Research Data Management Services
Information and Instructional Services
User Services 1996-97 Annual Report
User Services delivers a range of core services that support the infrastructure used by faculty, students, staff, and other individuals associated with the University. We assume that in order to function in, and fully utilize, the University's networked environment, every person requires access to a capable desktop computer, configured to operate on the network and providing tools to access required network resources. Delivering these core services is a high priority in itself, and the 1996-97 year saw the successful implementation of several projects and initiatives that added new services or enhanced existing services to faculty, students and staff.
In the coming year, our goals are to strengthen our support in the following areas:
Specific objectives associated with these goals can be found in User Services' plans for 1997-98.
Support for integrating technology into the curriculum was a major priority for User Services. Central to this effort was opening the PRESENT, a room in Smith Hall equipped with a variety of equipment to support multimedia development and presentations, where faculty can get individualized help in incorporating technology into teaching. The PRESENT, and its importance in the University's effort to develop the use of new media in instruction, was the key component of our proposal to, and acceptance into, the New Media Centers Consortium.
We continued our collaboration with the Center for Teaching Effectiveness, University Libraries, Instructional Technology Center, and University Media Services in delivering the Faculty Institutes in Teaching, Learning and Technology, in January and June. Each year attendance at the Institute has grown, and this year we developed new workshop-style classes in which faculty developed their own presentations or Web pages. We continued to enhance the Toolkit for Teaching with Technology, a web site that describes resources and support services. During the year, we provided more than sixty orientations and follow-up trouble shooting sessions for faculty using technology in the classroom.
Faculty increased their use of classroom management tools such as class mailing lists and newsgroups. In response to these needs, documentation was developed for the Majordomo Listserver and Procmail, a UNIX-based mail processing program. In support of electronic grade submission, we have worked with MIS to develop a process that merges and reconciles a Registrar-supplied, machine-readable, roster file with a faculty-supplied, machine-readable, grade file and submit results to the Registrar electronically.
Services for Students
The 1996-97 year saw a dramatic increase in the demand for support by students for connecting their computers to the campus network from the residence halls. Almost 4,500 students requested connections before the end of September, whereas about 1,800 were requested in the entire previous year. This support ranged from advice on acquisition of computer and networking products, through setup of the systems, and troubleshooting when problems arose.
Students and parents were given advice on computers, printers, Ethernet cards, modems, and software, etc. throughout the year, starting at New Student Orientation. We produced a Back-to-School mailing in conjunction with the University Bookstore, which featured products from Gateway 2000 and Apple Computer. These promotional materials were supplemented by a wide variety of Web-based resources. We also initiated and successfully ran a program that enabled students to purchase computers from Gateway 2000 and have them shipped to the University for pickup on Move-in Day.
In Fall '96, for the first time, residence hall connections were enabled using DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) so that students whose computers were configured to support DHCP could connect to the network without prior knowledge of their network address. In preparation for this, student systems were configured during the summer, and on Move-in Day at the Bob Carpenter Center. After the start of the semester, students could take their computers to four campus computing sites to be configured. One site alone, the Technology Solutions Center handled 990 setup requests. To supplement these services, particularly during the first few weeks of the Fall semester, staff also conducted many "house calls" to student rooms to fix problems that could not be resolved through documentation, e-mail or telephone consulting.
As a result of last year's experience, we have revised and simplified the network software installation procedure for the coming year. The number of disks required to install the University's supported networking software (OnNet) has been reduced from fourteen to three and the OnNet documentation completely rewritten. We will encourage Windows95 users to use its built-in TCP/IP software. Another parallel set of documentation was written to support connection to the campus network from off-campus.
The increase in student ownership of computer has not slowed the demand for access to facilities in the University's student computing sites. This year's site upgrades included upgrades to systems with Pentium processors and Windows 95 in the Smith Hall, Harrington Commons, and Engineering computing sites, and the Assistive Technology Center. Dickinson site was upgraded to PowerMacs, and sites with 386 or lower technology received rolled-down 486 systems. The X-terminals in Pearson Hall received memory upgrades in order to better serve the needs of the Geography department in particular. Printing capability was upgraded in several sites. Scanners, sound cards, headphones and speakers were added to sites to support the growing demand for multimedia support.
