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| Quick Notes
ITS Staff Milestones
Richard Ameele, Information Technology Analyst - 5 years James Warne, Support Analyst - 10 years Stephen Wowelko, Information Technology Analyst - 30 years Staff News 
Please welcome Hugh McCabe to ITS and Syracuse University! Hugh joins the Enterprise Technology Group (ETG) as our new Manager of the Data Warehouse. Hugh's professional experience comes from his positions at SUNY Upstate (Manager of Hospital Information Systems), Excellus Health Plan (Director of Information Solutions) and Univera Healthcare (Director, Data Warehouse/Health Care Analysis). In addition to leading the Data Warehouse group, his responsibilities will include working with customers to continue building the Data Warehouse into an even larger enterprise-wide information repository that can be better understood and utilized in moving the mission of the University forward. One of his major initiatives will include the creation of a Data Governance group that can be used to help ensure the most efficient and effective use of our data across all the campus. Hugh holds a BA degree from SUNY Cortland and received his MA from SUNY Binghamton. He has won honors including the Best Practice Award from the Data Warehouse Institute in 1999, and selection as a Premier 100 IT Leader by Computer World Magazine in 2000. Hugh will be located with ETG in the Skytop Office Building, and can be reached at hgmccabe@syr.edu and 443-2029. |
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IT Professional Development
Staff on the cutting edge
Kathy Kinney and Linda Saul attended the full-day seminar, "Neal Whitten's No-Nonsense Advice for Successful Projects" on November 16.
Marlon Legaspi participated in an invitation-only, Extron Technology Advisory Council in Anaheim California in the late Fall. The Technology Advisory Council consisted of 14 individuals from 14 different schools in various capacities ranging from Technology Specialists, Engineers, Project Leaders, AV Managers and Directors. The schools represented included small and large institutions located throughout the United States. The group was joined by high-level stakeholders from Extron, most of whom remained for the duration of the event. The non-disclosure agreement prevents Marlon from providing specifics, but the event, according to Marlon, was "enlightening and provided knowledge that will be useful in our classroom design endeavors." The trip was paid for by Extron.
Michael Morrison attended the 16th annual Sloan-c International Conference on Online Learning held on November 3-5 in Orlando, Florida. More than 1,200 attendees participated in more than 100 sessions on blended and online learning.
Jim Pampinella, Julie Hughes, Mindi Stoffel, Ron Kurdziel, Annmarie Kottmann, Denise Erwin, Melissa Gwilt, Boyd Banks, Peter Morrissey, Randy Grimshaw and Lee Badman attended Pinnacle's Northeastern Regional User Group meeting on October 6-8 at the SUNY Center for Professional Development in Syracuse, NY. Representatives from SU and eleven other colleges and universities from across the Northeast gathered to learn about Paetec's latest version of the Pinnacle Telemanagement Software system. Ron and Boyd gave a presentation entitled "The Migration to Pinnacle Version 6 - A Work in Progress." Other sessions on V6 were given by Carnegie Mellon, Binghamton University, and Paetec. There was also a presentation on Mobile Iron, a smartphone management system, given by Ajay Mishra, the Co-Founder and CCO. The conference included a one-day hands-on training session on using the Pinnacle V6 system.
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IT Out and About
Connecting with the campus and beyond
 | | Mary Kasprzyk |
Mary Kasprzyk performed as the featured xylophonist in a selection titled "Sparks" in the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble holiday concert series. Mary is a member of SUBE, and has played with the Syracuse Summer Festival Orchestra, Onondaga Civic Symphony Orchestra, and various community groups. By day, she is a video editor and technical specialist in SU's Video Production Unit, where her work on the "Holidays at Hendricks" broadcasts has garnered two Telly Awards.
On November 2, Linda Saul spoke to an IST 445 - Managing Information Systems Projects class for Steve Block about contemporary issues in project management, Project Management certification, and career perspectives.
A week later on November 9, Linda Saul spoke to Andy Clark's
IST 673 - Strategic Planning in an Information-Based Organization
class about project management experiences and lessons learned. A majority of the class was a Q&A period around project management issues, styles, success criteria, communication, etc.
On November 23 Chris Sedore was a guest lecturer in IST 673 - Strategic Planning in an Information Based Organization where he discussed IT governance, IT alignment, Portfolio Management and fielded questions about many IT topics.
Cindy Hoalcraft was a guest lecturer at SU's Certified Manager
group on November 16. She talked about EPS services and how one REALLY does project management.
As part of a university initiative to train instructors on the nuances of online instruction, Peggy Brown co-taught with Professor Scott Nicholson IST700- Tools and Techniques for Teaching Online, a new course for SU faculty who are used to teaching in the face-to-face classroom. Peggy also was the instructor for two sections of IST444 - Information Reporting and Presentation Skills
Michael Clarke was the instructor for GET234 - Effective Collaboration in a Globally Distributed Enterprise.
Michael Fudge was the instructor for IST346 - Operating Systems Administration and IST359: Introduction to Database Management Systems.
