Virtru email encryption is a security enhancement to FDU’s Office 365 and Microsoft Outlook email environment, which provides Faculty and Staff the option of sending and receiving encrypted emails using their FDU email account.

Section – About

Part : About Virtru Email Encryption

What is Virtru Email Encryption

Virtru email encryption is a security enhancement to FDU’s Microsoft Office 365 and Microsoft Outlook email environment, which provides Faculty and Staff the option of sending and receiving encrypted emails using their FDU email account. Virtru for the Microsoft Outlook desktop email client is available for installation for approved FDU Faculty and Staff via the FDU Self Service Portal for Software on Windows 10 desktops and laptops owned by the University.

Virtru Email Client

The Virtru client provides a seamless experience when using the Microsoft Outlook desktop client. The Virtru Outlook plugin is only available on university laptops or desktops running Microsoft Windows.

Virtru for Office365

All Apple macOS users and users who access their FDU email through Office 365 can use Virtru email encryption to send sensitive information electronically.

What is Virtru Secure Reader?

Virtru’s Secure Reader is a platform that can be accessed within FDU’s Outlook on the Web (office365.fdu.edu) and right on your web browser by clicking the “Unlock Message” button in your Virtru secured email. From there, all you have to do is quickly validate you are an authorized recipient of that email or file. Once complete, you can read and reply to the secure email directly in your browser.

A secure message encrypted by Virtru will have a few key components, including a short unencrypted message from the sender, and a button that says “Unlock Message”.

Request Form

To obtain access to Virtru in order to send encrypted emails, you must fill out the request from below:

For additional support, please contact the SAMI Service Desk.

Section – Installation and Activation

Part : Installing Virtru onto a University PC

Installing Virtru onto a University PC

Part : Activating Virtru on a University PC

Activating Virtru on a University PC

1. When you open Microsoft Outlook after the Virtru has been installed, you will be prompted to activate your Virtru plugin. Click “Activate“ to begin. You may choose “Later” if you do not wish to activate at this time

2. You will be presented with a list of FDU email accounts configured to use in Microsoft Outlook. If your Microsoft Outlook application is associated with multiple email accounts, click on only those you will need to use Virtru email encryption. Then click “Continue“

3. After selecting the proper accounts, you will have the choice of signing in with FDU’s email provider (Microsoft Office 365) or choosing to receive an activation email. Choose “Sign in with Office 365“

Activating Virtru through Office 365 Sign in

1. Enter your FDU NetID credentials when prompted and proceed through the FDU Single Sign-on webpage, including completing Duo Multi-Factor authentication. If you experience issues, choose to “Send me an activation email” and follow the directions given below in item

Activating Virtru through Activation Email

1. If you are unable to activate your account(s) using “Sign in with Office 365,” choose to “Send me an activation email.” The process will take a few moments to complete in the background

2. During this process, Virtru will send a unique email from noreply-activation@virtru.com to your mailbox. The Virtru plugin will search for this email in your inbox. When the activation email is found, Virtru will automatically delete the email from your email inbox, and the Virtru plugin will complete the activation

If your activation does not automatically complete in a few minutes, please contact the SAMI Service Desk.

Activating from the Virtru Menu

If you have disabled automatic activations, you can still activate Virtru on your account(s) at any time.

1. Select the ‘Virtru‘ menu tab from the top bar of the main Microsoft Outlook window

2. Choose “Authorize Accounts” or “Options“

3. If you select “Options,” go to the ‘Account Activation‘ menu tab, select your FDU email account, and click on “Activate Selected“

4. You will then follow the activation process already illustrated above in “Activating Virtru through Office 365 Sign-on“ or “Activating Virtru through activation email” described above

Part : Re-enabling a Virtru Account

Re-enabling a Virtru Account

FDU Virtru users will occasionally be required to reactivate their Virtru add-in due to the following:

• You’ve cleared your registry
• Your Virtru activation status has expired. For security purposes, Virtru will invalidate your activation status every
  • 120 days for users accessing their own mailboxes
  • 10 days for users accessing shared or delegated mailboxes
• You are using Virtru on a new machine

You are automatically prompted when you need to re-activate. You can also proactively reactivate at any time via the ‘Virtru’ menu tab. This process was described above in “Activating from the Virtru Menu.”

