ITS NEWSLETTER VOL 7, ISSUE 1 Letter from the CIO ITS prides itself on efficiency of its operaƟon and services. As many of you are aware, the University of the Virgin Islands is taking great strides to “Go Green”; ITS has already started by automaƟng the Office of the CIO. With newly issued iPads, ITS staff currently electronically sign and store documents. The signing and submiƫng of documents electroni- cally has cut down on processing Ɵme from two weeks to one week. From October 1, 2010 to present, all incoming and outgoing correspondences are scanned and filed electronically in a virtual locaƟon; there are no addi- Ɵonal papers added to the current file cabinet. In addiƟon, the Office of the CIO is currently scanning all paper files in the current file drawer, as a way to achieve a fully paperless operaƟon. An ITS community was created on the portal, from which all ITS employees have access to internal doc- uments, including managers and staff meeƟng minutes, internal forms, project plans, newsleƩers and annual reports. Also, an internal calendar displays staff’s absences, conferences, meeƟngs, and other informaƟon deemed necessary. Other items include a message board for staff to parƟcipate in discussions and an announcement secƟon for important announcements to staff. If your component, department or office is interested in having a community created, please send requests to the helpdesk via telephone at ext 1466, email helpdesk@uvi.edu, or UVI portal hƩps://mycampus.uvi.edu/. Tina M. Koopmans Chief InformaƟon Officer Ext 1540 Tina.Koopmans@uvi.edu In This Issue Automating the Office of the CIO..1 STJAC News…………...………2 BlackBoard Tip…………….......3 IFLA Meeting On STT………....4 Library Hours……………….….5 Banner Upgrades……... …..…...6 C2 Grant Award……………......7 Employee Recognition…….…...8 VC Upgrades Completed……...1 CETL News…..…………...…..3 Auto Attendant……...……….. 4 Food Policy…………………...5 Identity Management Project....6 Student Tech Fee Committee…7 Technical Assistance Grant ... ..7 CCNA Certified Staff………....8 At the beginning of the Fall 2011 semester, InformaƟon & Technology Services installed new and improved technology in videoconference classrooms. Four of the largest videoconference rooms were upgraded to new high definiƟon videoconference units from Polycom, which provide much improved picture and sound quality while reducing network bandwidth. Polycom People plus Content hardware was also installed in rooms T-213, T-115, EVC-302a and EVC-807 so that soŌware is no longer needed to show PC content to parƟcipants. This reduces the setup Ɵme for classes. New, larger monitors were installed in some rooms to provide beƩer, clearer views of the remote site for instructors. In response to user suggesƟons, wireless lavalier microphones were installed B-110, EVC-401, T-101 and EVC-713. To check out a wireless microphone, please visit the library service desks on either campus with a valid library card. In order to make using UVI videoconference rooms even easier, twelve videoconference classrooms were upgraded with Crestron touch screen controllers and room integraƟon systems. Rooms upgraded with Crestron control systems are: on St. Thomas: B-110, B-101, T-213, T-115, T-101; on St. John: STJAC-101, STJAC-103; and on St. Croix: EVC-401, NWW-103, EVC-302a, EVC-807, EVC-713. These systems no longer require the use of mulƟple remote controls. With the new Crestron controllers, the menus are simple and easy to use, providing easy access to needed features. The “Directory” menu provides a list of all videocon- ference rooms for easy calling, while allowing for immediate contact to the ITS Help Desk for assistance if needed. In addiƟon, the directory now includes a lisƟng of room telephone numbers for quick audioconference calls. The “Source” menu provides users with the ability to quickly choose content for view by far parƟcipants, choices such as: Desktop PC, Laptop, Document Camera, DVD Player and room cameras eliminate the need to scroll through menus during classes. Every videoconference room is equipped with a video and audio cable for easy access to plug in their laptops or other devices and display content to all parƟcipants. The Crestron controllers can also be used to control camera angles both in the local room and the remote room. Another important feature added in rooms EVC-401, B-110 and T-101 is “AutomaƟc Camera