Welcome back as we begin the new academic year! I wanted to take a moment to provide some quick tips and updates about key IT projects that are underway or will be coming up soon.
If you have any questions about these (or any other IT-related projects), please don’t hesitate to contact me at clsmith@depauw.edu.
Cheers,
--Carol.
Topics in the following include:
- Keeping in touch with IT at DePauw
- Helping students get logged in to Moodle, P: or I: drives, printers, etc.
- Wireless network expansion and security enhancements
- The “V: Drive” - A new architecture to replace the shared University (U:) drive
- Updates to the Student Laptop Program
1) Keeping in Touch with IT at DePauw 
Following are some quick links to support guides, workshop schedules, information about I.S. news and events, and lots of other information to help you stay informed about IT at DePauw:
The HelpDesk -- The Help Desk provides technical support services to students, faculty and staff members in DePauw campus community.
Information Services Blog – Provides periodic articles about I.S. activities, DePauw IT updates, etc., aimed at the whole DePauw community.
FITS Newsletter – Provides information for faculty members about emerging technologies, project spotlights, up and coming events, and other information relating to teaching and learning with technology.
HelpDesk Status Hotline – Available 24x7, includes a blog, phone number (x6666) and RSS feed to provide up-to-the-minute notices about IT-related service announcements, known system issues, and other useful IT tips & tricks.
2) Helping students get logged in to Moodle, P: or I: drives, printers, etc .
Likely, all the students know how to use their DePauw email at this point! But some may have forgotten their passwords to other accounts or don’t know how to use resources like Moodle, the network (I: or P: Drives), or the public campus printers. Following are a couple of resources that you can guide them toward that will help them figure things out:
Overview of DePauw students IT accounts -- Provides a quick description of all their accounts, including which account to use to login to each resource
If they’ve forgotten a password – Visit the HelpDesk in person to have it reset.
3) Wireless network expansion and security enhancements
A number of enhancements to the campus wireless (Wi-Fi) network are underway:
We are adding wireless access points to expand Wi-Fi coverage in University-owned student living units. By the start of classes, Bloomington Street Hall, Senior Hall, and Anderson Street Hall will have Wi-Fi coverage in every room. Other living units still have Wi-Fi in common areas and we will continue to add access to those areas throughout the coming year.
We have installed new higher speed access points in the Julian Center and Harrison Hall, and will update Roy O. West Library and several other academic buildings later in the fall.
Finally, we are also adding an encrypted or ‘secure’ Wi-Fi network on campus. This new network will add increased security for data and email for all DePauw students, faculty, and staff and provide encryption for all online interactions that are not otherwise encrypted. Once it is in place, you’ll have the choice to either connect to the secure Wi-Fi using your network username/password or use the unencrypted network “DPU_wireless” which will still be available. Watch for more details later in the fall.
4) The “V: Drive” - A new architecture to replace the shared University (U:) drive
During October, we will be implementing a new shared network V: drive” that will replace the U: drive. Similar to U:, the drive will provide shared departmental folders on the network, but it will have additional security and provide a simpler process for managing who has access to each department’s folder(s). Watch for more details in early September.
5) Updates to the Student Laptop Program
All students entering DePauw are required purchase a designated DePauw Program Laptop and a Software/Service Bundle through the DePauw Laptop Program. The program requirements ensure that all students are equipped with the tools needed to support their DePauw learning experience and enable their professors to most effectively make use of technology in the classroom.
As in the past, incoming students have a choice between three types of laptops, including an Apple MacBook Pro, an HP TabletPC, and a Dell Latitude. This year, we added a Dell Inspiron to the choice list, as well. The Inspiron offers a consumer grade model for students who preferred a less expensive Windows laptop.
Along with this change, we are not pre-installing the student software bundle (the "image") on the Dell and HP models. Thus, all students, whether purchasing a Mac or Windows computer, are asked to purchase the student software bundle once they arrive on campus. They will install this software themselves.
Complete details about the Laptop Program are at www.depauw.edu/laptop.
Information Services - August 2011
Have a great year!
