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NEWS
OPINION
FROM THE CIOFYI
KUDOS TO . . .
CONTACTSNEWS
If your morning constitutional includes deleting unwanted mail so you can get to the real stuff, then consider setting up an email spam filter. One of several new utilities consolidated into what is now known as your myUMBC account, the spam filter lets you decide what gets filtered and what gets through, or whether to delete the spam or save it to a special folder to be reviewed later. The OIT Help Desk has published a spam filter tutorial under the "Email" section of the OIT homepage. Other utilities you'll want check out include For more information including a new set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), visit the OIT Homepage or contact the Help Desk at 410.455.3838 or helpdesk@umbc.edu, or submit a "trouble ticket" request. Why (and How) to Migrate Your Old "Research" or "umbc7" Accounts OIT is currently working on migrating all files from Research to AFS space. This process will effectively merge your GL account and Research account, providing you with a single UMBC account accessible everywhere. All new accounts as of the Summer of 2000 are setup in this manner. This change will provide users with improved access speed, and will enable them to take advantage of the redundant mail servers and spam filtering. In order to facilitate this change, a web based form has been created by the UMBC Systems group. You will be able to choose how your account will be migrated. In the course of this migration, no files will be deleted, only copied to the new location. For more information, visit the new step-by-step Migration Guide recently released on the OIT homepage. Telnet to be Turned Off in March For the past three months, OIT has posted notices about the security risks of using Telnet since it is relatively easy for others to "sniff" your password in Telnet's "clear text" transmission. Instead, you should use SSH (Secure SHell) for all you account login sessions. SSH is available to all users on the UMBC Internet CD or the OIT software download site. However you get it, do so before March when OIT will no longer allow Telnet sessions. Tip: If you liked Telnet because you could use it anywhere you traveled, try this: use WebMail whenever you're away from home, but install SSH once (on your home computer). This way, all of your remote login sessions will be secure, but you'll still have an easy way to access email from any networked computer--via the Web. If you have any questions or need help installing or configuring SSH, please contact the OIT Help Desk at 410.455.3838, helpdesk@umbc.edu or select the "trouble ticket" link at the top of this page.
New Backup Power for OIT Computer Room Many of you may recall the power outage that the campus suffered in October of 2002. That outage resulted in blown power transformers across the campus and an extended downtime of OIT services such as e-mail and certain administrative systems. Ironically OIT was already working with electrical engineers to design a new centralized backup power solution for the computer room which houses all of UMBC’s mission critical servers. The new backup power system will combine an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) with a generator being installed as part of the new ITE building. The UPS utilizes flywheel technology that will provide temporary power until the generator begins operating. Traditional battery UPS systems utilize a large number of lead-acid batteries which require significant amounts of space and are also extremely bad for the environment. OIT decided to purchase the environmentally friendly flywheel UPS from Caterpillar which utilizes no batteries and uses approximately half the space of an equivalent battery UPS. The new system will provide backup power for the entire computer room allowing OIT to remove the individual battery UPS’ currently providing backup power to our systems. Construction has already begun and the new system is scheduled to be fully installed and operational by April of this year. -Mike Carlin Access Your Novell Files Via the Web If you want to access your personal or department's novell files from home, you can now do so via the Web through Novell's Web Access feature. Just visit http://novell.umbc.edu and login with your usual UMBC userid & password. You can upload, download or delete files, and even modify directories. New VPN Allows Secure Wireless and Off Campus Connections This January OIT completed final configuration and testing of our Virtual Private Network (VPN) from Cisco. A VPN allows you to connect to a private network (i.e. UMBC) using the public Internet. It also allows secure wireless connections while using UMBC’s wireless network. An example would be if you are at home and connect to the Internet using Comcast Cable, Verizon DSL or a commercial dial-up service. Once online you would launch the VPN client from your machine, login using your account name and password and then you are done. Once the client is started all traffic destined for UMBC will be fully encrypted and “tunneled” into our network. So what’s the big deal with that? Well, not only is your traffic secure because it is encrypted but you also get the benefit of appearing as if you are connecting from on campus. This means if you want to use resources that are restricted to on campus use only such as certain library databases or restricted administrative systems you can do this from home now. An added benefit of the VPN client is that it can be used on UMBC’s Wireless network here on campus. We strongly encourage customers that use our wireless network to install and use the VPN client in order to ensure that all of their wireless traffic is fully encrypted. Presently wireless traffic to and from your wireless device (e.g. laptop, PDA etc.) is not encrypted, so it is possible for someone to monitor and see private information. Installing the VPN client will prevent this from happening and offer a secure wireless connection. If you are interested in using the VPN client please visit the OIT software download site off of the OIT homepage or contact the OIT Help Desk at 410-455-3838 or helpdesk@umbc.edu. -Mike Carlin