Tracking” which, when selected, automaƟcally switches and moves the room cameras to show the parƟcipant speaking. The “Main” menu provides access to all funcƟons of the videoconference system through its on-screen menu and navigaƟon through the Polycom home screens. Using this menu, users can manually dial any videocon- ference endpoint or telephone number when needed. UVI has come a long way since the first videoconference room was installed in 1994! ITS recognizes the importance of providing technology that is current, reliable, easy to use, which contributes to the success of our students. Video Conference Upgrades Completed Video Conference Upgrades Completed 2 Kent Wessinger has joined the leadership team at the St. John Academic Center (STJAC). His role includes helping to develop the Center’s model and promoƟon of the Center and UVI to the St. John community. As a St. John resident himself, Mr. Wessinger is parƟcularly aware of the challenges faced by this community in accessing UVI’s programs and resources, and he is eager to help the St. John Academic Center meet this need. He is also a UVI faculty member in the School of Science and Mathe- maƟcs on the St. Thomas Campus, and has taught in the Upward Bound program. Mr. Wessinger has lived on St. John for nine years, and has worked in educaƟon in the Caribbean for more than twenty years. He has been instrumental in the creaƟon and development of several youth sports programs on St. John, and has just finished wriƟng his third book. As we conƟnue to solidify the organizaƟonal structure and creaƟvely expose the vision to the community, the St John Academic Center is posiƟoning itself to become “The Source of Success on St. John.” While the number of visitors, potenƟal students, study groups, and current students that uƟlize the center has been growing each month. Transfer Day has never been formally celebrated on St. John. Several weeks ago, the decision was made to celebrate Transfer Day at the STJAC with the display of the Transfer Project at the Center. Some of the historic artwork will remain a permanent fixture at the center once the celebraƟon concludes. The Transfer Project will bring people from all over the Virgin Islands into the STJAC. In addiƟon, Dr. Ogunmokun has agreed to make the STJAC a markeƟng project for the upper level markeƟng classes. Three classes will formulate a markeƟng strategy based on data collected in the community. The implementaƟon of the strategy will allow the center to flourish at the highest level of effecƟveness and producƟvity. Twelve new students have already signed a pre-registraƟon list to aƩend classes at the STJAC in the spring. Seven of those students have never been UVI students. Our team is currently serving as advocates to assist future and current students by connecƟng them to admissions and the registrar for support with their registraƟon for spring semester, and by connecƟng them with their respecƟve advisors. The week of October 17, Dr. Esdaille, from the Center for Student Success, gave permission for all St. John students to receive tutoring at the Center. Math tutoring has already begun with other disciplines to be added this month. Reference books are now available. VC equipment has been successfully updated, and an email has been sent out to all St. John UVI students and east end St. Thomas students telling them about the Center. The STJAC is beginning to take root. Thank you to ALL of those who have been and conƟnue to be a part of the success of the Center. St. John Academic Center StaƟsƟcs Between June 1 and October 31, 2011, the St. John Academic Center saw 301 visits by students totaling 570 hours spent in the Center. Thirty-eight (38) students uƟlized the Center during this Ɵme to aƩend class, work with Center resources, and to study individually or in groups. In addiƟon to students, 30 staff members, 3 faculty, and 54 unaffiliated individuals have visited the Center during this Ɵme for workshops, events, or to request informaƟon about UVI’s offerings (both at the Center and on campus). Center hours varied during the summer due to the Academic Calendar, but since the beginning of Fall Semester, the Center has been open at least 56 hours per week. Since the start of Fall Semester, 4 UVI groups or components have held meeƟngs or retreats at the Center, the CooperaƟve Extension Service has held 2 workshops, and