Reset Activations

If you wish to fully deactivate all accounts in Microsoft Outlook, you can do so from the ‘Virtru’ menu tab:

1. Click on the ‘Virtru‘ menu tab at the top of your Microsoft Outlook window and select “Debug Log“

2. Click on the ‘Debug Commands‘ menu tab option and select the “Reset Activations (clears registry only)” option

3. Click “Yes” and then “OK” to confirm the changes

4. From the ‘Virtru‘ menu tab, you can reauthorize by clicking on “Authorize Accounts“

Part : Virtru Walkthrough Video

Virtru Walkthrough Video

Section – Virtru for Microsoft Outlook

Part : Send a Virtru-encrypted Email in Outlook

Send a Virtru-encrypted Email in Outlook

With Virtru, you can easily protect your emails by encrypting messages and attachments in a few simple clicks.

1. Left-click “New Email” from the main Outlook window

2. Open the ‘Message‘ menu tab and left-click the “Virtru button” to turn “Virtru ON.” The button should turn blue and read “Virtru ON”

3. Add recipients, a subject, the body of the email, and any relevant attachments

4. When your message is ready, click “Send.” You should see a brief animation letting you know that the message is “Encrypting” before it is fully sent

FDU Virtru-encrypted Email Introduction for Recipients

FDU includes a standardized introduction to inform the recipient that they are viewing a Virtru-encrypted email. Below is an example of what the recipient will see. If you have updated the introduction, it will be reflected accordingly

Personal Virtru-encrypted Email Introduction for Recipients

You can also set a one-time, unencrypted personal introduction for the message to either clarify the introduction of Virtru to the recipient or provide some context about the email. Left-click the “Personal Introduction” menu button in your email draft window.

Section – Virtru for Microsoft Office 365

Part : Send a Virtru-encrypted Email on Microsoft Office 365

Send a Virtru-encrypted Email on Microsoft Office 365

With Virtru, you can easily protect your emails by encrypting messages and attachments in a few simple clicks. To send Virtru encrypted emails from your Microsoft Office 365 email acount, simply prepend the subject line of your email as follows:

#secure#

Virtru-encrypted Email Recipient Experience

The recipient will receive an email that looks like this:

Part : Read a Virtru Encrypted Email on Microsoft Office 365

Read a Virtru Encrypted Email on Microsoft Office 365

In this article, we’ll show you how to quickly access and read your Virtru-secured message or attachment within Microsoft Office 365 using Virtru’s Secure Reader.

How to Access and Read your Message

1. Login to FDU’s Microsoft Office 365 web portal using any web browser. Enter your FDU NetID credentials

2. Open the Virtru-secured email in your inbox and left-click “Unlock Message.” A new tab will open

3. When prompted, select your FDU email address

4. Choose how you’d like to verify your identity
   • Microsoft Office 365 users can use their FDU NetID credentials to log into the Secure Reader using “Sign In with Microsoft.” If you choose this route, you can skip step #5 below.
   • Alternatively, users may choose “Or sign-in with a one-time verification link.”

5. If you selected “Or sign-in with a one-time verification link,” check your inbox for your verification email. It will come from verify+xxxxxxxx@virtru.com (with each “x” being a digit). Open the verification email and left-click “View Message” to open your message

6. Your message will open the Virtru Secure Reader in a new tab in the browser. You will also be able to view and access attachments at this time

For a variety of reasons, some recipients may occasionally receive an error message when trying to open a secure email or attachment. If you are having problems accessing your secure email and/or files, please contact the SAMI Service Desk. for assistance.

Part : Reply to a Virtru Encrypted Email on Microsoft Office 365

Reply to a Virtru Encrypted Email on Microsoft Office 365

In this article, we’ll show you how to quickly reply to your Virtru-secured message or attachment within Microsoft Office 365 using Virtru’s Secure Reader.

How to Reply to a Secure Message

1. Login to FDU’s Microsoft Office 365 web portal using any web browser. Enter your FDU NetID credentials

office365.fdu.edu

2. After successfully opening the Virtru-secured message, to send a “Secure Reply,” scroll down the page below the main message, or click the icon in the top right with the arrow pointing to the left. You may also click on the arrow next to it to reveal additional options such as “Secure Reply All“

3. Attachments can be added by clicking “Add Attachment.” These attachments will be sent securely as well

4. When you are ready to send your email, hit the “Secure Send” button. Both you and all applicable recipients will receive a copy of your reply. Please note that your secure reply will be sent from secure-reply@virtru.com

Part : Viewing a Secure File or Attachment on Microsoft Office 365

Viewing a Secure File or Attachment on Microsoft Office 365

This article covers the different options you have for viewing and downloading secure attachments and files within Microsoft Office 365 using Virtru’s Secure Reader. Depending on the type of attachment you’ve received, you can view your file directly in the Virtru Secure Reader or download the file to your computer. The Virtru Secure Reader can preview various file types, including PDF, Word documents, most image files, and plain text files.