A variety of user education and training programs have been developed for students that start with students' introduction to the University at New Student Orientation. The 1996 Summer NSO program included an introductory session, Internet surfing, pre-purchase information tables, and a tour of Smith Hall which included sessions on computer purchase and connectivity information. Residence Hall students received copies of "Check IT Out", a brochure detailing how to use a range of IT Services. Fall NSO programs consisted of "Jump Start" sessions in sites where students took the Electronic Community Citizenship Exam (ECCE), activated their electronic mail accounts, and learned the basics of using electronic mail, browsing the World Wide Web, and using other Internet resources. During the Fall term, a series of classes was offered for students to help them develop their own home pages. Also in the Fall term, we started to offer twenty-four hours per week of technology-related programming on the campus cable TV system. THUD (Technology Help at UD) consists of programming that is scripted by User Services and produced by University Media Services, as well as commercial videotapes.
The administrative desktop refreshment program continued through the 1996-97 year, and most of the 386 systems on administrative desktops were replaced by Pentium systems. The upgrade program consisted of setting up desktop computers with a consistent operating and printing environment, and connectivity to campus network. Standard desktop client software (telnet, Netscape, etc.) was installed, and training provided to the users. The following offices were completely upgraded: Public Relations; Alumni Relations; Academic Services Center; Small Business Development Center; Delaware Special Olympics; Graduate Studies; Public Safety; Personnel Records Office; Office of the Vice President for Administration. Staff also supported a number of upgrades related to the Faculty Desktop Refreshment program that was administered by the Provost's Office.
In addition to support of standard productivity software (text processing, spreadsheets, databases) some custom work was done for various offices. For example, a suite of macros was developed for the College of Arts and Science to facilitate the production of form letters, and computers and local area network were provided to the Admissions Office to facilitate scholarship reading.
Towards the end of the year, staff began testing Netscape Communicator to prepare for supporting the campus' migration from MVS mail and calendar maintenance. Also, a site license for Dr. Solomon's anti-virus software was acquired and this software will be made available to all campus users.
WWW Services
The Web Presence Committee continued to provide oversight for the development of UD's Web. The committee recommended several enhancements to improve the quality of the Web that included a more powerful search mechanism, and more informative error messages. The committee also guided the development of several web sites for departments, particularly the Office of Student Life and the Official Student Handbook. The Official Student Handbook was a major effort at presenting a paper publication in online form, and won three awards from the Society for Technical Communications (STC), distinguished communication and best of show from the Philadelphia Metro Chapter and a merit award on the international level. User Services staff have worked with several departments and various individuals to advise on web page development. This work has involved Java-based web development and training, particularly for Drug and Alcohol Studies, the DUSC Student Rideboard, the Official Student Handbook, and SPAN.
Services for Faculty ( Research)
The staff of Research Data Management Services (RDMS) provided a wide range of support services for the University's research community.
A major component of RDMS work includes continued expansion and organization of GIS, US Census and survey data, providing quick access to digital data and geostatistical map layers of political and administrative boundaries, road systems, land use, land cover, geology, and aerial imagery. Data documentation is generally made available via the RDMS Web Server. Examples of projects undertaken include an ArcView based point-and-click interface to digital map layers, and transformation of Tiger95 boundary/road files into a variety of file formats that are available on the Web. Specialized software was acquired to simplify access to 1990 census data aggregated to various geographic levels (blocks, county, school district) as well as large longitudinal (1964-94) CPS Annual Demographic Surveys. PC-based tape hardware and CD-recordable hardware and software were acquired to facilitate additional data format and media transformation.
A high proportion of staff time is allocated to individual consulting with faculty, staff and students from most University departments. Areas of concentration include statistics, GIS, mathematics, programming languages, text-processing and thesis preparation, general UNIX use, specialized UNIX systems use, UNIX-PC interactions, and efficient use of University research systems (IBM, SGI, Cray).
RDMS (with Urban Affairs), obtained a Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) grant to create a "Demonstration" NSDI node to serve Delaware geostatistical metadata complying with national FGDC-metadata standards. RDMS also co-authored a proposal with the Geography Department that resulted in UD admission to the national University Consortium for Geographic Information Sciences (UCGIS), and participate in national priority-setting meetings. As UD’s representative to the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) and a U.S. Census Bureau State Data Center affiliate, RDMS acquired more than 50 large machine-readable surveys at the request of UD researchers.