Last semester, Corporate Time Calendar was one of the most popular OIT training workshops. With well over 1,000 active users, the benefits of online calendaring are even better. Now, instead of playing phone or email tag with a group of people to find out if they can meet, you can see their schedules online (see example at right). The OIT Help Desk has created a guide to creating and using your calendar account and downloading the free software. Note: if you're using someone else's computer, but don't have the Corporate Time software on , you can also login using any Web browser by going to http://calendar.umbc.edu. For more information, contact the OIT Help Desk at 410.455.3838 or helpdesk@umbc.edu. Step-by-step R25 is moving UMBC into a more efficient use of space and materials. In the first step of R25 implementation, the Registrar’s Office began using the software for scheduling classes in major semesters. Next, OIT developed an interface to the legacy course system to alleviate the need for the Registrar’s Office to do manual entry of R25 room assignments. And now, UC and A/V Services have taken great strides toward using the software not only to alleviate issues with scheduling of AV equipment for certain classes, but for scheduling events into non-academic rooms as well as unused academic rooms. Perhaps the most exciting part of the continued progress toward full utilization of the R25 features is the upcoming release of web access to R25 information. OIT is working with several departments to develop a workable approach toward implementing R25 web access for the lookup of scheduling information and making scheduling requests. For more information about R25 at UMBC, please contact Cheri Putro at 410-455-3046 or putro@umbc.edu. -Cheri Putro Guide to Web Publishing @ UMBC Available Whether you're a "code-by-hand" purist or like the WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) HTML editing features of Dreamweaver or Frontpage, you still need to be able to publish your web creations. To help, OIT recently released a "Guide to Web Publishing @ UMBC" that walks you through the steps to publish your personal, course or organizational web site. The site also includes "tips & tricks" reminders of key steps when using Dreamweaver or Frontpage, resources if you don't want to create & publish a site yourself, and links to Web development tutorials. For more information, contact the OIT Help Desk at 410.455.3838 or helpdesk@umbc.edu. The SEVIS Compliance Initiative The Student Exchange and Visitor Information System is a product of the Department Of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) designed to assist educational facilities in the timely reporting and monitoring of international students and exchange visitors in the United States. The software has both a Web interface and batch processing capabilities. Newfront Software Inc. was the vendor selected to do the batch interface of UMBC international student and exchange visitor data with the INS, as well as track information relative only to international students and visitors. Their product, fsaAtlas, has been in use at UMBC for a number of years as a stand alone information tracking system in the Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions Departments. With the advent of the SEVIS reporting requirements, the English Language Center (ELC) will be joining with the UMBC admissions offices in the use of the product. Newfront’s fsaAtlas V 6.1 is a substantially enhanced and web based product, that is developing as rules and regulations are finalized by INS. The Newfront staff is working hard to complete all phases of the implementation by the January 31st deadline imposed by INS for SEVIS compliance. However, regardless of whether they are able to complete development adequately before that deadline, UMBC will be prepared to utilize the RTI option available to us until such time as the software is fully ready.Data conversion from the old fsaAtlas is already well underway, and OIT will be working closely with the departments responsible for monitoring international status to ensure that the new software is working as it should. In addition, new reports and functionality have been added to the legacy system to monitor the full time credit load of both undergraduate and graduate students. In the next few months, software will be in place to ensure that these students cannot drop below a full time credit load without consent from the appropriate department. Special exceptions are controlled through limited access to overrides granted in the registration system. -Cheri Putro Degree Navigation 3.0 Set for April '03 Release
Version 3.0 of Degree Navigation has been underway since November 2002 and is scheduled for a mid spring 2003 release. In addition to some minor bug fixes and enhancements this version will introduce the ability to track Academic Progress and provide a free-form "notes" option. Although it is scheduled for an April 2003 release, the true effect will not be apparent until late summer 2003 or early fall 2003 as the Advisement Office enters all the pertinent data concerning Academic Progress. For information about upcoming training sessions or demonstrations, contact Eric Lampe, director of Academic Services at 410.455.4934 or elampe@umbc.edu.