Viewing Directly in the Secure Reader

1. Login to FDU’s Microsoft Office 365 web portal using any web browser. Enter your FDU NetID credentials

2. If you’ve received an attachment in a Virtru secured email or an encrypted file that was shared directly with you, you can hover over the file name and choose “View” or “View Protected file” to view the attachment right in your web browser

Downloading Unsupported File Types

If you’ve received a file that cannot be previewed in the Virtru Secure Reader, you will be prompted to download that file directly. There will be no “View” option.

Printing Attachments in the Secure Reader

You can print a document from the Secure Reader by selecting the menu under the “Download “button and then selecting “Print.” You may also choose to download it first, then open and print via a preferred program on your computer.

Section – Additional Resources

Part : Using the Virtru Dashboard for Microsoft Office 365 Users

Using the Virtru Dashboard for Microsoft Office 365 Users

Users who access their FDU email through the Microsoft Office 365 web portal and all Apple macOS users will need to use the Virtru Dashboard to manage all of Virtru’s security options.

1. To use the Virtru Dashboard, click the link below:

Virtru Dashboard

2. Choose “Sign in with Office365“, and skip to Step 5. If you choose to request a one-time verification link, enter your FDU email address and click on “Submit“

3. If you request the one-time verification link, you will receive an email from Verify for Virtru, as shown below. If you are using different web browsers, such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, it will be reflected in the email message accordingly

4. Click “Verify me” and choose “Copy Link Location.” Open a new browser tab and paste the link location into the URL space. Hit the “Enter” or “Return” key on your keyboard

5. When you log in to the Virtru Dashboard for the first time, you will see the message below. Left-click “OK, GOT IT!“

6. You will now be able to view Virtru encrypted emails or files you have sent, as well as open the ‘Settings‘ menu tab to set behaviors for your Virtru account

Part : Manage Virtru’s Expiration Date Security Option in Outlook

Manage Virtru’s Expiration Date Security Option in Outlook

In addition to encrypting messages and files, Virtru users have the ability to apply additional security settings to protected content. Among these settings is the option to apply an “Expiration Date” to an encrypted email or file.

Typically, if a Virtru email recipient receives an encrypted message or file, they can indefinitely access that content. However, as the owner of that content, you can restrict access after a particular point in time. If a recipient tries to access the content after expiration, they will receive a prompt indicating their access is expired.

Part : Manage Virtru’s Expiration Date Security Option in the Virtual Dashboard

Manage Virtru’s Expiration Date Security Option in the Virtru Dashboard

In addition to encrypting messages and files, Virtru users have the ability to apply additional security settings to protected content. Among these settings is the option to apply an “Expiration Date” to an encrypted email or file.

Typically, if a Virtru email recipient receives an encrypted message or file, they can indefinitely access that content. However, as the owner of that content, you can restrict access after a particular point in time. If a recipient tries to access the content after expiration, they will receive a prompt indicating their access is expired.

Part : Manage Virtru’s Disable Forwarding Security Option in Outlook

Manage Virtru’s Disable Forwarding Security Option in Outlook

In addition to encrypting messages and attachments, Virtru users have the ability to apply additional security settings to protected content. Among these settings is the option to apply “Disable Forwarding” to a Virtru-encrypted email.

Typically, if a Virtru plugin for Microsoft Outlook user receives an encrypted message, they can use Virtru to forward the email to a new party. This will add the new recipient as an authorized user and allow them to unlock the message. “Disable Forwarding,” however, ensures that your recipients can access the encrypted content but will stop any additional users from gaining access to the message. If the original recipient passes the email to a new party, then the new user will not be added as an authorized user and will not be able to unlock the message.

Part : Manage Virtru’s Disable Forwarding Security Option in the Virtru Dashboard

Manage Virtru’s Disable Forwarding Security Option in the Virtru Dashboard

In addition to encrypting messages and attachments, Virtru users have the ability to apply additional security settings to protected content. Among these settings is the option to apply “Disable Forwarding” to an encrypted email.