the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence held a presentaƟon. AddiƟonal events are scheduled for November. St. John Academic Center News St. John Academic Center News 3 The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning would like to thank those faculty members who have taken Ɵme out of their very busy schedules this semester to host/facilitate a faculty development session during the Fall 2011 semester. Thank you for sharing your experience with these tools and how you have implemented and incorporated them into your teaching methodology. Faculty development sessions that have been offered by faculty include – Respondus LockDown Browser, SafeAssign, Adobe Connect, and Blended Learning. ContribuƟng faculty include – Patricia Harkins-Pierre, Steve Case, Valerie Combie, and Christy Vineyard. If you would like to host a faculty development session based on a workshop or conference you aƩended, please contact the CETL at ext 1214 or at cvineya@uvi.edu. Is the list of courses you are teaching growing in Blackboard? Is it hard to find your courses for this semester unless you have changed the name? Here is a Ɵp that will help you keep that list organized. Use the pencil icon to hide courses you are no longer using. CETL News & Events CETL News & Events Webinars For a lisƟng of the TLT Group Friday Live! Webinars you can click HERE TLT Group Sloan Workshops **This is a three part workshop. You must enroll in all three workshops. Using CollaboraƟon Technologies to engage students of all ages and experi- ence Date: November 15, 2011 at 2:00pm ET How to Begin with ReflecƟon and ePorƞolios in Tough Times Date: January 2012 [dates, Ɵmes TBA] Preparing Faculty for Blended Teaching and Learning Date: January 18, 2012 to January 27, 2012 MERLOT An IntroducƟon Date: November 16, 2011 at 2:00pm ET For addiƟonal informaƟon or to register for any of the Workshops, contact the CETL at ext 1214 or cvineya@uvi.edu Blended Learning Series - Part 1: Designing Blended Courses and Building a Blended Learning Community Date: February 1, 2012 to February 24, 2012 ePorƞolios in the Cloud: DocumenƟng, ConnecƟng, Learning Date: November 29, 2011 at 10:00am ET. Part 2: Impact Assessment Date: February 15, 2012 to February 24, 2012 Once you click on the pencil icon, you will have a list of all your Blackboard courses. To hide a course you are no longer using, simply uncheck the box next to the course in the “Display course name” column and submit. Your courses will not disappear or be permanently removed, only hidden from view on your Blackboard homepage. During the Summer 2011 session, several faculty from both campuses piloted the Blackboard Learn environment. The pilot was successful in idenƟfying unresolved issues with the course management system. The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) is working with system adminis- trators for Blackboard and UVI to resolve the issues so piloƟng can conƟnue in Spring 2012. The CETL would like to thank the faculty and students that parƟcipated in the piloƟng of Black- board Learn over the summer. BlackBoard Tip - Hiding Old Courses Using the Pencil Icon 4 Due to budget constraints, ITS implemented an automated call answer- ing aƩendant feature to ext. 1466. The auto aƩendant is automated call technology that answers calls and provides the caller with opƟons for choosing the department to which they wish to speak. Added Value: Users get a quick answer for certain types of quesƟons (eg. hours, direc- tory quesƟons); Calls are routed efficiently and customers are directed to the best method or staff member to assist them; BeƩer customer service, because staff is focused on ensuring quality of response to submiƩed issues rather than transcribing phone calls. When calling the helpdesk at ext. 1466, callers are now greeted with an auto aƩendant which offers user’s choices on how their call is routed. OpƟon 1 Routes callers to the telephone directory, caller can input the first three leƩers of the person’s last name and will be transferred accordingly OpƟon 2 Routes callers to library hours indicaƟng the open hours of the library OpƟon 3 Routes callers to a call center agent that will be able to assist with emergencies or with scheduling requests for assistance with technology issues. The UVI Libraries hosted the InternaƟonal FederaƟon of Library AssociaƟons (IFLA) AcquisiƟons and CollecƟon