Another important area for RDMS is increasing the accessibility of software that enhances the capabilities of the University's researchers. Extensive testing of new NSS-installed software (stat/math/GIS/graphics) on central UNIX systems is ongoing. This year, we acquired the SPSS site-licensed microcomputer version, provided documentation and made software installation modules network-accessible, and continued distribution support of other scientific software.
RDMS developed new training for GIS (ArcView), Java (Understanding Java Applets, and a joint Winter-Session Java course with GIS), statistics (on-line SAS/Tutor training), Database (MS Access), and WWW (Netscape News Reader). RDMS also developed/improved web-based application software documentation for: SAS, LIMDEP, FTP, SPSS/PC, UNIX editors, Minitab, Matlab, ArcView-accessible digital map layers, and Exponent Graphics.
Special University projects
User Services supports a variety of University events by providing equipment loans and setups, as well as staffing expertise. Examples of such events include Space Day, Delaware Preview days, and local conferences such as WAACC and CAUSE-CNI. We also provided a variety of support for special communities of users. These include the UD Network Partnership Program through which we have assisted several local private schools connect to the Internet, and assistance for individual users such as trustees and Lifelong Learners. Finally, we provided support for various University-affiliated programs, e.g. Stonier School, Upward Bound, TECH, SIET, David Onn's NSF teaching project, ETS, etc.
Help Center Second-level support
User Services transformed its frontline services this year and provided second-level support through the IT Help Center. Methods for dealing efficiently with trouble tickets were developed and staff directed significant effort to developing Help Center expert subject web pages. These pages were designed to aid the Help Center in providing frontline assistance to callers. Also, by documenting electronically the recently asked questions, the user is ultimately empowered.
Core Support Services
Central UNIX computing services
User Services provided training, documentation and consulting support for users of the central UNIX systems in their use of electronic mail and Internet services (WWW, gopher, newsgroups, etc.). Staff also was responsible for handling requests for disk allocation processing. The Smith Hall facility provides a central printing facility in Smith Hall for all UNIX-based printing, a high-quality printer output service, and a service that ensures secure processing for jobs such as test scoring and scanning. These printers were upgraded this year.
Departmental computing support
User Services provided staffing and funding support for departmental computing, especially in some departments which support their own computing site:, such as Art, Engineering, College of Marine Studies-Lewes. We also provided second-level support for departmental computing staff (e.g. CITAs) in several departments, and support for workstations in departments without local support staff. We also assisted departments such as Psychology in major upgrades of their computing facilities, such as their conversion to Windows95.
Last year 585 hours of classes were taught to 2617 faculty, students and staff. These figures do not include the student "Jump Start" sessions, and the Faculty Institute. Class development time is reduced considerably by our purchasing commercial videotapes. These classes, workshops and self-paced training are designed to meet the diverse needs of the University for training of its faculty, professional and salaried staff, and students. A large number of custom classes were conducted on request. User Services also invested effort in THUD (Technology Help at UD) video and cable TV programming because of the potential for this medium to reach students at times when we do not teach, and staff who are unable to leave their offices to attend traditional classes.
Information Technology publications
We continued to produce Tech Talk, which consisted of four major inserts related to information technology in the University newspaper, UpDate. This is our major print vehicle for reaching a broad audience at the University. We continued to provide software documentation as needed, with an emphasis on these being Web-based publications. We also contributed to University publications, particularly when they included content related to information technology.
Specialized consulting
In addition to handling trouble tickets referenced from the Help Center, User Services staff handle requests from clients across the University on a wide variety of topics. This year, collectively, staff handled well over 2,300 such contacts. Almost half of these related to connectivity, desktop system productivity and which included the setup and configuration of desktop systems. The remainder were related to curriculum use, research support and application development, including Web services.
Projects fall within the four major groups within User Services, viz.,.
Desktop computing and client services (Ron Nichols)
Research data management services (Dick Sacher)
Information and Instructional services (Janet de Vry)
Student computing and departmental computing support (Carol Anderer)
User Services is committed to providing first-line support for all of the services delivered by Information Technologies and in particular delivering ongoing support for the following services with which it is most closely associated.
- Desktop productivity: setup of desktop computers to ensure consistent operating environment: standard productivity software (word processing, spreadsheets, data bases); connectivity to campus network (OnNet or MacTCP software); standard desktop client software (Netscape); and consistent printing environment.
