August 2015

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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

Division of Information Technology
Radford University

New web-based service for requesting technology support

DoIT is pleased to announce a new service called ITOneStop. It provides users a web-based tool for requesting and monitoring technology support requests.

This system allows users to:

• Report technology issues and view the status of the issue at all times.
• Request new phone lines, network ports and training.
• Find answers to common questions with updated knowledge base called Solutions Library.
• Get help with a forgotten password without calling the Technology Assistance Center.

Simplified WiFi access requirements

To ensure that faculty and students are successful in the use of laptops for instructional purposes, DoIT has simplified the requirements for Windows computers to connect to the campus WiFi.

After consulting with the Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC), DoIT reviewed the security risks vs. end user problems accessing WiFi and decided to remove the requirement that Windows computers have the latest Windows Updates and AntiVirus definitions installed. This should greatly ease the ability for Windows computers to connect to the rusecure WiFi network.

As a general troubleshooting step, users are encouraged to know how to disable and then enable WiFi on any device they use. This should be the first step for resolving any problems accessing the Radford University rusecure WiFi network.

This is also a reminder that faculty and staff may provide wi-fi access for visitors by logging into http://ruguestaccess.radford.edu and clicking Create Account. Detailed instructions for provisioning a guest account can be found in our IT OneStop http://www.radford.edu/onestop.

If your department has special needs that require longer wireless access or access for a large group of people, please contact the Technical Assistance Center at (540) 831-7500.

DoIT offers helpful 'Start of School' tips for faculty and staff

DoIT offers helpful tips to faculty and staff about starting the 2015 school year.

• Faculty members are encouraged to visit the classrooms and computer labs in which they are scheduled to teach between Aug. 24 - 27 to familiarize themselves with the room's technology configuration. For assistance, contact the Technology Assistance Center (TAC) at (540) 831-7500.
• DoIT asks that faculty members verify in advance that any special purpose software needed for their classes is installed and functional in their classroom and/or computer labs. To have additional software installed, submit a request to the TAC as soon as possible, via ITOneStop http://www.radford.edu/onestop.
• Walker Hall computer labs are available for ad-hoc reservations by faculty. The labs fill up quickly, so please make any reservations now.
• To communicate with the students registered in classes, course email aliases are available for faculty use. The standard format for course aliases is ru-COURSE-SECTION-fall@radford.edu. Example: ru-engl446-07-fall@radford.edu.
• DoIT contracts with Desire 2 Learn (D2L) to provide 24/7 telephone support to faculty and students for the use of D2L. This support can be reached from option 3 on the support menu at (540) 831-7500.
• The IT Solutions Library is an online support resource that provides answers to common IT support requests.

Radford.edu website redesign update

Since March, Radford University has been working with consultants on a redesign of the university's website. The website is slated to launch in early fall with new templates for colleges and administrative and academic departments.

In early August, the first phase of the rollout was completed with an upgrade to the university's content management system (CMS) from Adobe CQ5.6 to Adobe Experience Manager 6.1. CMS users will not see a difference in the authoring environment, but the upgrade does allow for new functionality that will be in place with the new designs.

In mid-September, users will have the first look at their websites in the new design. During a "soft launch" period lasting approximately two weeks, content administrators will be asked to visit the soft launch site to review their sites. During that time, any updates to both the current website and the redesigned website will need to be routed through Web Strategy and Interactive Media. A form for submitting the changes will be sent to content administrators prior to the soft launch.

Please contact Jaime Hunt, Director of Web Strategy and Interactive Media, at jhunt7@radford.edu if you have any questions.

Voice and video technologies

Voice and Video Technologies provides expertise and support in the use of web conferencing (Adobe Connect, Skype), classroom recording (Media Site), telephones, video conferencing and video streaming (Kaltura).

The team can assist with planning, training and support of lectures, meetings and interviews using these technologies.

For more assistance, contact Don Hall at dlhall@radford.edu or the TAC via www.radford.edu/onestop. To set up a telephone bridge or general questions regarding phone service, email tel-serv@radford.edu.

Technology training offered

Academic Technologies is offering the following training opportunities to support RU faculty and staff in the months of August and September:

Visit the CITL Training and Development System to view the current schedule of classes and enroll in a session. To learn more or request one-on-one, group or custom technology training, contact Academic Technologies at acadcomp@radford.edu or 831-7521. You can also check the new ITOneStop Solution's Library for a variety of online tutorials, Quick Reference Guides, "how-to" videos and information to assist you with campus technologies.

Classroom Upgrades

DoIT upgrades campus classrooms on a regular basis to provide faculty and students with a technology-rich teaching and learning environment.

• Porterfield 208 was upgraded with an instructor confidence monitor.
• Porterfield Jewelry Lab was upgraded with a new TV and a WPS (wireless presenter system).
• The touch panel interface in large classrooms was updated to provide a more user friendly experience.
• A new electronic classroom feature has been added to Peters 035 featuring a projector and laptop connection.
• Laser projectors were installed in most rooms in Young, Waldron, Cook, Reed, Davis and Porterfield.
• Carilon DPT added a new Anatomage table.
• DPT 838 added distance education capability.
• Microphones in McGuffey 203, 206, and Cook 107 were upgraded.
• Walker 279 was upgraded with HD (high definition) projection.
• Breakout room electronics in COBE were upgraded to simplify collaboration.
• A new AV presentation system was installed in the barn at SELU.

Windows 10 information

Microsoft released Windows 10 as a free download on July 29. Unlike personal computers, the upgrade for university owned computers is not an automated update.

DoIT is currently developing a timeline for rollout of Windows 10 to the campus community. For most users, this will occur during their next computer replacement cycle. For classrooms and computer labs, we anticipate installing this new OS in the Summer of 2016.

Broader software accessibility in computer labs

In an effort to maximize the use of computer labs across campus, DoIT is installing site-licensed software on a much larger number of lab computers. This will allow students and faculty to use any available lab rather than visit a specific lab.

For a complete listing of labs and software availability, visit www.radford.edu/labs.

Meet the DoIT Staff

Harry Martin
Applications Analyst

How long have you been employed in the Division of Information Technology at Radford University? Four months

Family: Wife: Pam. Sons: Michael (age 21) and Benjamin (age 18).

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I currently live in Moneta, Virginia.

Education: B.S. in applied computer science.

Interests/Hobbies: Spending time with my family; lifting weights; playing cards, board games and video games; watching sports, and enjoying watching the Steelers.

Favorite vacation destination: Dollywood.

Favorite part of your job: Analyzing a problem and then writing a computer program to solve it.