Roger Merrill was the instructor for IST/MIS375 - Managing of IT Contracting.
David Harris is participating in the 10-month long Board Leadership Seminar program as part of the Partnership for Nonprofit Enterprise Excellence. The program is jointly sponsored by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, the Central New York Community Foundation, and the United Way of Central New York. David is currently serving as President of the Board of Directors of Liberty Resources, Inc.
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ITidbits
Facts and figures about IT @ SU
Monday, December 6 saw a new all-time high for SU's wireless network with 8,050 simultaneous clients observed at 4:59:59 p.m.
Typically there are 700 to 800 sessions each day for Syracuse University Remote Access (SURA) and VPN, with about 200 occuring concurrently.
SU receives about 900,000 inbound email messages per day, more than 50% of which are spam. About 2.8 million connections per day are rejected from known spam sources.
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SU's Digital Signage Network
Now in production and ready for action
About a year ago, the university acquired a license to install Four Winds Interactive, an application that allows all electronic signs to become part of one integrated digital signage network (DSN). Using a central database and distributed administration model allows for departments to install and configure multimedia digital signs as they desire. The installation moved out of test phase and into production in early November. At this time, we have eight departments in various stages of deployment, representing 28 large panel displays across campus, with another 3 departments interested in initiating digital sign programs.
 | | One of the iSchool's digital signs in Hinds Hall |
The power of the networked infrastructure allows content providers to easily share designs and content for display and, more importantly, what is planned for the next phase of the DSN project. The next phase, targeted to begin after the New Year, will work toward integrating MIR-3, the university's emergency messaging system, with the digital signage network. Messages that now are sent by Orange Alert via voice mail, email and text messaging will be broadcast to the displays on the network.
If you are interested in spinning up digital signage in your area or are currently running a standalone product, find out more by visiting Answers.syr.edu and searching on "Digital Signs".
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Tech Updates
Keeping current with software, systems, issues and devices
NFB Honors Blackboard
with Accessibility Award
National Federation of the Blind (NFB) recently awarded Blackboard Learn, Release 9.1 with an accessibility certification, stating that the new release was the most accessible learning system they had ever rated. More at http://www.blackboard.com/Teaching-Learning/Learn-Resources/Accessibility.aspx.
Wireless Update
More 100% wireless coverage to report. The 621 Skytop/ISR building has 49 new access points and 100% wireless coverage. Eggers is sporting 107 new wireless access points for total coverage, with the Maxwell side of the complex in work.
These areas are using the latest 802.11n technology, which provides increased performance for throughput and cell quality. The solution we use also provides pretty amazing detail on spectrum quality, interfering devices, and arguably the best signals analysis framework for support available on the market today.
Kudos to Network and Wiring Services (NWS) for more jobs well done!
-Lee Badman
New Gadgets? Please let us know how they're working!
 With several new tablets, e-readers, smartphones, etc. being released in time for the holidays, I would ask that you keep us informed of your successes and frustrations with configuring or using these new gadgets on the campus wireless networks.
iPhones, iPods, and Touches are pretty much old hat by now, as is Droid on 2.1 and 2.2 as far as what we think we know. But as things like Windows phones, Samsung and other new non-Apple tablets, and some of the lesser-known readers come to campus, it would be great to have a quick note about what is and is not working with AirOrangeX and AirOrangeGuest.
Also- please remember that any of the new or one-off devices that get manually configured should be set for WPA2 for encryption, as WPA1 will be phased out after Spring semester.
Please send your comments to Lee Badman at lhbadman@syr.edyu.
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IT Management Truisms
Lest you think it's different elsewhere
Rick DeVries, Assistant Director of Information Technology at Calvin College recently posted in an EDUCAUSE forum his ever-growing list of IT Management Truisms, below. He notes that while they are not all original with him, and some may be a bit tongue-in-cheek, "these are always true; we need to accept them and not try to change them. Keeping these in mind helps us shape communication and interactions with our users."
Thanks, Rick, for insights, good advice and a chuckle or two as we head into the New Year.
IT Management Truisms
- If it's not easy users will not do it. Users follow the easiest path to their own end.
- Users don't care about security until it affects them.
- Our convenience should not be their inconvenience.
- Users will not back up their own data.
- Standards matter to us. Flexibility matters to them.
- Users don't like change but they expect us to keep them up to date.
- Today's favor is tomorrow's expectation.
- Users don't want to know the details. They want to know how it affects them.
- IT is responsible for 80% of the problems people have with their systems.
- Vendors are responsible for 80% of the problems IT has with the systems.
- No plan survives intact after the first contact with users.
- A temporary solution should not be better than the permanent solution.
- Desktops are part of their office. Laptops are part of their life.
- Desktop performance degrades over time as a result of user activities and IT's inability to effectively manage them.
- The only thing users read in pop-up message windows is "OK" and "Cancel." All other verbiage is ignored.
- The "P in PC stands for "personal." Users believe they have the right to control their own desktops as they choose.
- We are not in the "happiness business." Not everything we need to do will be well-liked by our users.