Development (ACD) SecƟon pre-conference on St. Thomas Campus, August 10-12, 2011. “IFLA is the leading internaƟonal body represenƟng the interests of library and informaƟon services and their users around the world. It is the global voice of the library and informaƟon profession.” The IFLA-ACD meeƟng was one of 14 satellite sessions held in advance of the 77th IFLA World General Congress which met August 13-18 in San Juan Puerto Rico. Other satellite-hosƟng countries included Guatemala, Cuba, Barbados, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. The IFLA-Genealogy SecƟon satellite meeƟng was also hosted on St. Thomas during that Ɵme. The focus of the IFLA-ACD meeƟng was Maximizing CollecƟon Development of Electronic and Print Media in the Digital Environment. The topic is a global concern for insƟtuƟons facing economic challenges in developing scholarly resources for teaching and research. The meeƟng aƩracted speakers and parƟcipants from insƟtu- Ɵons around the world including, McGill University, Canada; University of Guadalajara, Mexico; Tallinn Universi- ty, Estonia; Library of Congress, DC; King Abdullah University, Saudi Arabia; MarqueƩe University, Wisconsin; NaƟonal Repository Library, Finland; University of Innsbruck, Austria; Universidad de Léon, Spain; Centro Provincial de Información de Ciencias Médicas, Santa Clara, Cuba; University of North Carolina at Greensboro; University of California, Irvine, CA; NaƟonal Library of Australia, Canberra; Florida InternaƟonal University, Miami, FL; University of the West Indies, St. AugusƟne, Trinidad & Tobago; Bremen University, Germany; and 10 ITS staff members from both campuses, UVI . UVI Libraries Hosted IFLA Meeting on St. Thomas Campus Auto Attendant Auto Attendant 5 Are you enjoying the new and renovated faciliƟes on St. John and at the Libraries? Please help to keep them clean! Only drinks in approved containers – cups with screw tops or boƩles with caps – are allowed in the Libraries and St. John Academic Center. NO FOOD IS ALLOWED in the St. Thomas and St. Croix’s libraries and St. John Academic Center. The construcƟon of the St. John Academic Center and the recent renovaƟons at the St. Croix and St. Thomas Libraries has set new standards for comfort and funcƟonality in furniture for classroom and learning spaces at UVI. SeaƟng is colorful and relaxed; tables and chairs are mobile and collapsible, allowing easy reorganizaƟon and movement based on changing needs. We are very pleased to offer staff, students and visitors a new and improved environment, and we recognize that long hours of study and research lead to thirsty bodies. However, visitors and staff all know firsthand the impact of unsightly stains on furniture and carpeƟng, and the destrucƟon to materials and aversion to the environment when pests inhabit faciliƟes. To ensure that furniture remains aƩracƟve and to avoid infestaƟon by rodents and other destrucƟve insects, the new policy for eaƟng in these faciliƟes is being implemented. Your full cooperaƟon and adherence to the new policy is extremely important for maintaining the faciliƟes so that they may be enjoyed for generaƟons to come. Again, please help to keep them clean! Following the UVI budget reducƟon in summer session II 2011, the Libraries were forced to decrease operaƟng hours by closing on Saturdays and by reducing hours on Sundays temporarily. To ensure that student access to informaƟon for classes is not impeded, librarians are increasing promoƟon of electronic resources for research during informaƟon literacy instrucƟon, and have added a segment on eBooks specifically for Freshman Development Seminar classes. In addiƟon, students are reminded of the availability of 24/7 computer labs, and campus-wide wireless network access. Further, the Libraries will observe Special Saturday and Sunday hours for the weeks leading up to final exams, and restore Sunday hours to previous levels as follows: • Saturday, November 19, 26, and December 3: 1:00 – 8:00pm • Sundays: 1:00‐8:00pm 24x7 Computer Labs are available as follows: On St. Croix campus – NWW-120 • Request access through the Security Department with your valid UVI ID On St. Thomas campus • The 24/7 Paiewonsky Library lab is available for students with their ID key cards. Please note, you may connect to hƩp://library.uvi.edu at any Ɵme for access to the online catalog, eBooks and