Part : Manage Virtru’s Watermarking Security Option in Outlook

Manage Virtru’s Watermarking Security Option in Outlook

In addition to encrypting messages and attachments, Virtru users have the ability to apply additional security settings to protected content. Among these settings is the option to apply “Watermarking” to an encrypted file.

Typically, if a Virtru recipient receives an encrypted file, they can preview the file in the Virtru Secure Reader and download a decrypted copy locally. When “Watermarking” is applied to a secure file, recipients will only have access in the Secure Reader and will see their email address watermarked across the document.

The addition of the watermark is visible but transparent enough not to obscure the contents of the file when viewed. A recipient will not be able to download a local decrypted copy of the file.

This feature can be applied using the Virtru plugin for Microsoft Outlook or the Virtru Dashboard. It supports the following common file types:

• Microsoft Office documents: .docx, .pptx, .xlsx
• Common image file formats: .jpeg, .png
• PDF documents

Part : Manage Virtru’s Watermarking Security Option in the Virtru Dashboard

Mange Virtru’s Watermarking Security Option in the Virtru Dashboard

In addition to encrypting messages and attachments, Virtru users have the ability to apply additional security settings to protected content. Among these settings is the option to apply “Watermarking” to an encrypted file.

Typically, if a Virtru recipient receives an encrypted file, they can preview the file in the Virtru Secure Reader and download a decrypted copy locally. When “Watermarking” is applied to a secure file, recipients will only have access in the Secure Reader and will see their email address watermarked across the document.

The addition of the watermark is visible but transparent enough not to obscure the contents of the file when viewed. A recipient will not be able to download a local decrypted copy of the file.

This feature can be applied using the Virtru plugin for Microsoft Outlook or the Virtru Dashboard. It supports the following common file types:

• Microsoft Office documents: .docx, .pptx, .xlsx
• Common image file formats: .jpeg, .png
• PDF documents

Part : Revoke Virtru Encrypted Content in Outlook

Revoke Virtru Encrypted Content in Outlook

When a Virtru user sends encrypted content, they have full control over access to the message(s) and/or file(s). Even if a recipient receives encrypted content, the sender has the ability to revoke (or reauthorize) access at any time. Virtru even allows the sender to revoke access to specific recipients.

Part : Revoke Virtru Encrypted Content in the Virtru Dashboard

Revoke Virtru Encrypted Content in the Virtru Dashboard

When a Virtru user sends encrypted content, they have full control over access to the message(s) and/or file(s). Even if a recipient receives encrypted content, the sender has the ability to revoke (or reauthorize) access at any time. Virtru even allows the sender to revoke access to specific recipients.

Part : Using Virtru’s Persistent File Protection (PFP) Security Option

Using Virtru’s Persistent File Protection (PFP) Security Option

In addition to encrypting messages and attachments, Virtru users have the ability to apply additional security settings to protected content. Among these settings is the option to apply “Persistent File Protection (PFP)” to an encrypted file.

PFP provides a secure file container that is portable, universally accessible, and built on top of open standards. Regardless of where files are stored, PFP allows you to select, protect, and share a file with anyone while maintaining full visibility into how it is being used and retaining the ability to revoke access at any time. Any file protected with PFP will convert into the .tdf.html file format. This ensures that the contents are only accessible in Virtru’s Secure Reader, and only authorized parties can view it.

This feature can be applied using the Virtru plugin for Microsoft Outlook on Windows Operating Systems only. It supports the following common file types:

• Microsoft Office documents: .docx, .pptx, .xlsx
• Common image file formats: .jpeg, .png
• PDF documents

The maps below highlight the buildings at Fairleigh Dickinson University with wireless networking on the Metropolitan Campus, and College at Florham.

Metropolitan Campus

College at Florham

Open a Command Prompt

1. Go to the lower left corner of your desktop you will see 4 white squares
2. Right Click a menu will pop up from the menu select “Command Prompt”

3. A window will open on your desktop at the blinking cursor

4. Type “Hostname” (without the quotes) then hit enter

5. The computer name will appear as “L-“ for laptop and “D-“ for a desktop. Example: D-MJ045XYZ L-R9ZZ7ZE

About

Foxit PDF Editor Pro is Fairleigh Dickinson University’s replacement for Adobe Acrobat Pro. Foxit PDF Editor improves document productivity and efficiency. FoxIt PDF Editor Pro can create, convert, edit, and sign PDFs across devices and is available from the FDU Self-Service Portal under “Software” for all full-time faculty and full-time staff only. Due to limited licensing, a request form found at samisupport.fdu.edu must first be submitted.

