To help update the campus on the progress Information Technology has made on the annual work plan, I have prepared the following recap. This highlights items that have been completed this semester, items in use and other items currently being tested.
All of these items relate to one or more specific goals in the new Strategic Technology Plan which can be found at: http://info.gcsu.edu/intranet/tpc/.
Installation of new basic projection systems:
IT developed a configuration for basic classroom presentations that includes a preferred overhead mounted projector, video splitter, manual switcher, four overhead speakers and Windows-based personal computer. The configuration is based on Extron Pole Vault switching equipment. This configuration can be used with the installed instructor's PC or an instructor's laptop. These systems can be easily upgraded to a more robust multimedia enhanced classroom.
End-of-year funding allowed IT and the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences to purchase a number of these systems. The Extron pole vault systems have been installed in these rooms: A&S 140, 150, 167, 236, 238, 242, 243, 246, 274, 336, 338, 368, and Mayfair 104, 200.
Based on discussions with the deans it was determined that the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences will receive an additional 16 Extron pole vault systems in FY 2009.
We are working to install these systems but must accommodate scheduled classroom times and allow time for the electricians to prepare the rooms in advance.
This work plan item supports Strategic Technology Plan Goal # 1.1.
Renewal of instructor's PC stations:
20 Dell PCs were replaced in Atkinson Hall, 10 in A&S, 9 in Kilpatrick, 5 in Centennial Center, 1 Foundation, 1 Well, 1 Napier. Added 12 instructor's PCs in A&S (with the pole vault systems), 2 in Mayfair (with the pole vault system), and 1 A/V cart in Grassman Studio (Art Dept).
This work plan item supports Strategic Technology Plan Goal # 1.1.
Macon Center:
IT added a new computer lab to the 4th floor at the Macon Center. We transported the computers to the Macon Center and configured them so that they would be ready before the first day of class. We worked with Summit Systems on the installation of the Extron Pole Vault AV system which included a Polyvision Touch Screen with annotation software.
IT coordinated the installation of 14 new speaker systems for the lab and classrooms at the Macon Center to address their concern of poor sound quality in the classrooms.
This work plan item supports Strategic Technology Plan Goals # 1.1 and 3.1.
Multimedia room at West Campus:
IT coordinated the technology to be implemented in the new West Campus Multimedia room. Summit Systems Inc provided us with a bid to complete the project of installing a pole vault system with a podium. TSS was responsible for providing a new computer and extended the network cable and power cable to allow for the podium to be moved into the corner of the room.
This work plan item supports Strategic Technology Plan Goals # 1.1and 3.1.
Installation completed on a new language lab:
A&S 271 was converted from an Apple computer lab to a language lab. The Apple computers were moved to Mayfair to upgrade the computer lab.
This work plan item supports Strategic Technology Plan Goals # 1.1 and 1.7.
Additional machine room supplemental air conditioning:
The new Lanier machine room Liebert A/C unit is installed and functional.
The new LITC machine room Liebert A/C unit is installed and waiting on a valve repair before being placed in service. These additional air conditioning units are essential to our operations because the existing A/C units were unable to maintain a satisfactory temperature.
This work plan item supports Strategic Technology Plan Goal # 2.1.
A new web server for student use:
The new student web server is installed and ready for service. This web server was requested by the Student Technology Fee Advisory Committee (STFAC) to provide space for students to learn how to create and modify web pages. It is expected to provide a place for students to post an online resume and other documents so that their web page may be viewed by prospective employers. The STFAC will be developing procedures and guidelines for full implementation.
This work plan item supports Strategic Technology Plan Goals # 1.2, 1.4, 2.4 and 4.4.
Virtual servers:
IT Systems Administration has 26 virtual servers in operation running on 4 physical servers. This allowed us to replace 11 Physical servers and add 15 new servers.
The use of virtual servers has allowed IT to avoid spending $154,000 on 22 additional physical servers and any increased electrical and air conditioning usage. This is the beginning of an effort by IT to "go green" in the data centers.
This work plan item supports Strategic Technology Plan Goals # 1.1, 1.4, 1.7, 2.1, 4.5 and 6.4.
Improving access to on campus services:
Systems Administrators are testing an application called Sun Secure Global Desktop as a highly secure alternative to the current VPN service. This web based service will eventually allow connection to a virtual desktop with secure access to your files and programs from campus or off-campus locations.
This work plan item supports Strategic Technology Plan Goals # 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 5.1, 5.6 and 6.4.
Conduit placed for new fiber optic cable runs:
Conduit has been placed for new fiber optic cables that will be placed between the LITC and Lanier machine rooms and between the LITC machine room and Mayfair. This will expand our fiber optic cabling and provide redundant pathways to improve disaster recovery / business continuity efforts.
This work plan item supports Strategic Technology Plan Goals # 1.3, 1.4, and 2.1.
Migration of the Send Mail pro e-mail system to a more robust and integrated Exchange service and Outlook Web Access (OWA):
Due to an unexpected failure of the old Microsoft Exchange 2003 server, IT was forced to move customers using calendaring services to a new Microsoft Exchange 2007 clustered server environment. IT made this move two months ahead of schedule without the luxury of proper testing. We are using 3 sets of two servers in a failover mode to help prevent loss of e-mail services. We have converted 156 Exchange accounts and have begun moving all Send Mail Pro users to Exchange 2007. There are 1,500 total e-mail accounts. Once converted to Exchange 2007, our faculty and staff will be able to use Outlook Web Access (OWA) with any web browser to access their exchange e-mail off-campus.
This work plan item supports Strategic Technology Plan Goals # 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.5 and 2.6.
Announcing the Q-drive, secure storage of critical faculty and staff files:
Our large faculty and staff storage facility is installed and being tested. Space has been allocated on the system to allow for 10GB of storage for each person. The storage array can grow to hundreds of terabytes of storage. After testing and e-mail conversion are completed, IT will be working with our customers to migrate their data to the storage array.
This work plan item supports Strategic Technology Plan Goals # 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5, and 2.6.
Student Opinion Survey
At the request of the Institutional Research Office, Data Management converted the paper-based Student Opinion Survey to an on-line version of the Student Opinion Survey. The new version allows the Institutional Research Office to select the courses to be surveyed, process the survey data and post the results on-line. The new version also allows the students to complete the surveys for all their courses at the same time. By making a change from paper-based to on-line version of Student Opinion Survey, the survey processing time will decrease drastically. The margin of error in completing and in processing the surveys will decrease thus providing more accurate results. The students will be able to access the survey through MyCats. The survey is being tested this semester on a limited number of classes.
This item supports Strategic Technology Plan Goal # 1