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Dawgbytes, Summer 2007

Volume 6, Number 1

About This Issue...
Information Technology's newsletter, Dawgbytes, is now available online. Dawgbytes is available via a subscription to a list server, DAWGBYTES-L. To subscribe to this mailing list, e-mail a message to listserv@listserv.siu.edu. Use any subject you like, but the body or text area of the message should contain only SUBSCRIBE DAWGBYTES-L.

This Summer 2007 issue of Dawgbytes includes articles on Electronic Forms and Digital Signatures; the Fall 2007 RezNet Move-In Project; and a new hire at the Computer Support Center. Links to archived issues of Dawgbytes are available at the end of the newsletter.

The Fall 2007 RezNet Move-In Project
Plans for the Fall 07 RezNet Move-In Project are well underway. The goal of the project is to organize a group of volunteers and student workers to assist students in the residence halls with their much-desired Internet connectivity. Requirements for Windows-based computers to access the Internet from the residence halls are:

Microsoft firewall must be on
Automatic updates must be on and set for “Daily”
Current Microsoft security updates must be installed
Anti-virus installed (McAfee, Norton, Trendmicro), up-to-date and running
The Clean Access Agent must be installed
P2P applications must be removed
This work includes a weekend component where IT staff and volunteers go door-to-door in the residence halls the weekend prior to the start of Fall Semester. We will also operate a temporary Satellite Computer Support Center (help desk) for the first two weeks of the semester, where students can get assistance on a walk-in basis. Other services provided with this project are resolution of ID, password and PIN issues, assistance with signing up for the service and setting up mini-hubs and the associated cabling.

Last year’s effort consisted of 75 student workers and volunteers (combined); about 1,700 students received assistance. This year we are expanding to 100 student workers and volunteers.

This is a great project, which offers the opportunity to work with our students one-on-one, to demonstrate that we value them and to show our Saluki spirit. If you are interested in participating or want to know more, please send an e-mail to Michael Shelton or call 453-6219.

Electronic Forms and Digital Signatures
The electronic forms repository available at eforms.siu.edu provides faculty, staff, and students access to Adobe Acrobat forms that can be filled out online using a web browser and the standard Adobe Acrobat Reader desktop application. Through the use of specialized Adobe Reader Extension software, additional form functionality can be enabled within a PDF (Portable Data Format) form for use with the standard Adobe Acrobat Reader desktop application. Once an e-Form has been "reader enabled," it may be printed, saved as a file on a desktop computer, and routed to others as an email attachment.
The ability to apply digital signatures to e-Forms will become available to the entire campus in the future. Currently, Information Technology and other selected departments are performing live testing on the digital signature process. Watch the e-Forms web site for any new information concerning the expansion of the digital signature process to include the entire campus community. For those departments interested in publishing forms to the electronic form repository, please contact the e-Forms Administrator at formadm@siu.edu.

A New Hire in the Computer Support Center (CSC)
In June 2007, Maribeth Ahne, a Technical Associate, joined the Computer Support Center, replacing James Campanella. Her primary duty will be resolving computer problems coming in through the CSC Call Center, and she will also be distributing University site-licensed software.

At the CSC, we always look for two critical qualities in a prospective employee: attention to detail and the ability to work with a wide range of people, face-to-face and voice-to-voice.

Maribeth brings both qualities to her new job. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Michigan at Dearborn. After graduation, she provided technical support for 300 Andersen Consultants based out of Detroit, Michigan. Between technical support calls, she learned Lotus Notes database design and server administration.

Her next port of call was Lexmark International, the printing company based in Lexington, Kentucky. She started as an associate programmer, testing the MarkVision network printer management software. When MarkVision transitioned from beta to gold status, it was translated into 16 languages and then tested by native speakers who traveled to Lexington for the occasion. Maribeth developed a problem-tracking application for their use and answered questions ranging from the very technical to "Where can we get authentic American food?" She also purchased over $1M of hardware and software for her 60 coworkers, and then managed the software licenses for their 600 computers.

Eventually, Maribeth became the liaison between Lexmark's Information Technology and the software test labs for software licensing and virus prevention. She then coordinated an intra-campus move of the 600 people and 3000 devices within her division to a new building under construction. Successful completion of that project earned her a promotion to manager of Technical Education.

Maribeth and her family decided to relocate in Carbondale in 2006, because of its beautiful environment, proximity to family, and excellent school systems. Maribeth's son is enrolled at Giant City School, while her husband is enrolled at the SIUC School of Law.

She began her career with SIUC as a registrar at the Division of Continuing Education. She is delighted to be a part of the CSC, where student workers are valued team members, and office processes are nearly paperless. She feels her greatest strength is her patience and her passion is computer software usability. She enjoys helping customers turn their computers into implements for rather than impediments to their jobs. We're pleased to have Maribeth with us, and we think the SIU user community will like the combination of competence and friendliness she brings to the job.

Archived Issues of Dawgbytes

The Spring 2007 issue of Dawgbytes, which includes articles on protecting computers and personal data at SIUC; Progress on the SIS Banner project at SIUC; SIUC campus wireless access maps; Microsoft Windows Vista; New Office 2007 Products Coming to Computer Learning Centers; Training from Microsoft for Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007; Identity Management; Subscribing to the Schooner News Server; and Data Encryption Software is available at this link.

The Fall 2006 issue of Dawgbytes, which includes articles on The RezNet Move-in Project; Campus Wide Printing Services; Software Site Licenses at SIUC; The Student Information System; The New Electronic Forms Service; Security Tips; and The SMART Boards Web Site is available at this link.

The Summer 2006 issue of Dawgbytes, which includes articles on unlocking passwords; Campus Wide Printing Services; the new Student Information System; a new vendor for Microsoft software; disaster recovery; data encryption software; and campus wireless access maps is available at this link.

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