- Central computing service support: electronic mail and information services (WWW, gopher, newsgroups, etc.); application software for statistics, mathematics, graphics, geographic information systems (GIS); text processing.
- Computing sites: operation of several general-purpose computing sites on campus as well as second-level support for computing sites that are operated by individual departments.
- Technology Solutions Center & Consulting Services: pre-purchase advice on computers, printers, and other peripherals that support the research, instructional, and productivity needs of the University.
- Learning Resources: classes, workshops, demonstrations, and self-paced training to meet the diverse needs of the University. A wide variety of classes and demontrations are scheduled year round and special events can be arranged on request..
- I/O and Printing services: jobs that require secure processing such as test scoring and scanning are handled through a courier service that operates between Smith Hall and 192 S. Chapel Street. High-quality printer output (for publications, overhead transparencies) is also generated in Smith for user pickup.
- Information Resources: publish a variety of documents including promotional, reference, and educational materials. Most IT documentation is ultimately published on the World Wide Web. Along with Public Relations, co-lead the web-presence committee to advise and assist departments in achieving the best possible presence on the UD Web. Provide assistance and consulting to departments and individuals who are developing their own home pages.
- Consulting services: while focussed in Smith Hall because of the proximity of the User Services staff, consulting support is distributed throughout the computing sites that User Services operates, and through the distributed consulting support that is provided by departmental CITAs and CRPs.
Quarterly reports will include a summary of services provided
in these areas. The project plan covers new items to be undertaken this
year.
Administrative Computer Refreshment
Purpose: Replace systems at 386 level or below within University environment
Objective: 1. Identify all systems to be upgraded (by 8/31/96)
2. Detailed needs analysis of specified departments; SSB; Colleges; other administrative units
3. Ordering and installation
Responsible: Nichols , Lyons
Impacts: NSS for network connections, possible server and printer support
Client: Various departments
Target: December 1996
Status: Completed
Effort: 1st Q: Offices surveyed. Database created that lists level of equipment and user names. Order placed for 100 systems. SSB upgrade started in August.
Complete offices upgraded: Public Relations; Alumni Relations; Academic Services Center; Small Business Development Center; Delaware Special Olympics; Graduate Studies; Public Safety; PRO; Vice President for Administration. 4th Q. Public Relations Office
Faculty Computer Refreshment
Purpose: Upgrade systems that Colleges have distributed to faculty
Objective: Provide support for Colleges that are unable to perform upgrades themselves
Responsible: Nichols, Lyons
Impacts: NSS for network connections
Client: Deans
Target: December 1996
Status: Completed
Effort: Approximately 70 systems for faculty in several departments were setup.
PC-based Data Base Development
Client:
Target:
Status: .
Effort: Employee Services - enhanced reporting in existing database
Equipment Evaluations/Upgrades
Purpose: Evaluate hardware in order to make recommendations for adoption as supported or standard products
Objective: 1. X-terminals
2. Printers
3. Desktop computers
4. Peripherals
Responsible: Nichols, Larraga, Hoover
Impacts: IT
Client: University
Target: Ongoing
Status: A2
Effort: PowerComputing Mac Close; Apple eMate; Gateway Laptops; USRobotics PalmPilot
Software Evaluations/Upgrades
Purpose: Evaluate software in order to make recommendations for adoption as supported or standard products
1. Desktop e-mail
2. Scheduling/calendaring packages
3. Web authoring tools
Responsible: Nichols, Larraga, Brown
Impacts: IT
Client: University
Target: Ongoing
Status: A2
Effort: Netscape Communicator Suite Evaluation
Netscape Mail Testing
Netscape Calendar Testing
Claris HopePage HTML Authoring Package eval.
Microsoft FrontPage
Virus Software eval. Settled on Dr. Solomon and signed site license.
Microsoft Select Program.
