Like most University offices, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) will be closed for the Christmas and New Year holidays beginning Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025 through Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.
Here are some valuable IT tips to help you prepare for the holiday break, and what you can do in case you have an IT question or issue while you’re away.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Let People Know You Are On Christmas Break
Before you leave for Christmas break, don't forget to set up a new voicemail message on your VoIP phone or WebEx service, and automatic reply on your ND email. It's easy to customize your messages to remind those who try to contact you over the holiday break that you are away from the office:
- VoIP phone system (desk phone): Enable an alternate greeting as your voicemail message.
- WebEx phone system: Call in to your voicemail and enable an extended away greeting.
- ND Gmail: Set up an automatic reply for email.
Traveling? Plan Ahead For Using Multifactor Authentication
For those traveling over the holidays, be sure to take one of your devices configured for multifactor authentication. By doing so, you will be able to use Okta to log into email and other ND services while away. This is especially important if you will be traveling to areas outside of the United States where you may not have cell service.
WHILE YOU’RE AWAY
Accessing Notre Dame Resources From Off-Campus
When accessing Notre Dame services away from campus, you may be required to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). The VPN provides a secure connection to data in resources such as Banner, Business Objects, GLEZ, CIF Reporting, and Advance.
If you have not already installed the VPN software on your device, install the Secure Client VPN to your device. You will be required to login with your NetID and password to access this page).
Check Your Voicemail From Off-Campus
Need to check your voicemail while you’re on Christmas break? Just follow these tips on the different ways to do so:
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VoIP Phone System (desk phone)
- Configure your voicemail to deliver your voicemail messages to your email inbox. The message will arrive in your inbox as a .wav file that can be played from most computers and mobile devices. NOTE: You must submit a request form BEFORE Christmas break to enable this capability.
- Listen to your voicemail from off-campus from a personal phone. Just dial 574-631-7474 to get into the campus voicemail system. You will need to know your voicemail PIN for your VoIP phone. NOTE: You can reset your voicemail PIN if you don’t remember it.
- Listen to your voicemail from your computer. Connect to the ND VPN, then log onto voicemail.nd.edu with your NetID and password.
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WebEx Phone System
- Change your call settings to have your voicemail messages delivered to your inbox. Login to user.webex.com. Click on Settings>Calling>Voicemail, and enable “Email a copy of the voicemail message.”
- Listen to your voicemail messages by logging into the Webex Calling app and clicking on the voicemail icon.
- The system will show your voicemail messages when you login to user.webex.com and click on Calling>Voicemail>Manage voicemails.
If You Receive A New Mobile Device as a Gift
When you receive a new cell phone or tablet, you’ll need to check your Okta settings BEFORE you activate your new device:
- Before you activate the new device, verify that you have enrolled an option such as a Secure Key or Okta FastPass on your computer.
- Use your computer to enroll the new device at okta.nd.edu
- You may need to re-enroll in Okta Verify and/or Google Authenticator when you transfer the apps to your new device. Be sure you’ve already set up a Secure Key or Okta FastPass to successfully enroll the new device.
Once the new device is activated, don’t forget to enroll in Okta Verify or Google Authenticator.
Tips for Celebrating with Family & Friends on Zoom
When distance makes getting together with family and friends difficult over the holidays, host a social activity over Zoom.
Need Help Managing Your Account Passwords?
If so, the holiday break is a good time to enroll in 1Password. This handy password manager service is available to Notre Dame faculty, staff and students at no cost. Details to get you started are available at go.nd.edu/1password.
IT Questions or Issues During Christmas Break
If you do have a question or run into an issue during Christmas break, you’ll find information and solutions documented in the self-service ServiceNow knowledge base, and the virtual agent never takes a break. You can also check out the Service Status on the OIT website home page.
If you still need assistance, you can contact the Service Desk at any of the options listed below, and a Service Desk representative will respond to you when the office reopens on Monday, January 5, 2026. (Be sure to include details about the problem, including a date, time, operating system, exact error message and related reports.)
- Contact form and virtual agent: servicenow.nd.edu
- Email: servicedesk@nd.edu
- To report a service issue or outage, call: 574-631-8111