Foxit PDF Editor Pro vs. Adobe Acrobat Pro

• Faster: Foxit PDF Editor Pro uses fewer overall resources and is able to open PDFs faster. Also, due to less overall resources required, there are fewer automatic updates required.
• Standards-compliant: Foxit PDF Editor Pro works with existing PDFs and uses the PDF standard which makes it cross-compatible with Adobe Acrobat.
• More secure: Foxit PDF Editor Pro offers better protection against security vulnerabilities than it’s Adobe counterpart.
• Familiar user interface: Using the Microsoft Office style ribbon user interface makes transitioning from Adobe Acrobat a breeze.
• Better editing: FoxIt PDF Editor Pro uses word processor like features to offer better text and image editing.
• Compatibility: Files created with FoxIt PDF Editor Pro are fully compatible with Adobe Acrobat. Also, files created with Adobe Acrobat are fully compatible with FoxIt PDF Editor Pro.

Comparison Charts

For a full comparison list as well as a list of added features please view the comparison charts below.

Feature	Foxit PDF Editor Pro	Adobe Acrobat Pro
Create industry standard PDF files from virtually all PC applications and the clipboard	✔	✔
One-click PDF creation from IE, Edge, Chrome, and Firefox	✔	✔
One-step PDF creation from Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook	✔	✔
Convert PDF to Microsoft® Office, HTML and image formats	✔	✔
Append created PDF to an existing file	✔
PDF Printer	✔	✔

Feature	Foxit PDF Editor Pro	Adobe Acrobat Pro
Editing from Client	✔	✔
Editable Forms	✔	✔
Add/Remove/Reorder pages	✔	✔
Merge PDF (Local)	✔	✔
Merge PDF (Network)	✔	✔

Feature	Foxit PDF Editor Pro	Adobe Acrobat Pro
Commenting	✔	✔
Notes	✔	✔
Redacting	✔	✔

Feature	Foxit PDF Editor Pro	Adobe Acrobat Pro
Scan to create new PDF	✔	✔
Scan to insert into existing PDF	✔	✔
Convert scanned/image-based PDFs to searchable editable documents	✔	✔
Find OCR Suspects and mark them as not text or edit the recognition results in batch	✔	Not in Batch
Scan Presets	✔	✔
Scan to save Mutiple Files	✔	✔

Feature	Foxit PDF Editor Pro	Adobe Acrobat Pro
Feature	Foxit PDF Editor Pro	Adobe Acrobat Pro
PDF Encryption	✔	✔
Fill and Sign / Digital Signatures	✔	✔
Create Multiple Signatures	✔	✔
DocuSign/Adobe Sign Support	✔	✔
Lock for Editing	✔	✔

Feature	Foxit PDF Editor Pro	Adobe Acrobat Pro
Multi Tab Viewing PDF documents	✔	✔
View and navigate page thumbnails, bookmarks	✔	✔
Reflow view	✔	✔
Ruler, Guides, Grids to help position objects in the PDF	✔	✔
Text viewer, Magnifier	✔
Line Weights and Toggle Ruler to help viewing PDF	✔	Only Line Weights
Read out loud	✔	✔
Search including bookmark and comments	✔	✔
Search in all opened PDF Files	✔	✔
Print PDF Documents and Forms	✔	✔
Print with comments for efficient review	✔	✔

Feature	Foxit PDF Editor	Adobe Acrobat Pro
Accessibility full check and check report	✔	✔
Fix failed parts after accessibility check	✔	✔
Touch up reading order to add and edit tags	✔	✔
Auto tag Document and tag report.	✔	✔

Video Tutorials

Below are some helpful video tutorials for some of the more popular functions of FoxIt PDF Editor Pro.

FredGPT (FDU Responsive Educational Database) is FDU’s AI solution, currently available to faculty and staff only. FredGPT features a General Assistant for daily tasks, and the FDU Assistant, a specialized assistant focused on Fairleigh Dickinson University information.

For additional content on leveraging AI for your daily use, please visit the FDU Center for Artificial Intelligence.