DATA ACCESS
Continued expansion and organization of GIS, Census and Survey Data, providing quick access to digital data and geostatistical map layers of political and administrative boundaries, road systems, land use, land cover, geology, and aerial imagery. Data document is generally made available via RDMS Web Server (www. RDMS.udel.edu) specific projects included:
INCREASED SOFTWARE ACCESSIBILITY
OTHER RESEARCH SUPPORT
OTHER GENERAL SUPPORT
During the summer staff were involved in implementing high visibility public relations events while planning for the increased use of technology by students and faculty at the start of the fall semester. At Summer New Student Orientation and Delaware Preview Days we presented Information Technologies to new students, parents, and potential students while also providing overall computing support for these events.. The publication of the Student Handbook on the Web provided the challenge of adapting another department’s information to the Web and providing relevant links and state-of -the-art indexing. Other new documentation projects focused on preparing pages for the Help Center area of the Web, formatting and adding to the mailing on technology for all new students, designing "Check IT Out" for all residential students, and updating and scaling-down site map (since most of the information now exists on the Web). In the student training area, we expanded our Jump Start classes for new students from 1 day during Fall NSO to two weeks and added training for students in creating Web pages. We identified all faculty teaching in "technology classrooms" and invited them to classroom technology orientations. We provided pine mail training for TA’s. We enhanced our regularly advertised training sessions by adding Advanced Pine Mail which includes mailing formatted documents, Excel and Access for Windows 95, advanced training in Windows95 and Word 7.0, and ArcView. Finally we made considerable progress in making training available over the campus cable system. Two original video tapes were produced this quarter, six commercial training video tapes were purchased and prepared for the cable system, and we acquired the rights to two PBS series. We worked with UMS to facilitate programming on channel 48 and we began advertising it in a Web site. The second quarter will see a sustained effort to publicize the training available over the campus cable system. The Web presence committee continued to make suggestions to improve various departmental pages and took an even more active role by evaluating and designing a useful "directory interface."
Web Development
Purpose: Facilitate the publication of information by departments on the World Wide Web. Review and make recommendations to ensure high standards for the University’s presence on the World Wide Web
Responsible: de Vry, Garland, and other staff
Client: University
Effort: Worked with Web presence committee to recommend a redesigned directory interface, a replacement for the 404 error warning, and made suggestions about an area on the Web to be called the "Marketplace."
Worked with Public Relations, the Office of the Vice President for Student Life, and Dick Sacher’s group to publish the Student Handbook on the Web.
Ongoing projects include Career Services, Office of the Vice President for Student Life page, creating the index for the SPAN pages, assisting in the on-line publication of the Faculty Handbook, and completing the Teaching with Technology pages.
Janet de Vry chaired the Web Presence committee and was main author of the committee's progress report. Most of the reports' recommendations with the exception of directories and installation of Webinator Search engine have been acted upon since the report. Chairpersonship of committee moved to Mary Hempel.
UD Web and Individual home pages (new project)
Purpose: Provide processes, technical guidelines, and training for individuals and student groups who want to create Web pages.
Responsible: de Vry, Garland, and other staff
Client: University
Effort: Rewrote web-based instructions, developed a hands-on class in using Netscape Navigator Gold to create Web pages, created a form for creating Web pages by "fill-in-the-blank" methodology, offered general information sessions and 4 hands-on sessions for students. Initial project completed. Work is now ongoing.
Classroom Technology Support
Purpose: Provide integrated support program for faculty teaching
Responsible: de Vry, Hyde
Client: Faculty
Effort: Created a draft Web site for teaching with technology; identified faculty teaching in technology classrooms and invited them to Orientations--20 faculty have received individual assistance and in most cases more than one session to get started using technology in the classroom. Developing a plan for a "Classroom Technology Laboratory."
Created Teaching Toolkit as one all encompassing Web site about resources to aid in applying technology to teaching, created a faculty database in which faculty could enter their teaching with technology profile as part of a self-updating survey and the basis for peer support, devised, equipped, opened and advertised the PRESENT (practical resources for educators seeking effective new technologies), held Open Houses and classes in the PRESENT, and developed assessment tools. Produced a brochure. Presented the concept at a national workshop and received positive feedback. Wrote draft of article for CAUSE/EFFECT magazine.
Video Training
Purpose: Expand user education program to include video training some of which is developed in-house and some of which is purchased from commercial vendors and other educational programming distributors.; broadcast the programs over University cable channel 48.
