Before leaving for the summer, it is important to perform
some basic account maintenance. The number one problem
that is fielded by the IT Services Support Desk during
the summer is that of forgotten passwords. Resolving
password problems is much more difficult when you are
away from Miami. A little planning can make a big difference.
Important
E-mail Security Update
Miami’s incoming e-mail server now supports
SSL connections. SSL
(secure sockets layer) is a protocol that creates
a secure connection between two computers and encrypts
the data exchanged between the computers. With SSL
in place, information that is transmitted cannot
be read, even if it is intercepted. SSL was put
in place on Miami's incoming e-mail server so that
the MUnet password would be encrypted when sent.
Free
Copies of Microsoft OneNote 2003 Available for University-Owned
Computers
Microsoft has offered to give Miami 179 free copies
of its note-taking and management program, OneNote
2003.
myMiami
and Blackboard Enhancements Coming in May
IT Services, in cooperation with
teams from across the university, is working on
a project to enhance the myMiami and Blackboard
services. The first phase of this project will move
into production during the week of May 9th and will
merge the myMiami and Blackboard services into a
single application while retaining all of the functionality
of each service. This merger will allow for more
integration between these services in the future
than was previously possible.
Faculty
Blackboard Training Opportunities for April 2005
In conjunction with the new updates to the Blackboard
system, Advanced Learning Technologies will be offering
several training sessions before the end of the
semester.
On-Campus
Wireless Deployment Nears Completion
IT Services, with the support of Physical Facilities,
has entered the final stages of a 12-month project
geared to delivering wireless network services to
all academic and administrative buildings on the
Oxford, Hamilton and Middletown campuses as well
as select outdoor areas.
Classroom
Support and Research Support Models Proposed
Two academic technology-related study projects
chartered as a result of the 2004 IT Strategic Plan
have concluded with the delivery of classroom support
model and research support model recommendations.
Macromedia
and Adobe Software Purchasing Update
IT Services is working with the Purchasing office
and a number of software vendors, including Macromedia
and Adobe, to create volume pricing arrangements
that will provide significant cost savings to the
university on software purchases for university-owned
computers.
Phone
and Internet Services Converge in IP Telephony Pilot
Thanks to a grant from Cisco Systems of over $350,000
of equipment and consulting, IT Services is investigating
the use of the MUnet data network for telephone
services.
Decision
Support Project Taking Next Steps
The Decision Support study report has been completed
and given to the IT Vice President for review. The
immediate recommendation was to pursue installing
the SCT Banner Operational Data Store (ODS) product
which would be the first level of data warehousing.
E-mail/Calendaring
Study Continues
As a result of a study begun in the fall of 2004,
a Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued to e-mail/calendaring
vendors for an integrated e-mail and calendaring
system which would provide a common solution for
Miami faculty, staff and students to use university-wide.
Responses were received through January of 2005
and were critically examined by several sub-committees
involving various university community representatives.
Miami University Hamilton Announces Release
of IT Strategic Plan
Miami's Hamilton Campus, with help from IT Services,
has created an Information Technology (IT) Strategic
Plan for the Hamilton campus. The plan can be found
on the Miami
University planning web page.
Banner
Systems Update
As reported in the last issue, many initiatives
are underway to strengthen the quality and usability
of the Banner system here at Miami University.
Microsoft
Contract Renewal Discussions Underway
IT Services, in conjunction with a software sub-committee
of Ohio's Inter-University
Council (IUC), is currently working on the renewal
of the Microsoft contract negotiated last year.
As part of the annual renewal, Miami has the opportunity
to continue the contract "as is" or to
adjust the audiences covered by the contract.
Network
Protection Services Up and Running in Select Residence
Halls
Miami is joining many higher education institutions
in leading the way to a safer Internet. With Network
Protection Services, Miami is implementing a model
that creates accountability for computers' nefarious
activities and proactively protects the computers
on the network from malicious network activity by
enforcing a minimum standard to acquire network
access. The service is also capable of reacting
to computers that slip through the cracks by quarantining
them before they can do harm to others connected
to the network.
IT
Services Support Services Asks "How Are We Doing?"
Each spring, IT Services distributes a survey
with questions related to awareness, use, and satisfaction
with our support services to a random sample of
students, faculty, and staff. The survey results
are used in service planning and refinement efforts.