FROM THE CIOPlanning Ahead It seems odd to be talking about plans for next fiscal year when we are barely half-way through this year, but two major projects will dictate almost everything OIT, and UMBC, does in FY04 -- Peoplesoft and the opening of the ITE and Public Policy buildings. PeopleSoft HR and Finance will come up June 27th . Those of us who have been actively involved in the project are excited about the benefits the project will bring. The new business systems we will implement this summer will open new possibilities for the way we work together at UMBC. Never before in my tenure at UMBC have I seen such collaboration between departments as in Delta – OIT, Finance, Procurement, HR, OIR, Enrollment Services, and Deans are working closely together to make this a success. Beyond the departments directly involved we have had great support on campus. During the past 15 months, more than 150 staff and faculty across the campus have participated in designing the new systems. As we approach the launch, it is vital that staff and faculty remain involved in guiding the campus through this change. Change is hard—even good change made for good reasons. By the end of March the software build should be complete and training will be underway for staff in Accounting, Procurement, HR, and Sponsored Programs. We’ll be working closely with the Deans and Vice President’s to set up training and support plans for the campus – likely to be released in March and start in April. For OIT the impact of PeopleSoft is learning to manage a much more complex system. Over the years the HP administrative system had been streamlined to the degree that we had automated almost all production work. With PeopleSoft we will have to manage a much more complex computing environment while continuing to operate the HP during the development of the Peoplsoft Student Administration (SA) module. As a consequence, I expect that OIT will not take on any new administrative initiatives in FY04 other than ones mandated by the government. ITE and Public Policy are also very exciting. While exact move-in dates haven’t been finalized for either building the expectation is that the ITE academic classrooms and labs will open for the Fall semester. ITE will have nine new classrooms and two lecture halls. OIT has been working closely with Whiting Turner on the audio visual (AV) and data network requirements for the building. We are working now on the RFP for the AV equipment and have ordered the data networking equipment in support of ITE. In terms of computer equipment for ITE we have met with all the new building’s occupants and identified the academic equipment needed to open the building. We will be working closely with the Provost’s Office and the occupants and expect to be placing an order some time in late May for equipment. One of the groups to be most impacted due to the opening of ITE and PP will be our Desktop Support group which handles setup and installation problems for PC’s. We will be working with the campus to plan these moves so that we can quickly get people up and running as they move to their new space. -Jack Suess FYISpring OIT Computer Training Classes Available The Spring OIT Computer Training Schedule is now available and includes hands-on workshops in Corporate Time Calendar, Microsoft's Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access, as well as the Internet, HTML basics, Managing Your UMBC Account, and Understanding Your Computer. Skills to be covered include:
To register for a workshop or for more information including workshop descriptions, check the Spring Computer Training Schedule Web page at http://www.umbc.edu/training. Comments or suggestions please contact Marie Toomes, ext. 53679 or marie@umbc.edu.
TLT Brown Bag Schedule Available History Professor Joe Tatarewicz will kick off the spring TLT Brown Bag Series with “Night Sweats of a Geek Humanist Professor: Liberal Arts, Technology, and Labor” on Thursday, February 13 at noon in The Commons, room 318). Other speakers will include Engineering’s Taryn Bayles about her “hands-on” approach to engineering education (March 6, noon, Commons 331) and a special luncheon keynote talk by Steve Gilbert, president of the TLT Group, as part of the UMBC TLT Fair on April 14. The Teaching, Learning and Technology (TLT) Brown Bag workshops are sponsored jointly by the Faculty Development Center and Office of Information Technology. Light refreshments are provided, but advance registration is appreciated. To register for an upcoming workshop or view an archive of past talks, visit www.umbc.edu/brownbag. OIT Web Site Enhancements: Search Engine, FAQs & More To help users help themselves, the OIT Help Desk has been hard at work making several enhacements to the OIT Web site. In addtion to updating or creating new documentation and guides on common tools like email and account management, the sitewide search engine has been completely re-indexed and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) have been updated--and also include a "Hot Topics" homepage section for the most current FAQs. If you have a question or suggestion about the OIT Web site, contact Help Desk Manager Anna Perez at 410.455.6878 or anna@umbc.edu. KUDOS TO . . .
Bob Armstrong was "very supportive" to adjunct visual arts instructor Kimberlee Staking who used Blackboard for the first time in her Art History I & II courses last semester. "Bob referred me to other faculty blackboard users for support, came into class and took questions, consulted with students over email, made adjustments as needed, and referred students to other OIT help personnel as appropriate," wrote Staking in an email to CIO Jack Suess. "He was really the ideal back up support person throughout, and I'm looking forward to working with him again this coming semester." Mark Cather, Damian Doyle, Mark Lasuk, Matt Ruzicka and Physical Plant who literally "mopped up" and dried out OIT's International Media Center and New Media offices (and network) after a heater pipe burst January 9. Many thanks also to Joe Hill and his Physical Plant crew who worked through much of the night and over the weekend to bail us out. Jim and Christine Grogan welcomed Peter Everett Grogan on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2003, at 7 p.m. (9lbs 1.25oz and 22" (10 days late!) Paul & Kathy Riddle welcomed Michael Paul Riddle on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2002, at 8:25 p.m. (8 lbs 14.8 ounces and 21") nickname: Bigfoot. CONTACTSThe OIT Newsletter (www.umbc.edu/oit/newsletter) is provided as a service to UMBC students, faculty and staff, and to help keep OIT staff updated on the work and interests of their colleagues. For more information or to suggest story ideas, contact John Fritz at 410.455.6596 or fritz@umbc.edu.
Office of Information Technology (www.umbc.edu/oit)
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Office
of Information Technology • Main Office: ECS 125 • Phone:
410-455-3838 • Email: oit@umbc.edu
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