Responsible: de Vry, Gordon
Client: University
Effort: "Buying a Computer" completed in June. Recently completed "Introduction to Pine mail," and "Browsing the Web." Developed a framework for broadcasting 22 hours of programming a week. Developed a Web page to advertise the broadcasting schedule. New initiatives include completing "Preparing images for the Web" and launching a major awareness campaign so that the University knows about this vital resource. Completed 5 original tapes for the 96/97 school year. Updated the Buying a Computer tape for 97/98 NSO. Provided over 20 hours of programming per week including commercial and PBS and satellite broadcasts. Produced a brochure which was mailed to all students and distributed at all major PR events to increase student/parent awareness of this service.
Custom Training for Departments
Purpose: Provide training in response to specific needs of departments and programs
Responsible: de Vry
Client: Selected departments
Effort: Completed NSO and Delaware Preview Days for Admissions, Georgetown Higher Education Building faculty , Fulbright scholars, TA program.
TechTalk
Purpose: Produce five supplements to UpDate on selected topics, and provide newsworthy technical items on an ongoing basis
Responsible: Gordon, Nanis, Public Relations, and University Media Services
Impacts: University
Effort: Completed the October issue on Responsible Computing. Planning for a November issue on Teaching with Technology.
3 successful Tech Talks on Responsible Computing, Teaching with Technology, Plain Talk from Tech Talk plus other newsworthy articles.
Ongoing documentation: completed all the supporting documentation for the streamlined PPP and ethernet installs, brochures for PR events, handouts for classes (new ones include a Web page creations Pt. 2 and Creating Web pages Using Netscape Navigator Gold), and significant documentation to support Helpdesk including original writing, reviewing other units in IT and facilitating the html conversion for the unit.
Faculty Teaching and Learning Institutes (Summer)
Purpose: With CTE, Morris Library, ITC, and UMS organize faculty symposia on teaching and learning with technology
Responsible: de Vry
Impacts: University
Status: A1
Effort: Collaborated on a paper for CAUSE/EFFECT magazine with the other responsible units.
2 successful institutes this year with attendance constantly increasing as well as increasing the number of classes. With co-collaborators wrote up the effort for Fall 1996 CAUSE/EFFECT magazine and presented similar information at the May CAUSE/CNI conference at UD.
Network Partnership Program
Purpose: Form partnerships with schools, non-profit organizations, and government institutions to assist them with connection to the Internet
Assist with development of their implementation plans, provide technical advice, and education for Internet access and usage
Responsible: Lyons, Jarom
(Impacts) Grim, NSS
Client: Various
Status: The University of Delaware has established the University of Delaware Network Partnership Program to assist schools, public services organizations, and local government agencies in using and developing services on the Internet. The main objective was seen as lending technical expertise to these groups to help them devise a network plan, including the hardware and software, that is needed to make them part of the Internet community. In addition, the University will act as their Internet Service Provider by allowing them to run an SMDS hookup to the University and gain access to the Internet through our connection. The following is an update on the program.
1. Archmere Academy, contact Steve Lemak.
The router and SMDSU were install on October 17, 1996 and Archmere is operational. They are registered as archmere.claymont.de.us. Steve hopes to have e-mail and a web server operational by September.
2. Saint Mark’s High School, contact Linda Fischer.
St. Mark’s was operational by the end of September, 1996. They are registered as stmarks.pvt.k12.de.us. St. Mark’s is running their own DNS server. Their web server is operational and can be found at http://www.stmarks.pvt.k12.de.us/. They are still working on e-mail.
3. St. Andrews Academy, contact Adam Stegeman.
St. Andrews Academy was operational by the end of October, 1996. They are registered as st-andrews.pvt.k12.de.us. . Their web server is operational and can be found at http://www.st-andrews.pvt.k12.de.us/.
They have e-mail services running.
4. Sanford School, contact Elizabeth Schultheis
Sanford School was operational by the end of December, 1996. This was our fastest project yet. They are registered as sanford.pvt.k12.de.us.
5. Wilmington Friend’s School, contact Greg Miller.
Friend’s SMDSU hookup has been operational since October 24, 1995. Greg has successfully installed AIMS, the Apple Internet Mail. As of yet they do not have a web server. Greg is having work done to connect another building to their network. Additional fiber was too expensive because of the distance and path but they are considering a wireless connection. In addition, Greg has been trying unsuccessfully to activate dialup access into their local AppleTalk network. Info Systems had been working on this for them but with no success.