- Most users don't care what OS they have. They don't even care what applications they have. They care about getting their work done.
- Users resist change if they perceive it will impact them negatively. They will embrace change if they perceive it will impact them positively.
- Customer satisfaction is a matter of meeting user expectations. We can either raise service levels to meet expectations or lower expectations to meet service levels.
- A lack of information is better than wrong information.
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Good Practices for Mobile Device Security
Protect your device and your data
Mobile computing has become an indispensible part of our personal and professional lives. BlackBerries, iPhones, iPads, Androids, and other smart phones and mobile devices make it easier to do our jobs when we're just about anywhere. But like our personal computers, they also have the potential to compromise the security of our data--both personal and institutional data--as well as the University's network. Mobile handhelds have become tools almost as powerful and valuable as personal computers and thus are attractive to physical and virtual thieves.
Below are some good security practices to observe with your mobile device. These will help ensure that if lost or stolen your data will be protected, and will protect your device from the introduction of malware and data loss.
- Passwords or pass codes should be enabled if the device is capable. Without it anyone who picks up the device is able to read e-mail and text messages, as well as use the data services and minutes on the device.
- The device should be set up to automatically lock after a period of inactivity. The recommended time is one hour or less.
- Some devices have a setting where the device will self-erase its data if its password or pass code is mistyped a certain number of times. If this feature is available in a device, it should be enabled.
- Do not open attachments or email from untrusted sources. Similar to the risk when using your desktop, you risk being exposed to malware when opening unexpected attachments.
- Do not follow links to untrusted sources, especially from unsolicited email or text messages. Again, as with your desktop, you risk being infected with malware.
- BlackBerry devices managed by Information Technology and Services (ITS) and most iPhones, iPads, and Android phones that have been set up to get e-mail from SU's Exchange e-mail system can be remotely "wiped clean" if they are lost or stolen. If you realize your SU-owned devices has been lost or stolen contact ITS as soon as you can.
- If you are using your mobile device to access University information, you should not loan it to your family or friends
by Ryan Elstad For information about computing security at SU, visit http://its.syr.edu/security/ . |
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Newhouse Fall Workshop Descends on Auburn
IT and technical support essential to success
While much of the campus community was focused on Orange Central October 14 - 17, a cohort of students, faculty and professionals shared in the Newhouse School's annual Fall Workshop. The Multimedia Photography & Design (MPD) department organizes the event, during which students  document a town in Central New York. Coverage extends to the entire community, reaching from homes to schools, churches to businesses, families to community leaders. Auburn was the setting this year, the latest in a list that includes Cazenovia, Chittenango, Fayetteville, Jordan-Elbridge, Marcellus, Pulaski, Clay, Skaneateles and others.
Students and faculty from several Newhouse departments were involved and numerous industry professionals, including alumni, were on hand as coaches and guides. The goal was to improve students' reportorial skills by telling the story of a local town. The workshop focuses on working with students during the process of telling stories.
"Dozens of students and faculty advisors blitzed Auburn to find stories, then develop them in a range of multi-media formats - text, photo, video, web-based slideshows," said Chris Aliberto, Information Technology Manager at Newhouse, "and all the technology and technical support was handled by Brian Tibbens. It was a pretty impressive one-person effort."
Brian, a Computer Consultant on the IT staff at Newhouse, has seen the workshop grow considerably. "Over the past 4 years we have gone from supporting a single computer to just over 26 machines, with the anticipation of even further growth going forward," he said. "As such the complexity of organizing, planning and coordinating all of the various components needed to make this project a success year after year has been a true challenge. Especially when you take into account that this is all going on in conjunction with normal day-to-day business."
This year, Brian had to pre-configure and set up:
· 24 Mac portables
· 2 Mac video production workstations
· 1 Mac server
· Standalone wireless network with network based printing
· 3 photo print stations & 1 laser printer
· 15 card readers
· 5 editing decks
Software installations included: Adobe CS5 Design Premium, Adobe After Effects, Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express, Soundslides and Photomechanic.
"Essentially, Brian set up an entire network for the weekend in the Auburn BOCES facilities" said Chris. "This included a range of user accounts, drop folders and work spaces, and the ability to upload to an event-focused web site."
"As leader of the Fall Workshop, one of my big concerns has been the technical infrastructure needed to facilitate the smooth operation of the three-day event," said Bruce Strong, Associate Professor at Newhouse. "With roughly 100 students and 45 professionals and faculty participating, procuring the computers and setting up the network for us to use is a huge undertaking. Brian Tibbens has volunteered to coordinate this effort over the past three years, and I am extremely grateful for the time, effort and expertise he has contributed toward making the Fall Workshop a great success."
You can see the fruits of the labor that Brian made possible at http://www.thefallworkshop.com/.
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The 2010 Fall Workshop Production studio in Auburn, NY.
Photo by AJ Chavar |
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IT Connections is published monthly by Information Technology and Services at Syracuse University. Please submit story ideas and news items to Chris Finkle. |
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