August 2011
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Division of Information Technology
P.O. Box 6888
Radford, VA 24142
Phone: 540-831-5173
Fax: (540) 831-6217
Email: cio@radford.edu
Cognos Query Studio Tip
For those of using Cognos Query Studio to create your own reports, be sure to choose the "Run Report" option to preview with "No data" prior to starting the creation of a new report. This will allow the choice of running with either "run all data" or "use limited data" in the bottom right corner of the report build screen. Saving the report with the option turned on allows it to be opened far quicker for editing because it is not running the report to populate the report layout window. For questions regarding the use of Cognos or the Operational Data Store, contact Manager of Data Warehouse and Reporting Carrie Silliman at clsilliman@radford.edu.
Security Tip
MOAT IT Security Awareness training emails are being sent to faculty and staff members. On receiving them, please follow the instructions in the email and complete the training at your earliest convenience. If you have questions, email itsecurity@radford.edu.
IT Tip
Never turn the computer off in the middle of a program or in the window environment. Always close all programs first. If using a mouse, click Start, click Shut Down, let the computer shut down, and wait until you see the screen saying, "It is now safe to turn off your computer." If using the keyboard, press CTRL + ESC, then the letter "U" to shut down.
IT Sustainability Tip
Recycle toner and ink cartridges. For more on RU's toner cartridge recycling program, contact Stan Wilkinson, RU recycling coordinator, at (540) 831- 7807.
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Division of Information Technology
Radford University
DoIT Upgrades 24 Multimedia Classrooms for Fall
The Division of Information Technology (DoIT) upgrades campus classrooms regularly to provide faculty and students with a technology-rich teaching and learning environment. The following classroom upgrades will be completed by Friday, Aug. 19:
- Calhoun 105
- Curie 140, 142,144
- Cook 112, 129, 229, 230, 310, 317
- Davis 142, 212, 216
- McGuffey 114, 221
- Porterfield 179
- Waldron 363, 366
- Walker 216, 221
- Reed 106, 107, 208, 326
These campus classrooms are now outfitted with touch-screen based control panels, high-definition projectors, electric screens, ceiling-mounted document cameras, Blu-ray/DVD/VCR combo players and height-adjustable podiums as well as energy management power sensors. For training in the use of this new technology, contact Academic Technologies at 831-7522, or acadcomp@radford.edu.
DoIT offers the following checklist of reminders to RU faculty and staff about the start of the 2011 school year.
- Registration for faculty/staff parking permits can be done online. Login to MyRU, click on the "My Accounts" tab and then click on the "Parking" link on the Quick Links channel.
- Registration for the Faculty/Staff 25 Meal Plan can be done anytime with Visa or MasterCard at the RU Express web site by clicking on the "Manage Your Account" link. To use payroll deduction, however, RU faculty and staff must submit this form to the RU Express office by Friday, September 9.
- During the week of August 22-26, faculty members are encouraged to visit the classrooms and computer labs in which they are scheduled this fall to familiarize themselves with the room's technology configuration. For assistance, contact the Technology Assistance Center at 831-7500.
- DoIT asks that faculty members verify that any special purpose software needed for their classes is installed and functional in their classroom and computer labs in advance. To have additional software installed, submit a request to the Technology Assistance Center as soon as possible.
- The Walker Hall computers labs are available for ad-hoc reservations by faculty and these labs fill up quickly, so please make any reservations now. To do so, log into MyRU and go to the "My Accounts" tab. Then, click on "Lab Reservation" under Employee Links in the right hand column.
- Desire 2 Learn (D2L) course shells have been created for the Fall 2011 semester, and are currently accessible to faculty. During the drop add period, D2L student classlists will be updated automatically each night at 12:30 a.m. Courses will be available to student starting Friday, August 26. For classes where students need access prior to August 26, instructors may select the "Course Offering Information" link on the right side of the "Course Home" page and update the "Start Date".
- To communicate with the students registered in classes, course email aliases are now available for faculty use. The standard format for course aliases is ru-COURSE-SECTION-fall@radford.edu.
- Example: ru-engl446-07-fall@radford.edu.
- Microsoft Office 2010 (Windows) and Office 2011(Mac) is available via the 'Work at Home License.' Students, faculty, and staff can purchase this license for their personal computer for $12.99 from the bookstore.
- The IT Knowledge Base (https://php.radford.edu/~knowledge) is an online support resource that provides answers to common RU support requests.
New campus wide agreements have been established for Mathematica, a computational software package, and JMP, a statistical software package. Both software packages have been installed in all multimedia classrooms and general purpose computer labs.
In addition to having access to Mathematica on university-owned computers, the site-wide license enables RU faculty, staff and students to install and utilize it on their personally-owned Mac and PC machines. For more on downloading, installing and using the software, visit the DoIT Mathematica website.
A complete list of software available on RU systems can be found at the DoIT software website.
Help Desk Improvements in the Works
DoIT is committed to providing a high-quality technology help desk. Several initiatives are under way to enhance DoIT's ability to meet the support needs of faculty, staff and students. When completed, these initiatives will provide an efficient customer support environment to the campus community.
- Ticketing system upgrade. RU uses the BMC Service Desk Express help desk system to track support requests. An upgrade of this system is under way to provide the latest features and functionality. The upgrade will provide enhancements to give Level I support technicians with improved information, prompts and access to problem history and will allow more accurate analysis and resolution of support requests.