FDU Center for Artificial Intelligence

Section – Logging in and Policies

Part : Accessing FredGPT

All faculty and staff have access to FredGPT by visiting fredgpt.fdu.edu

FredGPT Login

Part : FDU AI Policy

Review FDU’s GenAI Policy before using FredGPT:

Part : Academic Integrity Policy

Review FDU’s Academic Integrity Policy before using FredGPT:

Section – Introduction to AI

Part : UCSD AI Essentials for All Audiences

Review the course below which provides an overview of essential AI information.

AI Essentials for All Audiences

Part : Khan Academy AI for Education

Watch the video series below, which provides an overview of using AI within the education setting.

AI for Education Course

Section – FredGPT Assistants

Part : General Assistant

The General Assistant is designed to assist with a wide range of daily tasks including writing, research, and problem-solving. Its broad knowledge base can help navigate complex issues, create teaching materials, and refine or organize your content. You can choose between two Large Language Models (LLMs) when using any of the assistants. The General Assistant does not have internet search capabilities, so its knowledge is limited to information from before June 2024.

Part : FDU Assistant

The FDU Assistant is designed to provide comprehensive, trustworthy, and Fairleigh Dickinson University specific information to support faculty, staff, and leadership. It draws on resources from fdu.edu and it.fdu.edu, ensuring accurate and up-to-date responses to a wide range of topics, including admissions, academic programs, financial aid, campus life, and technical resources.

With a broad range of expertise, the FDU Assistant offers direct and well-reasoned answers, aligning with enterprise-level strategies and policies at FDU.

Section – Getting Started with FredGPT

Part : Your First Chat

Discover how to initiate your first chat and unlock the full potential of FredGPT’s support.

Part : Providing Response Feedback

Now that you’ve experienced the dynamic assistance of FredGPT firsthand, please remember that your feedback is essential. As you prompt, take a moment to provide feedback on the responses. Your comments will help the FredGPT team learn more detail about the effectiveness of the interactions and potentially improve future conversations.

Review the video below to learn how to share feedback.

Part : Large Language Models (LLMs)

A Large Language Model (LLM) is an artificial intelligence system trained on vast amounts of text data to generate human-like responses. FredGPT offers access to two LLMs: Llama 4 Scout and GPT-OSS.

Each LLM has its own strengths and characteristics, shaped by factors such as training data, model architecture, and fine-tuning objectives. As a result, their responses may differ, providing users with unique perspectives and performance profiles.

• Llama 4 Scout – trained on diverse sources with a knowledge cutoff of December 2023.
• GPT-OSS – trained on a separate corpus with a knowledge cutoff of June 2024.

Feature / Use Case	Llama 4 Scout	GPT-OSS
General Writing & Conversation	Strong conversational model, excellent for speed, brief responses, and assisting with daily tasks	Excellent for smooth, natural conversation and detailed written responses.
Reasoning & Problem Solving	Good reasoning, but sometimes less consistent on multi-step logical chains.	Very strong logical reasoning and explanation skills — ideal for analysis, summaries, and academic-style tasks.
Creativity	Also capable but tends to produce shorter or simpler creative outputs.	Excels at brainstorming, storytelling, and drafting long creative text with structure.
Image Analysis	Can analyze, describe, and interpret images. (e.g., screenshots, photos, diagrams)	Cannot interpret or analyze images.
Data-Driven Tasks	Good, but sometimes less precise formatting.	Strong at working with tables, structured text, and mock data analysis.
Best For	Visual explanations based on screenshots, assisting with daily tasks, and brief writing.	More complex writing, analysis, teaching, administrative chat, documentation, and technical summaries.

Review the video below which will show you how to toggle between offered LLMs.

Section – Prompting

Part : Prompting Guide

Remember to use the Assistant best suited for your task.

General Assistant – Ideal for everyday tasks: scheduling, drafting emails, brainstorming ideas, or general research.

FDU Assistant – Use when you need university‑specific information: campus policies, faculty listings, event details, or library resources.

Prompt Elements	How to Include It	Example
Desired tone	State the voice you want (e.g., formal, friendly, concise).	“Write a formal invitation to the graduate research symposium.”
Boundaries/scope	Specify limits (word count, focus area, “only” emphasis).	“Summarize only the key eligibility criteria for the FDU scholarship in 150 words.”
Follow‑up cues	Ask the assistant to anticipate next steps or clarifying questions.	“After the summary, list two follow‑up questions a student might ask.”
Condensing / expanding	Indicate if you need a brief version or a detailed version.	“Expand the paragraph on campus sustainability initiatives to 300 words.”
Capitalization for emphasis	Capitalize key nouns or actions to draw attention.	“Highlight the DEADLINE for the internship applications.”

