Quick Notes  

Ryan Badman

Congratulations to Syracuse University junior Ryan Badman, who was named a 2011-12 Astronaut Scholar by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. The $10,000 scholarship is presented to top science and engineering students who exhibit exceptional performance, initiative and creativity in their field, as well as intellectual daring and a genuine desire to positively change the world. Badman, a math and physics major in SU's College of Arts and Sciences, is among 26 students nationwide to receive the prestigious award. His father is Lee Badman of ITS's Networking Department. The SUNews article of October 1 has all the inspirational details. 

Dania Souid

Please welcome Dania Souid as the new Communications Assistant in the ITS Department. Dania is a junior at SU, majoring in broadcast journalism and French. A Manlius native, and a 2009 graduate of Fayetteville Manlius High, she comes to the ITS department with a variety of experience. Dania interned at the Syracuse Peace Council last summer, where she planned and worked at events, making fliers and writing for their monthly newsletter. She also interned with The Canary Project, an environmental group, doing research and interviewing scientists for a book about the effects of climate change. Currently, in addition to IT Connections, Dania is working on the Secure'cUse information security awareness campaign designing posters and developing content for the ITS website. You can contact Dania at ITSCommAsst@syr.edu.

Tech Updates

Keeping current with software, systems, issues and devices

IT World highlights SU's Green Data Center (with its "plenty of cool green factor" and new tri-generation power system), as well as a previous interview with Chris Sedore, in an article about a data center at the University of Toledo that will leverage a similar power system.

Adobe Releases Connect Pro iOS Update

Open and host a web conference from your iPad or iPhone 

Networking would love to hear from you

If the SU wireless network isn't the best it can be, speak up!

ITidbits

Facts and figures about IT @ SU  

Dave Snow and a small part of the upgrade task list

PeopleSoft Financials upgrade a big success

A busy summer for the Network Master Plan

This past summer was one of the busiest yet for SU's Network Master Plan (NMP). Over 50,000 feet of new fiber optic cabling was installed in the main campus underground conduit systems under Phase II of the Outside Plant Upgrade portion of the project. This project was undertaken to improve inter-building connectivity to the core network infrastructure and provide redundancy to the core locations from both Machinery Hall and The Center for Science and Technology. The summer, 2012 program will see the expansion and enhancement of the underground conduit system to improve network diversity, routing and redundancy and further improve network reliability across the main campus. The project will also enable provision of service to a number of buildings at the edge of campus that have historically been served by leased connections. Upon completion they will be connected directly to University infrastructure.

The inside plant upgrade front continues to roll full steam ahead with the goal of upgrading as many as ten buildings by the end of June, 2012. Crews are currently working around the clock in an effort to attain this stretch goal. The upgrade of Steele Hall will be completed in December and construction activity is now underway in Crouse College and the Women's Building. The Crouse project will achieve 66% minority/woman owned business participation, more than 6 times the goal.

Currently in design or under review for construction are:

• Huntington Hall- in design with an anticipated construction start of January, 2012
• 804 University Ave. - under review (pending space negotiations)
• 111 Waverly Ave. - under review in conjunction with 804 University
• Syracuse Stage - in design for an anticipated Spring, 2012 construction start
• Hawkins Warehouse - in design for an anticipated January or February, 2012 construction start. Hawkins will be done earlier than originally planned so that NMP work will coincide with some other significant renovation activity in that facility. 

Also anticipated are the upgrades of some smaller facilities including the Belfer Audio Archive, 119 Euclid Avenue and 113 Euclid Avenue.

Needless to say, it's a busy place in NMP land!  Stay tuned to IT Connections for future updates and, as always, if you have questions, visit the Network Master Plan website or contact Dennis Punch at dtpunch@syr.edu or x3245.

Students want technology to work, and for instructors to know how to use it

While many think students are technology gurus, a study from the EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research (ECAR) suggests the majority of students are not users of advanced technology. The ECAR National Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology, 2011 last May surveyed 3,000 students from 1,179 different colleges and universities on their use and perception of technology.  In June, first year and senior students at participating institutions were surveyed (including a random sample of 459 at SU) to allow comparison of data from individual campuses to national results.

Study results indicate that convenience drives how students use technology, and that technology with academic benefit is usually highly valued and appreciated. There is strong correlation between the technologies valued most by students and the technologies used effectively by their instructors to teach, mentor and communicate. And new technology isn't necessarily better as far as most students are concerned; their perception of how well faculty uses an institution's technology drives their perception of the institution's IT, not how cutting edge the technology is.  More than 75% of students feel that laptop computers and anytime, anywhere access via Wi-Fi are extremely valuable for academic success. A surprising number of students say they are not fully confident that they have the core software skills to meet their needs--and they wish they had more specialized software skills.

The study report concludes with eleven recommendations, ranging from "create an action plan to better integrate technology into courses and help students access institutional and academic information from their many and diverse devices and platforms," to "establish or refine social media policies, using information about how your students use social media to enhance their educational experience."

You can view the full study report here.