Information Technology

January 2012

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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


Security Tip
Be careful with email attachments, and do not open unsolicited/suspicious mail. Many users don't realize the dangers that can lie in the body of an email. HTML mail and mail that contains embedded photos are just as dangerous as embedded images online, and PDFs can contain harmful, malicious code.


IT Tip
There are many ways to lock the computer screen. The fastest and most popular way is to use a keyboard shortcut. The keyboard shortcut used to lock the computer screen is Win+L.


IT Sustainability Tip
The average office employee uses 1.5 pounds of paper per day. Every recycled ton of paper saves approximately 17 trees and 462 gallons of oil. Save paper by doing as much work as possible electronically, using the back side of paper and buying recycled-content paper. You're also helping save water by recycling paper; paper production using recycled paper uses 58 percent less water compared to virgin paper production.


DoIT Logo

Division of Information Technology
Radford University

Milestones Mark Radford.edu's First Birthday Celebration

On January 6, the Radford University website, Radford.edu, celebrated its first birthday. Since the launch, 73 offices or departments have moved into the content management system (CMS), including all seven colleges and the entire divisions of student affairs, information technology, and advancement.

While many offices and departments have moved into the content management system, the migration project is not complete. The Department of Information Technology's (DoIT) Office of Web Communications is working to stagger those departments wishing to migrate their content to the CMS. In preparation, interested departments can do the following:

  • Select a project manager for your site who will be responsible for managing the content migration process.
  • Identify those individuals who will work on the site and have those people attend training. Contact webcomm@radford.edu to be added to the list for notification of the next sessions. The next session will be offered soon. Seating is limited.
  • Begin revising your content. Actually moving the content to the CMS is the easiest part. Determining site navigation, editing existing content and writing new content is more time consuming and should be undertaken before attending training.
  • After training, request an account in the content management system and start migrating.

The process of campuswide migration to the new system is ongoing, and almost every week a new site or two is launched. Web Communications is here to answer your questions and help. Please contact us at webcomm@radford.edu.
 


Exciting New App—RU Mobile Is Coming Soon

RU MobileThis spring, you will be able to carry the Radford University campus in your pocket with RU Mobile, a mobile application for iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry devices. RU Mobile will offer useful tools for students, faculty and staff. From a campus directory to class schedules, RU Express balances to dining menus, the app will provide a mobile way to interact with campus.

The app is a collaboration between Web Services, Web Communications and a task force comprised of students, faculty, staff and administrators. Informal focus groups with students also informed the team about desired features. Over a dozen options will be unveiled in the first phase; the second phase will add more.

RU Mobile will launch for iPhone, iPad and Android devices in January; the Blackberry version will be released later in the semester. Watch DoIT News for additional release announcements.

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New Student Check-In Process Rolls Out for Spring Semester

To ensure the collection of accurate and up-to-date data in the Banner system, a new student check-in process is being rolled out for the spring semester and beyond.

The process will direct students to verify or update their address, phone number and emergency contact information in MyRU when they attempt to navigate to student options such as class registration or viewing their class schedule. Students will also be directed to indicate whether or not they plan to attend classes in the upcoming semester.

It is important that contact and mailing information be correct. Good information ensures that written communication to students is received in a timely manner. Also, accurate phone and emergency contact information is vital for university officials to quickly contact students or family members should there be a need.

Students will not be allowed to navigate to other student options until they complete the check-in process. Once completed, all access to these options will be restored and a student's successful completion of the new check-in process will be recorded in the Banner system.

This is the first semester for the revised student check-in process, and DoIT will be monitoring its use and results for future enhancements. DoIT thanks the Banner Operations Committee for their work and commitment to this project.


Most Recent Account Request Forms Located on DoIT's Website

DoIT has recently updated many of the account request forms, including Banner accounts, club and department email accounts and courtesy accounts among others. Please visit http://www.radford.edu/content/it/home/it-forms.html for the most up-to-date forms.

Submission of an access request using an out-of-date form could delay your request.


Pull Up a Chair in Walker 279, a State of the Art Learning Facility

Walker 279DoIT's electronics engineering staff finished a major upgrade to Walker 279 that makes it a "state-of-the-art" learning facility and distance education classroom. Featuring the latest in Polycom and Crestron technology, Walker 279 is an electronically transparent distance education facility with large monitors and modern HD cameras that capture the room to make students feel connected with their peers at other distance locations. In coming iterations, RU plans to make Walker 279 a virtual presence facility in which students and instructors come together virtually.


DoIT to Ensure Automatic Locking of Inactive Computers Beginning January 24

Unattended computers and mobile devices create a security risk and are easy targets for prying eyes or someone with malicious intent.

To comply with state and RU security guidelines, DoIT will be updating the security configuration for all faculty and staff Windows computers on Tuesday, January 24. This update will automatically lock the computer after 30 minutes of inactivity. Users will subsequently be required to reenter their passwords to continue using their computers.

Although this setting will enforce locking the computer after 30 minutes of inactivity, all users are encouraged to lock their computers any time they will be away by pressing "<Windows Logo><L>" or "<CTRL> <ALT> <DELETE>" and selecting "Lock this computer." This setting will not be enforced on computer lab and multimedia classroom systems at this time. However, DoIT is investigating the need for settings that will automatically log out users of these machines after an appropriate period of inactivity.

In addition to Windows systems, state and RU guidelines require users of any device that accesses RU systems to be configured with an idle timeout and a security pin. This requirement includes smartphones and iPads configured to access RU email.

  • Apple OSX users may configure this setting from the Security icon in System Preferences by checking the option "Require password to wake up this computer from sleep or screen saver."
  • IPhone/iPad users may configure the Auto-Lock and Passcode from the General settings screen.
  • Android users may configure the Screen Lock settings via the Location and Security settings option.

Meet the DoIT Staff

Travis AlleyTravis Alley
Technology Support Engineer


How long have you been employed in the Division of Information Technology at Radford University?
I have been at Radford for almost three years. For the majority of my time here, I worked as a Micros Systems Specialist, but I recently accepted a job as a Technology Support Engineer.

Family:
I am single and have a black lab named Chubs.

Hometown:
Austinville, Va.

Education:
I have two associate degrees from Wytheville Community College. They are in Information Systems Technology and Networking Systems Technology.

Interests/Hobbies:
I like to travel to see different areas. I love to ride my ATV, especially in the snow, and I have a love for the automotive industry.

Favorite Vacation Destination:
Ponce Inlet, Florida.

Favorite part of your job:
The people I work with and the college campus atmosphere.