Remember to proofread and edit your response before using it.

After each interaction, provide feedback (thumbs‑up, thumbs‑down, or comments) so FredGPT can improve its future responses for you and the community.

Section – FAQ

Part : Frequently Asked Questions

What is FredGPT?

FredGPT is an on‑campus AI‑powered assistant that helps faculty, staff, and students with everyday tasks and with locating FDU–specific information.

Which assistants are available?

• General Assistant – Handles generic tasks such as drafting emails, brainstorming ideas, summarizing documents, and general research

• FDU Assistant – Specializes in university‑related queries (course catalogs, policies, events, library resources, faculty contacts, etc).

How do I choose the right assistant?

Use the General Assistant for anything not tied to campus‑specific data. Switch to the FDU Assistant whenever you need information that is unique to FDU.

What kind of prompts work best?

• State the desired tone (formal, friendly, concise)
• Set clear boundaries (word count, “only” focus)
• Use capitalization to emphasize key terms
• Indicate whether you need a condensed or expanded response

Can FredGPT solve complex math problems?

FredGPT is primarily language‑focused. It can handle simple arithmetic and explain concepts, but it is less reliable for advanced calculations or symbolic math. As with all GenAI prodcuts, remember to check the output from your prompt for accuracy.

How accurate is the information from the FDU Assistant?

The FDU Assistant references fdu.edu and it.fdu.edu to generate responses, and is accurate based on the information available on those two sites.

What should I do if the response is incomplete or off‑topic?

• Proofread the answer and note what’s missing
• Resubmit a clarified prompt, adding constraints or examples
• Use the feedback buttons (thumbs‑up/thumbs‑down) and, if desired, leave a comment so the system can improve

Is there a limit to how many prompts I can send?

There is no hard daily limit for individual users but excessive querying may be throttled to ensure fair access across the community.

How is my data handled?

Queries are processed anonymously to generate responses. No personally identifiable information is retained beyond what is required for session continuity, and all data handling complies with FDU’s privacy policies.

How can I give feedback on FredGPT’s performance?

After each response, click the thumbs‑up or thumbs‑down icon. If you choose thumbs‑down, you can add a short comment describing the issue (e.g., “Incorrect deadline,” “Tone too informal”). It is also extremely helpful when providing feedback to provide a link to the correct information. This feedback helps the development team refine both assistants.

Home drives and departmental shared drives come with a limited capacity of data storage, known as a quota. When a drive reaches 85% of that quota, both the departmental shared drive manager as well as the user uploading the content that puts a drive over that threshold will receive a message from psadmin@fdu.edu as seen below.

By informing the share manager and providing the name of the share affected, the share manager has an opportunity to respond to the notification prior to any disruptions to day-to-day workflows.

Upon receiving this email, the share owner should:

1. Review and confirm that all uploaded content is required for current business purposes
2. Review and consolidate any duplicated items
3. Remove any documents, files, or pictures no longer needed

These measures will resolve most shared drive quota issues. If the shared drive is still nearing its storage quota, please fill out the Home/Department Share Management Form using the link below:

Home/Department Share Management Form

What’s Oracle?

Oracle is a multi-model relational database management system, mainly designed for enterprise grid-computing and data warehousing. It is one of the first choices for enterprises for cost-effective solutions for their applications and data management. It supports SQL as a query language to interact with the database.

Now let’s discuss how to use Oracle in the FDU environment.

Accessing Oracle

FDU provides Oracle access to students and faculty on the Opus server. The Oracle environment is provided to support coursework and skill development.

Opus users are automatically granted access to Oracle after first successful login (It may take up to six hours before access is available).

If you do not already have Opus access you will need to request access by completing the Form:

Opus (Linux) Form

Access to the Opus server is restricted to FDU networks only. If you are off campus and would like to access Opus for your Oracle work you will need to use FDU’s Virtual Private Network (VPN).

You will need to use SSH to connect to the Opus server:

The Oracle Database is accessed using the SQL Plus utility, which has a command-line interface. To start using SQL Plus simply type “sqlplus /” on the Opus command line.

Interactive use can then start by entering a SQL statement (terminated by a semicolon), a PL/SQL block, or another command. For example:

SQL> select 'Hello world' as example from dual;

EXAMPLE
--------------------------------
Hello world