online databases. Use your UVI user ID and password to login. Library Hours St. Thomas/St. Croix Libraries & STJAC Food Policy St. Thomas/St. Croix Libraries & STJAC Food Policy 6 ITS conƟnues to work on implementaƟon of an idenƟty management soluƟon which would fully automate the user creaƟon, the iniƟal network authenƟcaƟon, as well as the password change processes. Once implemented, the creaƟon of new users in the network would be enƟrely based on the Banner account creaƟon. The enƟre process would be automated, requiring no staff interacƟon. User groups would automaƟcally be created based on campus, residency, dorm, academic program, etc. AddiƟonally, employee email addresses will incorporate use of the full firstname.lastname@uvi.edu instead of a combinaƟon of six (6) characters from both names currently in place. Student email addresses will remain their UVI ID number though everyone will eventually use the UVI ID number as the network login, as students already do. This project is currently in test and will be rolled out in the Spring 2012 semester. The Banner database, UVI’s enterprise resource planning tool, used for human resources, finance and student administraƟve funcƟons was recently upgraded on all criƟcal levels. In use was an Oracle 10g database, 10g was being desupported effecƟve September 2011. In preparaƟon for this desupport dead- line, ITS planned a major upgrade for fiscal year 2011. The cutover was made the weekend of October 1st – 3rd. This included the database server hardware, the Oracle database level as well as the AIX operaƟng system and the Banner soŌware versions. Banner is now operaƟng on IBM P7 hardware with AIX 6.1 OS, Oracle 11g database and Banner General 8.3 applicaƟon. Both the test and producƟon servers and soŌware were upgraded. The change is seamless to users who conƟnue to access Banner and BanWeb via previously shared URLs. AddiƟonally, upgrades to the front-end interface is changing to a more robust Fusion Middle Ware. Fusion Middle Ware is currently in test and will be rolled out before the end of year. This change will also be seamless to the user but will require minimal downƟme for the transiƟon. The biggest change that users will noƟce is the URL changes. ITS sincerely thanks the staff of Access and Enrollment Services, InsƟtuƟonal Research and Planning, Purchasing, Benefits, AdministraƟon and Finance, and AccounƟng for their cooperaƟon during the upgrade. Identity Management Project Progress Identity Management Project Progress Upgrade of Banner Hardware & Software 7 InformaƟon & Technology Services conƟnues to improve the student learning environments, working with the students to meet their technology needs, and to address their issues and concerns related to technology. During the Spring 2011 semester, the Student Technology Fee CommiƩee (STFC) reviewed and ranked several proposals of student requests of which twelve (12) were submiƩed to the CIO for funding. InformaƟon & Technology Services was able to fund half of the proposals submiƩed. The total monies received from the Technology Fee for FY11, was $571,995. Monies received were used to support informaƟon technology infrastructure for instrucƟon and research, in addiƟon to supporƟng improvements that directly benefit students. In FY2011, income from the technology fee was used to fund projects like: InformaƟon and Technology Services, along with Heidi Alvarez from Florida InternaƟonal University, EPSCoR, and the Office of Sponsored Programs applied for a grant which will allow for infrastructure improvements for Cyber ConnecƟvity. The grant is offered by the NaƟonal Science FoundaƟon (NSF), through the Research Infrastructure Improvement Inter-Campus and Intra-Campus Cyber ConnecƟvity (RII C2) program. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 has enabled NSF to invest $20 million in this effort to enhance broadband access for academic research and the uƟlizaƟon of cyber-infrastructure consistent with each state's science and technology (S&T) plan. The award is just over $1 million for up to two years to support the enhancement of cyber connecƟvity at the University. Ms. Kelly Harrigan, Enterprise Network Service Manager, is taking on a different role in ITS. Kelly resigned from her Man- ager posiƟon on October 1, 2011 and is now working as a consultant for ITS. She can sƟll be reached at x1470 although she will be spending most of her Ɵme working from her home in New Jersey. Kelly will conƟnue to play an important role in network operaƟons. So even if you do not see her on campus, know she is sƟll providing much needed support. The Enterprise Network Services Manager posiƟon is now vacant and posted on PeopleAdmin. Please conƟnue to send your requests to the helpdesk via telephone at ext 1466, email helpdesk@uvi.edu or the portal hƩps://mycampus.uvi.edu/. Student Tech Fee Committee Student Tech Fee Committee C2 Grant Awarded to the University of the Virgin Islands ITS Changes Project Cost AllocaƟon to Technology Fee MS Campus Agreement - That allows students to have access to all $ 19,949 Internet Access 45Mb/s to St. Thomas,40Mbs to St. Croix to St. Croix, Internet2. Total cost $304,742 (50%) $ 152,371 VC Room Upgrades, Lab Technology Updates (Hardware) & Furniture upgrades Total cost $351,181(100%), of which $178,895 funded with ITS funds. $ 172,286 Lab and prinƟng supplies including fax machine, color printer. Total Cost $29,008 (100%- REVENUES) $ 23,107 Print & Electronic Library materials on both Campuses. Total cost $204,166 (40%) $ 81,666 Maintenance on infrastructure- University Network and servers $119,603 (20%) $ 23,921 Technology Support (100% of 2 posiƟons) $ 98,696 TOTAL EXPENDITURES SUPPORTED BY REVENUES FROM TECHNOLOGY FEE $ 571,995 8 Burt Chesterfield is being recognized for his contribuƟon and dedicaƟon to the ITS component and the University of the Virgin Islands. Burt also provides dedicated technology assistance for VI-EPSCoR projects and its employees. It is well known within ITS that Burt Chesterfield is there when we need him in cases when our network or Internet service providers need troubleshooƟng or replacement of a criƟcal piece of equipment. ResoluƟon of issues oŌen occurs during unusual hours of the day so that the UVI community is not inconvenienced, such as recently when ITS performed upgrades and maintenance to opƟmize the performance of our network. Burt is always courteous and willing to assist, even with the most difficult challenges. He is even tempered which helps him work well under pressure and meet goals in very difficult situaƟons. He also works well with others within ITS and provides excellent customer service to university users and outside vendors. You may not know of Burt since his job is not one that requires interfacing with many users outside ITS daily. He oŌen works ‘under the radar’ helping to maintain the security and integrity of the university network. Burt has applied his networking skills in installing the St. John network and connecƟng it to the St. Thomas network. Also, he is assisƟng in a network redundancy project to ensure reliable network failover for the campuses. Burt is the only network employee leŌ on campus to provide physical support. He has embraced this challenge through his tenacity and sƟck-to-iƟveness. Burt recently became a Cisco CerƟfied Networking Associate (CCNA). Burt Chesterfield and Derval Prince aƩended a Cisco Systems cerƟficaƟon training class in California October 9 - 17. The Cisco CerƟfied Networking Associate (CCNA) boot camp crams a comprehensive overview of foundaƟonal to advanced networking concepts, with an emphasis on network security, theory and pracƟcal applicaƟon, in a small amount of Ɵme. Both Burt and Derval passed the series of tests and obtained their CCNA cerƟficaƟons. Cisco Systems is a large corporaƟon that produces computer networking products and services. Cisco Systems is best known for their line of network routers. The University has 10+ Cisco routers on the UVI network. Employee Recognition Employee Recognition ITS Congratulates Staff on CCNA Certification ITS Congratulates Staff on CCNA Certification ITS staff parƟcipated in Karaoke night at Johnny’s on September 23, 2011 to show appreciaƟon to staff for all their hard work performed during this fiscal year and ongoing. ITS works hard, but also play hard. ITS prides itself on providing social events to encourage cohesiveness, team building and appreciaƟon of team members. The CIO, Tina Koopmans sponsored the food and drinks for the Kick Ball Summer AcƟvity held on August 5, 2011 as a small token of appreciaƟon to ITS staff. Librarians parƟcipated in a two day retreat, which included professional development on the August 11, 2011 and teambuilding acƟviƟes on August 12, 2011.