6. Newark Center for Creative Learning (NCCL), contact John Kinney (parent of students).
In September of 1996, Dan announced that Susan Foster has approved using ISDN to attach schools under the partnership program. Evans contacted John to see if this would work for them but John never followed up on this option.
7. The Tatnall School, Inc., contact Carolyn Wales.
Steve Bertsche was hired as their new technology coordinator over the summer of 1996. He had expressed interested in the partnership program. However, he has gone with another source.
There have been many other inquiries about our program but for most it is more involved or expensive than what they are presently looking for. The most recent request for information has been from Jenny Vrana the chair of the technology committee at The Independence School in Newark.
Computing Site Upgrades
Purpose: Provide campus computing facilities that are capable of running up-to-date software and applications
Upgrade systems in various sites PHTC, Smith, Dickinson, McDowell, Library, Engineering, Recitation
Responsible: Anderer
Client: University
Status: Smith: 3 new HMX Xterminals added in Aug; additional PC and Mac set up for WEB browsing (primary stations) (network connection, ECCE, Password) in 004; 3 Xterminals relocated from I/O and 3 additional PCs set up in 002 Smith as ECCE, UNIX password, network connection Express stations; 2 new color inkjet printers installed in Smith I/O (TekPhasers) upgraded smips printers to HP 5simx printers. Room 040: Replaced 6 Zenith 486 with Gateway Pentiums, put new UNIX site file server into production mode, added new HP color scanner for PC use PHTC: Room 116: Room renovations including new air conditioning system and new carpeting, new 10BaseT wiring for PCs, new HP 5simx printer, installed sound cards in pentiums, purchased headphones to provide 7 systems with full multimedia capability, purchased new projector in PC classroom to a Proxima Projector, replaced VCR for training video viewing/teaching, added several Zip and Jaz drives, purchased small copy machine for training material duplication, etc.. Phase 2: upgraded 5 Gateway P5-75 to P5-200 multimedia systems. Room 114: Added memory to X-terminals to provide machines capable of running a wider variety of software based on users’ needs, added projector to room for teaching enhancement. Dickinson: New 10BaseT wiring for Macs, upgraded 13 Everex 386es to PowerMacs. Harrington: Upgraded Zenith 486es with Gateway P5-133es with sound cards, purchased headphones to provide 7 systems with full multimedia capability. Phase 2: replaced 4 PowerMac 6100 with Gateway P5-200 multimedia stations. McDowell: New 10BaseT wiring for the site, upgraded Everex 386es to Zenith 486es, replaced 2 HP Series II printers with 1 HP 5simx. Library: Replaced old HP LaserJets with HP 5simx. Library ATC: Upgraded 3 systems to Gateway Pentiums. 1 Christiana: Phase: Upgraded all IBM PS/2 55sxes to Zenith 486es. Phase 2: Upgraded 5 Zenith 486 and 5 Mac IIsi to Gateway P5-75; upgraded 4 Mac IIsi to PowerMac 6100. Recitation: Added Nikon Super CoolScan Scanner, added Wacom Artz II digitizer tablet. Cannon Lab: Added new WindowsNT server for site use. Robinson: Replaced Everexes with Zenith 486s, replaced old printer with HP 5simx. Engineering sites (both 240 Dupont and 010 Spencer): Upgraded many computers by adding graphics memory, pentium processors and added additional stations to handle increased student demand, added new HP color scanner for PC use, added new HP LaserJet 4V printer for larger printouts, upgraded AutoCAD software, new carpeting in 340 Dupont.
Effort:
Student Ethernet installs
Purpose: Support students in residence halls with getting their computers connected to the campus network
Objective: 1. Set up systems by appointment prior to start of semester
2. Provide setup/pickup service on move-in day.
3. Provide dorm teams to setup systems during first few weeks of semester.
4. Provide carry-in service at selected computing sites through the year
Responsible: Anderer, Nichols, site directors
Impacts: University Bookstore, NSS for residence hall connections
Client: Students who own computers
Target: Ongoing
Status: P2 Provided set-up-by-appointment service for computers in the TSC during end of July and all of August. Sept 1 BCC (move-in day): Provided ethernet card and software installation for scheduled and drop-in students, provided pick up place for pre-ordered Gateways delivered to UD. After Sept 1: Provided carry-in service at Harrington, Dickinson, TSC, and Christiana as well as telephone and in-room visits for software/hardware installation and troubleshooting.