- Staff training. Additional training is under way for help desk staff to ensure that they are fully prepared to answer questions and assist users.
- Remote assistance tool. DoIT is evaluating tools to streamline support of PC and Mac systems by allowing users to share their screens with a support technician. Remote access will allow a greater level of problem solving over the phone and reduce the need for users to visit the help desk or for dispatch of a support technician to the user's site.
DoIT invites users to share ideas, comments and concerns as it continues to build a help desk that efficiently serves the campus community's needs. Contact the Technology Assistance Center using any of the following methods:
- Walk-in support in Heth 157 (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
- Phone support (540) 831-7500 (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
- 24-hour support request form. https://tac.asp.radford.edu
DoIT Offers Technology Training
To brush up on technology with which you are already familiar or to learn new technology that may help enhance teaching in the classroom, DoIT's Academic Technologies encourages RU faculty to visit its technology training web site to learn about its exciting new class offerings. In addition to instructor-led training sessions, Academic Technologies will work with you to schedule departmental trainings or one-on-one sessions to meet your needs.
Successful Multimedia Projects Require Advance Planning
Multimedia Production Services is part of DoIT's Web Communications Department and is dedicated to providing high-quality video and slideshows incorporating audio for student recruitment, promotion and other outreach purposes. Multimedia Productions follow the Radford University Web guidelines to ensure consistency with the RU brand.
Jaslyn Gilbert, multimedia producer, is happy to work with university clients to achieve their multimedia goals. Contact Gilbert at (540) 831-7128 or jgilbert3@radford.edu to discuss video ideas and projects. The typical multimedia production takes six to eight weeks from planning to completion. Also, she may be booked with other projects, making advanced planning essential
The following multimedia services are available to the campus community:
- Studio productions. A video recording studio with backdrops and professional studio lighting is available for interview-style productions.
- Location productions. The campus multimedia producer can make videos on campus and off campus if appropriate. Examples of on-location footage include classrooms, labs, field research locations, student recreation and study areas.
- Event services. Unfortunately, DoIT does not have the resources to cover all events and conferences held at Radford University. The primary goal of Multimedia Production Services is to create promotional productions for the university. These might include short clips of events on campus; however, event-only videos may be limited to campuswide events such as commencement, homecoming and move-in day, and are subject to approval. For photographic coverage of an event that may be outside the realm of Multimedia Production Services, contact University Relations.
- Post production. The multimedia production staff will work with clients to edit raw video footage into a finished product ready for upload on university websites, Vimeo, YouTube and other social media sites. Clients are advised that most video produced for the Web ranges in length from 30 seconds to 5 minutes to keep viewers' interest and video file sizes manageable for uploading and subsequent streaming.
Please note, also, that videography on the Web is subject to approval by the Cabinet Web Advisory Group.
RU to Host Mid-Atlantic Banner Users Group Conference, MABUG 2011, October 3-4
RU will host the Mid-Atlantic Banner Users Group (MABUG) 2011 in Heth Hall October 3-4. The two-day conference focuses on Banner ERP system features and maximizing its use. MABUG 2011 will introduce the software's new features and provide users representing institutions in Virginia and from across the region an opportunity to learn about the progress and procedures used across the Banner community. The event will feature sessions about all Banner modules, two networking events – on Sunday, Oct. 2 in the Covington Atrium and Monday, Oct. 3 at the Nesselrod – and an exhibit hall in the basement of Heth.
For more information about MABUG 2011, contact the conference coordinator, Director of Enterprise Systems Jackie McNabb, at jamcnabb@radford.edu or visit the MABUG 2011 website at http://mabug.richmond.edu/.
Meet the DoIT Staff
 John Cordiano
Technology Support Engineer
How long have you been employed in the Division of Information Technology at Radford University?
It will be three years total at the end of 2011.
Family:
My wife, Christie, and I have been married for seven wonderful years, and we're expecting a baby at the end of September. We have decided not to find out if it is a boy or a girl and have enjoyed the guesses people make every day.
Hometown:
I am from New Providence, N.J. – a small town about 25 miles west of Manhattan. I spent a lot of time visiting New York City growing up, so the city will always have a place in my heart. But I love living in the mountains of Southwest Virginia and can't imagine living anywhere else.
Education:
I graduated from Radford University in 2004. My focus was Web design and development. I am also a certified recording engineer, having graduated from the Institute of Audio Research in the summer of 1999.
Interests/Hobbies:
I am a drummer actively performing with the band TriScale. We typically perform three or four times a month in cities throughout Central and Southwest Virginia, as well as in parts of North Carolina and West Virginia. TriScale will be making one last push this August before my wife and I have our new baby at the end of September. Starting in September, the band will be taking a hiatus until early 2012. I also enjoy playing guitar and singing, recording and mixing music, and hiking.
Favorite Vacation Destination:
The most relaxing and fun-filled vacation I've been on to date was in Jamaica. My wife and I spent our honeymoon at a Sandals resort in Negril. We spent our mornings snorkeling until 10, only to come back to the resort for an all-you-can-eat breakfast. I miss those warm waters and exploring new wonders around each coral reef.
Favorite part of your job:
My favorite part about working for Technology Support Services is helping all of the nice people on campus. I speak with interesting people every day and focus on resolving their technical problems. It's a perfect balance between left-brain and right-brain thinking.
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