Dear Faculty,
Welcome back! We hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable summer. As we prepare for the Fall 2026 semester, Weitzman IT has put together some important information and resources to help you get ready for the start of the academic year
Please take a few moments to review the information below, and as always, feel free to reach out to us at ithelp@design.upenn.edu if you have any questions or need assistance.
Courseware
AV Resources
- All fixed AV installations were serviced and tested as part of our summer preventive maintenance.
- Wireless connectivity is encouraged. Faculty can connect wirelessly to classroom and studio projectors using AirPennNet. Connection instructions are displayed on the welcome screen when the projector is powered on.
- HDMI connectivity is also available. Studios with ceiling-mounted projectors include an AV bag with an HDMI cable. Please remind students to handle this equipment with care.
Computer Labs & Classrooms
- Central Pool Classroom – Reserve through your department staff using this reservation form.
- Weitzman computer labs (Meyerson, Addams) may be reserved via this page. Software and schedules are posted for each lab.
- Authentication: All Weitzman lab and public computers require PennKey login.
Communication
- O365 Email – All Weitzman affiliates, including faculty, instructors, and lecturers, receive an O365 account for official communications.
- Design-Faculty Mailing List – All faculty, lecturers, and instructors are automatically subscribed; official announcements from Weitzman will be distributed here.
- Departmental Messages – Additional announcements and information may be sent directly by your department.
- Classlists – Provided by ISC and the Registrar, Classlists allow instructors to email all registered students in a course.
Web Conferencing
- Zoom – All Weitzman faculty, staff, and students have access to university-licensed Zoom accounts. Please use your University-licensed Zoom account for all University-related activities, as these accounts are covered by Penn’s FERPA requirements and provide University-supported features and integrations.
- Microsoft Teams – Also available to all Weitzman faculty, staff, and students.
Software
- Visit the Weitzman IT Software Information page for details.
- Adobe Creative Cloud
- Graduate students: Full Adobe license included at no additional cost
- Other students: Discounted licenses available
- Full Adobe Creative Cloud access is available on all Weitzman lab computers. A free Adobe account is required to sign in.
Printing
- Small-format laser printers and large-format plotters are available to all Weitzman users.
- Details on access, devices, and media types are available on the Weitzman ITS website.
Cloud Storage
AI Resources
- PennChat – A secure AI portal that brings together multiple chat-based large language models (LLMs) in a single interface.
- ISC AI Hub – AI tools, training, security guidance, and support to help the Penn community use artificial intelligence safely and effectively.
- Generative AI for Teaching & Learning – Penn CETLI provides guidance and resources for instructors on using generative AI effectively and responsibly in teaching, including assignment design, course policies, prompting, assessments, privacy, and academic integrity.
LinkedIn Learning
- Free for all Weitzman faculty.
- Courses cover a wide range of skills and software, from beginner to advanced.
- Access LinkedIn Learning.
Security
- Secure Share – For securely exchanging sensitive information within Penn.
- Sophos Home – Free antivirus software for personal devices (up to 10 installations). Available to all Penn faculty, staff, and students.
Support & Resources
- WISH (Weitzman Information and Services Hub) – Your central resource for Weitzman information, including handbooks, forms, policies, procedures, and other faculty and staff resources. Access is secure and PennKey-protected.
- For the most up-to-date IT information, please visit the Weitzman IT website.
- Need IT assistance? Please send all support requests to ithelp@design.upenn.edu.
Welcome back, and best wishes for a successful semester!
