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April 2014 Computing and Technology Update

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After a short hiatus, here is the Computing and Technology update for April 2014.

Windows 7 (and the demise of Windows XP)

Updates from Microsoft for Windows XP will end this week. If for some reason you are continuing to use a Windows XP workstation, please ensure you apply all the updates that are available using Windows Update. Also, be extremely cautious when web-surfing and receiving attachments or links in email. These are where malware generally comes from. If you have not done so already, please contact the Helpdesk immediately to determine how to upgrade your system to Windows 7. If your workstation cannot be upgraded we will be looking for you (or your department head) to have a plan to do so in the immediate future.

Short Version: Apply all WindowsXP updates! Be actively planning upgrade or replacement!

GroupWise

In January I plotted for you a move from GroupWise to Gmail within 6 to 12 months. However some of the critical back-end technology infrastructure that is needed for the migration is taking longer than expected to put in place. This is delaying the start of planning and movement into Gmail. We are working to revise the earlier estimate and will update you as we progress.

Short Version: Delayed in planning the move to Gmail.

TechQual+

Last fall many of you responded to a survey of your expectations and experience with Information Technology (IT) at the University. As part of our continuing plan to improve the delivery of IT we are about to conduct the same survey again, and then again every spring. As with the fall survey, 25% of all faculty, staff, and students will receive an invitation to participate. If you do receive an invitation, please take the time (10 to 15 minutes) to provide your honest evaluation of the service delivered to you over this past year.

Short Version: TechQual+ 2014 being conducted over the next few weeks. Please take part.

Internet Explorer 10 and Windows Updates

Since the migration from Novell NetWare to Microsoft services updates for critical system problems and vulnerabilities have been “pushed” to your workstation rather than you having to perform the update yourself. Beginning next week you will also begin to see more non-critical, or advisory updates being applied. A very visible one will be updating Internet Explorer to version 10. As many of you use Firefox and/or Chrome as your default browser, this update is not intended to change or recommend anything different, just to ensure your computer is not compromised by running outdated software.

Short Version: Internet Explorer 10 update being applied to systems.

Software for Computer Labs and Classrooms

Every year around this time the Computer Lab and Classroom team begins work on the software setup for the fall semester. Much like the bookstore asking what textbooks your students will need for fall, we are looking for what software you would like available in the computer labs and classrooms. Please take the time to let us know what software, big or small, you are hoping for. We have a quick and easy web-form and guidelines at http://usm.maine.edu/computing/academic-software-request-guidelines .

Short Version: Fall computer lab and classroom software requests needed.

Blackberry Service Ending

A while back we announced that the decline in the number of Blackberry users had made the GroupWise to Blackberry synchronization service no longer sustainable. Since then nearly all blackberry users have migrated to other devices putting us ahead of schedule on turning the service off. We are moving up the shut-down date to June 1, 2014.

Short Version: Blackberry  service ending June 1, 2014

URSUS Update

The Library will be upgrading to a new card catalog system in late July of this year. The new system, Sierra, will replace the URSUS system we have been using for many years. While both products are from the same vendor, migrations of this size take time to accomplish. More details on the process will be available as they develop.

Short Version: URSUS migrating to Sierra late July.

Blackboard

Blackboard will be unavailable this Sunday (April 13th) from 4:00 AM to approximately 7:00 AM. The Blackboard support team is making some required configuration changes.

Short Version: Blackboard unavailable from 4:00 AM to 7:oo AM Sunday, April 13th, 2014

IT Administrative Review

Over the past year the IT organizations of all seven campuses and the system office have been reviewing operations and developing a new organization to be more cost-effective at delivering IT services. We are fast approaching several turning points in this transformation. You can find progress reports, planning documents, and implementation schedules at the University System’s Think Mission Excellence site (http://thinkmissionexcellence.maine.edu).

Short Version: Check http://thinkmissionexcellence.maine.edu for Administrative Review Progress

This update and more can be found on USM Computing’s blog at http://blogs.usm.maine.edu/computing

Stephen Houser
Executive Director for Information and Technology
University of Southern Maine

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