Claude Guide
Claude can support writing, summarizing, analysis, coding workflows, research support, course preparation, administrative work, long document review, and other University-related tasks.
University-provided Claude access is managed through UT Austin and is separate from personal Claude accounts. This page is a quick reference, not a full tutorial.
Learn with Anthropic Academy
Anthropic Courses is Anthropic's learning hub for Claude, with courses, guides, tutorials, and best practices for Claude basics, prompt writing, Claude Code, API development, AI fluency, and Claude workflows.
Quick Links
Claude Billing, Usage Limits, and Access FAQ: Claude for Education License FAQ
Sign in to Claude: https://claude.ai
Claude Help Center: https://support.claude.com/en/collections/4078531-claude
Get started with Claude: https://support.claude.com/en/articles/8114491-get-started-with-claude
Claude Usage Limit Best Practices: https://support.claude.com/en/articles/9797557-usage-limit-best-practices
Claude connectors: https://support.claude.com/en/articles/11176164-use-connectors-to-extend-claude-s-capabilities
Claude Code documentation:
Overview - Claude Code Docs API Access and Portkey: API Access and Portkey
Feature Summary
Feature | Quick summary | Official documentation |
|---|---|---|
Projects | Keep related chats, context, and knowledge together. | |
Artifacts | Separate outputs such as documents, code, visual drafts, and interactive content. | |
Skills | Reusable instructions and resources for repeatable work. | |
Connectors | Connect Claude to external services based on your source-system permissions. | |
Plugins | Bundled skills, connectors, and workflow pieces. | |
Files | Upload files for Claude to read, summarize, compare, or analyze. | |
File creation | Create and edit spreadsheets, documents, slides, PDFs, and other outputs. | |
Research | Research mode and source-backed work. | |
Search and thinking | Web search, extended thinking, and research for different levels of depth. | When should I use web search, extended thinking, and research? |
Claude Cowork | Agentic work support for task execution and coordination. | |
Claude Code | Coding assistant for codebases, files, commands, and development workflows. |
Project Visibility
When creating or sharing a Claude project, review the Visibility setting carefully.
Visibility option | What it means |
|---|---|
Private | Only invited members can view and use the project. Choose this unless you intentionally want to share the project more broadly. |
UT Austin | Everyone in the UT Austin Claude organization can view and use the project. Select this only if you want the project shared with the organization. |
If a project contains course materials, drafts, internal notes, research context, files, project knowledge, or other University work, select Private unless the content is approved and intended for broader UT Austin access.
Quick Ideas And Examples
Need | Small example | Feature to consider |
|---|---|---|
Study a reading | "Explain this reading in plain language and give me five review questions." | Chat or projects |
Review long documents | "Compare these two documents and list the major differences." | Files or projects |
Research a topic | "Use research to summarize the current discussion and list sources to verify." | Research |
Draft course material | "Turn this topic into a short class activity with discussion questions." | Projects or artifacts |
Prepare a staff brief | "Create a one-page briefing from these notes with decisions and next steps." | Files or artifacts |
Build a repeatable process | "Create a reusable skill for this checklist and ask for missing details." | Skills |
Connect work context | "Use the connected source to find the relevant background before drafting." | Connectors |
Work with code | "Use Claude Code to review this change, explain risks, and suggest tests." | Claude Code |
Data Use And Acceptable Use
Before using Claude with University data, review Responsible Use , and the Local and Cloud Services Decision Matrix .
Quick reminders:
Do not use personal Claude accounts for controlled or confidential University data.
When controlled or confidential University data is in scope, follow the ISO matrix and UT guidance.
For unclear data classifications, contact ISO at security@utexas.edu.
FAQ
Is Claude at UT Austin the same as a personal Claude account?
No. UT Austin Claude access is provided through a University-managed environment. Personal Claude accounts are not covered by the same University agreements.
Where should students start?
For learning support, start with a regular Claude chat or a project for a class topic. Follow course and instructor expectations.
Where should faculty start?
For teaching support, try projects for course context, artifacts for draft materials, and research for source-backed preparation.
Where should staff start?
For administrative work, try file review, artifacts for drafts, and projects for recurring workstreams.
Where should I start for coding?
Use Claude Code documentation and the Overview - Claude Code Docs for current instructions.
Common Sign In and Other Issues
Issue | Start here |
|---|---|
Cannot sign in to Claude | Make sure you are using your EID login: |
Claude shows an error message | |
Claude usage or length limit | Usage limit best practices and How do usage and length limits work? |
Claude answer seems incorrect |
Support
If you need help with... | Use this contact or page |
|---|---|
General Claude questions, tier requests, Claude Code, CoWork, Anthropic API | |
EID, Duo, or UT login issue before Claude loads | 512-475-9400 or help@austin.utexas.edu |
Data classification, IRB, HIPAA, FERPA, or sensitive data | |
Product documentation |