics, and writing feedback.
Starfish
Academic advising tool that allows instructors to share feedback and support student success. Integrates with Canvas.
Courseware
Helps faculty navigate approved software and digital tools for course instruction. Integrates with Canvas.
VoiceThread
Supports asynchronous discussions using uploaded presentations, videos, and documents.
LionPATH
Access teaching schedules, class rosters, grading, and exam information.
Creative and Content Tools
Adobe Creative Cloud
Free access to tools like Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat Pro, After Effects, and more for digital storytelling and content creation.
Sites at Penn State
WordPress-based platform for building websites, blogs, and portfolios.
Administrative and Business Systems
SIMBA
System for Integrated Management, Budgeting, and Accounting — used for University financial processes.
WorkLion
Human resources portal for accessing Workday, payroll, benefits, recruiting, and time tracking.
Qualtrics
Survey and feedback collection platform for research and institutional use.
Technology and Development Services
Software Downloads
Catalogue of free and discounted University-approved software.
WebLabs
Provides remote access to classroom and lab resources via a web browser.
VM Hosting
Virtual machine hosting service for departments, colleges, and research units.
GitLab
Platform for sharing and collaborating on code.
PASS (Penn State Access Account Storage Space)
Secure, accessible file storage for faculty and staff.
Cloud Services
Secure partnerships with industry-leading providers for scalable cloud-based infrastructure and services.
Device Management (SysMan, CLM, MDM)
Tools that allow IT staff to remotely manage University-owned devices, maintain security, and ensure consistent system updates.
