 |
|
Featured Article: Google Apps for Education is coming to SUNY Oswego!
By now you have probably heard that SUNY Oswego has contracted with Google to provide us with their Google Apps for Education service. With the endorsement of the Campus Technology Advisory Board and the Instructional Technology Council, we will be taking full advantage of a SUNY-wide contract negotiated earlier this year. Google Apps will offer many exciting new communication and collaboration tools for all users while saving our campus a substantial amount of money.
Details of the implementation plan are currently being developed by a team of CTS technical staff and campus functional users. Although specific dates have not yet been selected, it is likely the opportunity for users to migrate to the new Google service will be available prior to the end of this semester. Migration is projected to be complete by the end of September 2010. We anticipate that users who prefer a desktop application such as Thunderbird or Outlook will continue to be able to use those apps for email. However, I encourage you to consider switching to the browser interface for our new services. The browser interface will enable a greater variety of services than are available in the traditional client applications. You might also want to take this opportunity to do some “spring cleaning” on your inbox before migrating to our new email service.
Regular updates will be provided via email and other channels as well as posted on the Google project page on the CTS web site – www.oswego.edu/cts/google. Please be sure to check there frequently to learn about the new tools and services available, migration options, and training opportunities. If you have any questions or need any additional information, please feel free to contact Joe Moreau, CTO.
|
 |
|
Finalized SCAP List Approved
The Student Computing Access Program (SCAP) is a state program that funds student access to computer technology, either hardware or software. This year, the state allocated $133,735 to SUNY Oswego. Individual campus departments are allowed to apply for a certain portion of this allocation. With the submission of a formal proposal, departments must specify how they will use the funding and confirm that it will be used by students for academic purposes. Through the work of a subcommittee of the Campus Technology Advisory Board (CTAB), proposals are reviewed, interviews scheduled with a representative from the applying departments, and then proposals are approved or denied. The finalized list of approved SCAP proposals for this year has been posted at the CTAB website. Please visit the site for more information.
|
 |
|
Professional Development
Our Skillport e-learning software includes over 1500 courses you can choose from for your professional growth or classroom needs. Courses on Office 2007, Windows XP, customer service, project management, communication skills, accounting, management and leadership, and more are available. All faculty, staff, and students can login to Skillport with their Laker NetID. Just go to www.oswego.edu/cts/training/skillport.html.
Some CTS workshops are still being offered in April. Online registration is available from the CTS training web site at www.oswego.edu/cts/training.
CTS Workshops are freely available to all SUNY Oswego faculty, staff and students.
|
 |
Notes from the Help Desk
The Technology Support Center will be open Monday through Thursday, 8am-7pm and Fridays 8am-4:30pm. The TSC is located in 26 Lanigan Hall and you can reach us by phone at x3456, email at help@oswego.edu or chat at www.oswego.edu/help.
CTS is recruiting new student employees for the 2010-2011 academic year. Applications were due on April 2nd and will be reviewed starting the week of April 5th. If you are interested, hurry and submit your application today!! See our Student Recruitment website for more information and online applications.
|
 |
|
Did You Know?
Did you know the Conference on Instructional Technology (CIT) is right around the corner? This year, CIT will be hosted at the SUNY Plattsburgh campus in upstate NY on May 25-28 and will have “Classrooms, Continents and Clouds: Who Moved My Chalk?” as its theme. Malcolm B. Brown, the Director of the Educause Learning Initiative will be the keynote speaker.
The CIT website describes the conference as “SUNY’s largest and most prominent event on instructional technology in education, providing a forum for faculty, instructional support professionals, and policymakers to present, discuss, and explore innovative avenues for integrating technology into the teaching and learning environment.” If you have never attended CIT, please take a look at the website and consider attending. It is a great way to learn about how other faculty are using technology, get some new ideas and network with other SUNY colleagues.
|
 |
|
Looking Ahead
The following are major projects CTS is currently working on:
-
New Phone System-A new Voice over IP (VoIP) system is in the process of being installed. This new system will eventually replace the current telephone system for the entire campus. A number of buildings on the east side of campus will be the first ones to be converted to the new system this summer. We will be implementing a new voice mail system and the conversion will require new handsets.
-
Residential Wireless – Johnson and Riggs Halls will be the next buildings to include wireless in individual student rooms. This will occur summer 2010.
-
Content Management System Update: Ingeniux has been purchased. We are in the process of creating templates in Ingeniux and then the company will be training the Web team on how to configure the system in late April. A pilot project of a few existing sites will be started before the end of the semester.
-
Desktop Management – CTS has purchased a new product called LANDesk that will make the configuration, updates, and repair of faculty, staff, and lab desktop computers more efficient. The product comes with remote control and packaging of pre-configured individual pieces of software that can be used to remotely update campus computers. It also comes with asset and license management features. The product is currently being used in the Mahar open access labs. The project team continues to make progress in the LANDesk configuration and deployment.
-
Document Imaging – A new system that will replace paper records with digital records is being worked on for the Admissions and Advising offices. All paper student information now stored in folders and physical filing cabinets will move to a digital format with optional workflow and Banner integration features. After successful configuration and testing with these offices, other offices will be able to make use of this software.
-
ANGEL Upgrade - The ANGEL 7.4 upgrade is scheduled for August 23-24. This is after the end of summer sessions and past the date that grades are due. More information about feature changes will be available this summer.
-
Construction Projects: CTS continues to assist with campus construction projects, including the design of the science building, the new townhouses near Glimmerglass Lagoon, and initial discussions of the Library renovation.
If you have any questions related to any of these projects, please contact the Technology Support Center at x3456 or by email to help@oswego.edu
.
|
 |
Tech Tip
There may be times when you may be suspicious of a file on a computer, but do not have immediate access to an anti-virus program. In such cases, try uploading the file to VirusTotal, a free service that will check your file against over 20 different anti-virus engines. While not a substitute for a full-fledged antivirus program, VirusTotal is definitely better than nothing!
http://www.virustotal.com/
|
|
Forms, information for prospective student-athletes.
