The Mount Holyoke VPN allows community members to access MHC digital resources as if they are doing so from on campus regardless of where they actually are. A student (or staff or faculty member) in another country would be able to access otherwise restricted library resources or other tools such as e-mail as if they were on campus and connected to our network.
Some countries, such as China, seek to manage services and information available on the internet. Some of the services that are blocked by some countries include the Google Suite of applications, social media sites, and some major American newspapers and commonly-accessed information sites, like the New York Times and Wikipedia. Tools NOT known to be blocked include our core tools of Moodle, Zoom, Kaltura, and our library databases on the Databases A-Z page.
MHC’s VPN has been a reliable way for users who are abroad to connect to our network and services, , but LITS suggests having a backup plan in case VPN services or access is disrupted. If you or a community member you know is having difficulty connecting to services, please reach out to the HelpDesk@mtholyoke.edu.
LITS' Digital Pedagogy team holds a live Zoom call for support Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 4-5 PM Eastern time, and drop-in sessions will resume in early January. We welcome all MHC instructors to join us at that meeting. Bring your questions about Zoom, Moodle, Google Suite, or other technologies. Come chat with LITS - and your colleagues! - about how you're adjusting your teaching to meet the demands of this moment.