Prepared documentation for using DHCP.
Prepared new connectivity documentation instructions to help users become more self-sufficient. We created a document called "Check IT Out" and delivered it to Residence Hall students with other check-in Day materials at the start of the fall semester. This document answered a majority of the students questions regarding Information Technologies' services. It won an ACM SIGUCCS conference award in the printed Instructional Materials area of the Education & Training competition.
Configured a reduced-size disk version of OnNet that provided students with only the necessary clients to connect and transfer files which made the process easier for students and reduced installation problems.
Effort:
Gateway Purchase/Ethernet Installation Program
Purpose: Provide parents/students with the option to order new Gateways and deliver them to us for ethernet installation before September 1.
Responsible: Lyons, Anderer, Nichols
Client: Students buying new computers
Status: Coordinated the process from Gateway receiving student orders, notifying us, verifying order with parent, receiving shipments, moving and storing computers, installing software, to moving "completed" orders to BCC for pick-up on Sept. 1.
Back To School Mailing for Fall ‘97
Purpose: Provide students and parents with information about buying a new computer, recommendations and connectivity needs.
Objective: Provide information to ensure parents and student purchase computers that will adhere to our minimum recommendations and will be useful resources.
Responsible: Anderer, Gordon
Impacts: IT Units, University Bookstore
Client: Parents and students.
Status: Prepared text and graphic layout, worked closely with UD Bookstore and Gateway for computer equipment specifications. Negotiated deal with Gateway which enabled us to acquire funds to send mailing to all students at the end of June.
Departmental computing upgrades
Purpose: Provide configuration advice, installation and trouble-shooting for departments that request computer, server, or printer upgrades
Objective: Provide working environment that conforms to University standards for connectivity, desktop interface, shared printing, etc.
Responsible: Nichols, Anderer
Impacts: NSS
Client: Various departments: Facilities, Planning & Maintenance; Physical Education.
Target: Ongoing
Status: P2
Effort:
Residence Hall Lounge system upgrades
Purpose: Cascade site equipment to residence hall lounges to replace existing old systems (about 30 total)
Objective: Provide each residence hall lounge with a networked microcomputer for Internet access (mail, library, WWW, etc.)
Responsible: Anderer
Impacts: Residence Life
Client: Residence Life
Target: Fall term
Status: Finished supplying all residence hall directors with a computer. Upgrade several lounge systems with older upgraded site equipment.
Effort:
Utilization of Computing Sites (Usage/Access Evaluation)
Purpose: Evaluate usage of computing sites (who, what, when, why). Determine most efficient/effective usage/access of computing sites
Responsible: Anderer, Webster
Impacts: Students
Client: University
Target:
Status:
Effort:
Special Program Support
Purpose: Provide computer equipment and support to special programs or events.
Responsible: Anderer, Nichols
Client: Various
Status: Provided equipment for: NSO demonstrations, NSO registration, TECH kid computer summer camp), Delaware Preview Days, Principals' Academy, Parents’ Day(preschool, CAUSE/CNI conference. Cleaned out storage of old equipment -- donated usable stuff and surplussed broken/obsolete equipment.
Help Center Support
Purpose: Provide information and technical support to the IT Help Center. Implement Help Desk to provide networked information service that is accessible to users and IT staff
Objective: 1. Document standards of service for User Services
2. Determine customer satisfaction levels by creating and distributing a user survey.
Responsible: Lyons, Webster
Impacts: IT
Client: University
Target: Fall term
Status: A1
Effort:
Smith Hall Services
Purpose: Reorganize Smith Hall staff and public access areas as part of "IT for the 21st Century" project
Objective Create area to provide easy access to all our services
Responsible: Webster
Impacts: IT
Client: University
Target: Fall term
Status: Plans submitted; on hold
Effort:
Service Support Levels
Purpose: Define standards of service and set customer expectation.
Objective: Provide users, Help Center Staff and User Services consultants with clear guidelines on service/consulting support levels.
Responsible: Webster
Impacts: User Services
Client: University
Target: Fall '96
Status:
Effort:
University
of Delaware Home Page
Please direct questions to Ulrike Miklitz
URL of this document: http://www.udel.edu/itdocs/96rpt.html
Last modified: September 8, 1997