November 2005 IT News

Electronic Classroom Funds – Request Yours Now

This year the University has again allotted $100,000 to fund Electronic Classroom (eClassroom) projects from Computer Task Force funds. These funds are to be used primarily to purchase and install audiovisual equipment in classrooms and teaching spaces that need technological support for instruction. Instructional Media Services (IMS) has committed additional support to this effort, as well.

To request funding, please complete an electronic Application Form. Acrobat Reader 6 is required to complete the form. Forms should be reviewed and signed by the appropriate dean (or designee) and returned to Helen Lacy, Director of IMS, 207 Milton Bennion Hall by December 19, 2005. Applications can also be faxed to 581-7987, or sent as an email attachment to elassroom@ims.utah.edu

A staff member from IMS will contact the individual submitting the request to discuss specific needs. Based on this dialogue, IMS will develop an estimate of costs based on the needs identified in proposals. Matching costs will be reviewed with proposing departments. Proposals and budgets will be finalized before the projects are reviewed for selection.

More specific information on conditions and restrictions on requests can be found here. General 2006 Electronic Classroom Funds program information can be found at www.ims.utah.edu/electronicclassroom.html, or by calling 581-6744.

Campus Email Project

In early 2003, an ITC subcommittee was formed to study the campus' email needs. An RFP was issued and many vendors responded. After narrowing the field to four vendor solutions, user trials were held in early 2005 and one vendor stood out for ease of use and functionality: Microsoft Exchange. A campus-wide, centralized, Exchange-backed email system will be implemented in 2006. The system will do the following:

Replace existing campus and hospital GroupWise and iPlanet email systems with an integrated campus-wide deployment of Microsoft Exchange, including associated gateway services (virus scanning and spam filtering) and client applications.
Deliver a unified system for all users that allows seamless operation of system functions, such as calendaring, instant messaging, and email.

Additionally, the system will scale to allow as many users as needed, consolidate campus email service providers that prefer a centralized solution, and allow groups that wish to maintain their own email solutions to continue to do so.

All current students, faculty and staff will have email accounts on the new system. Students will be required to move to the new backend system by the semester break in May 2006, but will not be required to use a new email address. The Exchange system will support all current aliases in use with the current campus email system (iPlanet).

Interested departments can begin using the system after January 2006. Third party tools will be available to migrate GroupWise mailbox data to the Exchange system.

The project is a joint venture between the Office of Information Technology, Network and Communications Services, Health Sciences Information Technology Services, and other interested campus departments. You can find more information on the Campus Email Project at www.it.utah.edu/services/email/project/index.html.

Information technology council approved initiatives

The following initiatives were approved in the October 2005 ITC meeting.

Security of Private and Critical Resources

All computing devices need to be accessible so that the Information Security Office (ISO) may scan for unpatched machines and vulnerabilities. Local administrators should also perform scans in coordination with ISO.

All identified unpatched machines will be reported to the person responsible for the machine (point of contact). Machines not patched in a timely fashion will be taken off-line until they are patched. Alternative security models can be negotiated for machines that cannot be patched.

All compromised machines containing personal private information will be taken off-line immediately until ISO is able to make an assessment of risk. With each incident where a machine containing personal private information (or critical in nature) is compromised, machines must be rebuilt and new passwords established.

Wireless Access

To help ensure ubiquitous campus wireless coverage and to decrease the cost of wireless services for colleges and departments, a centrally managed switching infrastructure will be constructed which will allow colleges and departments to implement wireless services using “thin” access points. Both secure and insecure access will be provided.

Student computing funds will fund construction of the switching infrastructure. Colleges and departments may also apply for student computing funds to purchase Access Points for their own areas.

The three primary benefits of this plan are (1) lower cost of the purchase and operation of wireless networks, (2) an infrastructure that will support campus wide wireless connectivity using campus standards, and (3) compliance with the ITC resolution for ubiquitous network access.

Cell Phones for Business Use

New wording for cell phone use will be recommended for P&PM 2-70. A statement like "Employees shall not use cellular telephones to conduct the business of The University of Utah while operating a motor vehicle" is part of the recommendation. Additionally, a new option for business use of cellular phones will be for employees to purchase a cellular telephone and appropriate calling plan and receive additional monthly compensation toward these expenses. Using this option, no substantiation of business vs. personal usage is required, since the University is neither directly paying for the cellular phone itself nor the calling plan. This would be the preferred option for employees who must use cellular phones for their jobs. More information on this new option will be forthcoming.

Campus Strategic IT Plan

The 2005-2006 Campus IT Stragegic Plan was approved. This plan was revised to reflect the changing needs of campus. This is a living document that guides campus IT activities throughout the year. The plan can be changed by ITC at any time.The approved plan can be viewed at www.it.utah.edu/leadership/committees/ITC/papers/Campus_Strategic_Plan10102005.pdf