Anti-Spyware Solution Now Available for Microsoft Windows Computers

IT Services is pleased to announce that Miami has acquired a site license for McAfee’s Anti-Spyware Enterprise module. The site license allows McAfee Anti-Spyware, an add-on to McAfee’s VirusScan Enterprise solution for Microsoft Windows, to be installed on computers owned by the university or current faculty, staff, and students.

Final Reminder: Make Sure Your E-mail is Set to Use SSL!

On February 1, 2006, Miami’s incoming e-mail server (po.muohio.edu) will stop accepting connections from desktop e-mail applications (like Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, Thunderbird, etc.) and wireless devices that are not configured to use SSL.

The Miami Notebook: Hassle-free Computing for Students (and a boon for faculty)

Miami faculty will see a new technology environment in Fall 2006 when many first year students come to campus with laptops purchased through Miami’s new ‘Miami Notebook’ program. ‘Miami Notebook’ is the name given to the new voluntary program that Reid Christenberry, Vice President for Information Technology, recently announced. 

Research Computing Support at Miami University

In July 2005, IT Services created a new group whose purpose is to enhance the efforts of Miami University researchers by providing technical and scientific support in computational research. This group is committed to providing the support necessary to meet the unique computational research needs of faculty and students at Miami University, thus fostering innovation and excellence in computational research at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Miami Acquires High Performance Computing Cluster to Support Advanced Computational Research

Miami’s new High Performance Computing Cluster (HPCC), which will be available for use by early March 2006, is an invaluable research tool that will greatly improve the computational resources at Miami University. Researchers will be able to take advantage of new technologies, powerful processors and fast networks to achieve research goals faster and more efficiently and to develop new techniques for solving complex computational problems.

Introducing Miami iPrint

Miami iPrint is a new service that allows you to print to the pay-for-print printers found on campus using your own computer. This service allows you to add any Miami iPrint printer to your computer so it becomes a choice when you are ready to print.

Desperately Seeking Smythe: Directory Searches Made Simple

How many times have you entered a name into the electronic directory only to have the search return the message "0 matching entries." You know the person is a current student, faculty or staff member, but your search came up empty. Until now, the electronic directory has been very unforgiving and pretty darn rigid.  If you didn't spell a name correctly, or if the person you are searching for is known by a nickname or their middle name, your search would be in vain.

Residence Hall Students: Changes in Windows Requirements for Network Access for Fall 2006

Next fall, there will be a few important changes in the computer requirements enforced by Cisco Clean Access for gaining access to Miami’s network in the residence halls…

Students: Please Update Your Emergency Contact Information!

Every year, Miami attempts to obtain, verify or update emergency contact information. This information is held in confidence and will only be used in the event of a local or national emergency to communicate quickly and broadly with your emergency contact(s).

New University-Wide Site License for MATLAB

IT Services has signed a new contract with MathWorks to provide a University-wide license for MATLAB. Under this new agreement, university faculty and staff are allowed to install MATLAB on their work and/or home computers and it will be available in research labs, computer labs, and classrooms. Faculty and staff can download MATLAB for Windows, Macs, or Linux (ia32) from Miami’s software web site (http://software.muohio.edu). Note: Students are not allowed to install MATLAB on their personal computers but will have access to it in labs and classrooms.

New Features for Instructors in Blackboard 6.3

In January 2006, Miami’s Blackboard system was upgraded from version 6.2 to 6.3. The new version provides a number of new capabilities for instructors to enhance ease-of-use and effectiveness, particularly on the assessment side. 

Respondus Software Now Available To Assist with Blackboard Test, Quiz & Survey Creation

Respondus is a software application for Windows computers that eases test, quiz, and survey creation in Blackboard. Using Respondus, faculty who have tests, quizzes, and surveys in a word-processing format can quickly upload them to Blackboard with little additional formatting.

Meeting Maker Upgrade Scheduled to Occur March 10-13

IT Services will be upgrading Miami’s Meeting Maker server from Meeting Maker 7.5 to Meeting Maker 8.5 the weekend of March 11th (the first weekend of spring break).  Meeting Maker will be unavailable from Friday, March 10 at 5:00 p.m. until Monday, March 13th at 8:00 a.m. while the upgrade occurs.

New Center of Online Learning (CoOL) Takes Off at Miami

With recent approval from the Provost, a new Center of Online Learning has been created to support faculty in creating and delivering high-quality, interactive online courses. Comprised of faculty who have online teaching experience and experienced online course designers, CoOL will be housed on the Middletown campus with representation from Oxford, Middletown, and Hamilton.

Banner 7 Is Coming!

IT Services has announced an upgrade to Banner, Miami's primary information system. The upgrade is planned for May 11 through May 14, 2006 and will make Banner accessible from a web browser with enhanced navigation capabilities. Training opportunities and additional documentation is being prepared and will be sent to clients who use Banner within the next two weeks. Check back here in April for a detailed article listing the exciting new features.

Don't Be the Victim of an E-mail Scam!

Your bank (or eBay or PayPal or . . .) has just sent you an email asking you to confirm your account information via e-mail or the web.  Should you? Read on for tips on making sure you don’t become one of the rapidly growing number of individuals who’ve fallen victim to email scams.

Michelle Dienno & Craig Rouse Awarded The Communicator Award of Excellence

Michelle Dienno (Director of Marketing - Hamilton Campus) and Craig Rouse (Supervisor of Video Production, IT Services - Oxford Campus) have won The Communicator Awards' prestigious Award of Excellence for commercials that they produced for the summer promotional campaign for the regional Hamilton and Middletown Miami campuses. The commercials were entitled FALL4U and were aired for two weeks during the middle of this past summer.