ITS Project Updates: Infrastructure and Applications Development Continues into the New Year
There are a wide variety of information technology projects underway in ITS. Several are projects that we are leading as part of our continued upgrades to the campus infrastructure and systems. Other projects are underway with campus partners and are in different phases from planning and analysis to implementation and maintenance.
From time-to-time, there will be information about how ITS is in the information gathering phase of a project. An important part of any project is this phase of analysis where the IT group meets with customers to develop the scope of a project, prepare early cost and resource estimates and to make a business case prior to project approval. This updates included in each issue of ITS eNews will clearly refer to the stage or phase each project is in and note when we are working with customers exploring the possibility of adding new technologies.
We will also link to information about current products and services that can be found on the ITS website. The site is also undergoing renovation. Our intent is to add more interactive elements as well as an area about business services for campus departments and colleges. This newer information will complement the established support provided for day-to-day operations at the HelpDesk and through Desktop Support teams.
Please provide feedback about the material here or questions/concerns you might have regarding projects, services and products ITS supports to macits@rit.edu
Desktop and Department Applications Support
Secure access to systems and applications on the mainframe continues to be a priority for ITS. In 2008, the team will upgrade current department and college terminal emulation software (Reflection) to the mainframe through the Client Software for Mainframe Access Project, or the Secure TN3270 project as it has been called. The goal is to eliminate all unencrypted client access to the mainframe by using MochaSoft TN3270 for Vista/XP, Reflection (for IBM 2007) and for Mac OS X, TN3270X. Administrators in departments such as the Registrar and Office of Admissions, for example, have been apprised of the new requirements for accessing the mainframe and have begun the transitions for their respective areas. Compliance with the new client access policies is expected to be complete by the end of January.
The Customer Service team has been in the process of re-working the RIT Online Directory, the listing of all faculty, staff and department/college main telephone numbers since early fall. The first draft of the alphabetical listing has been forwarded to telephone coordinators in campus departments and colleges for review. The list is in PDF form and the underlying application will allow for updates as new people are added to campus departments, or in the event that individuals move offices, for example. (See related article for more information about the overall project.)
While Vista and Office 2007 have been available for several months now, ITS has no plans for a major roll out of the updated software applications. However, those individuals who prefer to transition to Vista or Office 2007 can purchase the software through the RIT Bookstore using the special costs from the Microsoft Campus Licensing Agreement and be assured of customer support through the ITS HelpDesk. There are also online, self-paced courses available through CPD’s E-Learning Zone (http://www.rit.edu/cbt) RIT is one of several colleges and businesses that have decided not to pursue major roll-outs of Vista – and yet, will still provide support to those who prefer to use the new software. In a recent article in Information Week, nearly 30% of respondents to a survey about use of Vista related that they would not migrate their users to the new software. Approximately 13% would do so in the next 12 months and another 27% may transition after a year or more. ITS took several months to evaluate early tests of Vista and was aware of security concerns raised; they have addressed these concerns with information posted to the ITS website for further information for campus users: http://www.rit.edu/its/initiatives/vista/index.html
The full Information Week article can be found through the following link:
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199201492
Infrastructure Service Upgrades and Improvements
ITS now offers shared co-location space in its main Data Center facility for its customers who require data center space, but prefer to provide their own systems administrator. Private co-location cabinets can be rented for a nominal annual fee. Completed this fall, the Data Center Co-location Project offered campus partners Data Center space for their hardware with ITS responsible for supplying network, physical access and security, UPS, and temperature controlled environment for their use. An area just off the main Data Center was renovated with a separate access and some common services. The Co-location facility is already nearing capacity and has been a very popular option with our customers. Plans to increase space for this service are being evaluated, with ITS TSS team assessing overall campus needs.
In the last several years, wireless locations on campus have expanded and improved. This year, wireless capability will be expanded into full wireless coverage from the Field House heading west to CIMS. The Academic Wireless Project was approved this fall, and the team will evaluate and test various products to be implemented. More information about the specific wireless capability in different campus buildings will be forthcoming. Current campus wireless information can be found at the ITS website:
http://www.rit.edu/its/services/wireless
University Web Services
This past summer, a new RIT web environment was launched offering significant enhancements on the former web environment – from better security and navigation to increased reliability and maintenance. With the new environment firmly in place, migrations from the former environment to the new are in progress, and will continue over the next several months. ITS University Web Services will be contacting colleges and divisions to initiate the migration of their sites to the new environment. Everyone that currently has a personal website in the former environment is responsible for migrating it to the new environment. As a reminder, migration of all personal websites must be completed by February 29, 2008.
See the accompanying article for more information or check out the ITS website to get instructions to migrate your personal website to the new environment:
https://people.rit.edu/people/gettingstarted/
Financial, Human Resources Systems Support (Oracle Applications)
As the new year begins, the Financial Systems Development team is supporting the Payroll and Accounts Payable departments’ efforts to deliver W2 and 1099 forms to faculty, staff, student employees and vendors in late January. This entails testing patches that provide federally mandated changes to these forms to ensure they print they correct information. The Data Center Operations team assists in ensuring that the forms print properly on standard W2 printing stock and prepares them for mailing via the USPS.
Since early November, the Financial Systems Development team has been working with numerous departments in F&A to upgrade the Oracle Applications from our current 11i version to the R12 version. The upgrade is planned to occur in production Memorial Day weekend 2008. Stay tuned for further updates on this initiative.
Data warehouse
Last year, in support of initiatives that include student retention; process efficiencies and competitive standing, Dr. Watters asked Institutional Research to launch an initiative to develop and deploy a data warehouse at RIT. ITS was engaged to assist in this project. A core project team from Institutional Research, the Registrar’s office and ITS (Joan Graham (IR), Joe Loffredo (Registrar), Dave Hostetter, Kevin Dudarchik and Kim Sowers) developed a data warehouse deployment methodology and completed a formal process to acquire new software needed to support the data warehouse initiative.
Working with additional staff in Institutional Research, the Registrar’s office and ITS they also completed the Evaluate and Analysis phases of the project after determining that the initial data warehouse iteration needed to focus on Retention and Graduation. The formal kick-off of this project with the full project team, consisting of representatives from systems development, database and systems administration, Institutional Research, the Registrar’s office, data center operations and the Information Security office, was held on January 8th. Further updates on this initiative will be provided as the project progresses.
ITS Administrative Services
One of the departments within the ITS organization is Administrative Services. This team coordinates the human resource, financial, administrative and communications aspects of the ITS group. Information about chargebacks for services, licensing agreements and budgeting can be addressed with this team. In the last few weeks, the Administrative Services team has been working with a vendor to place all Telecommunications Charges for Local and Long Distance Calling on a new portal application for better access, viewing and archiving. More about the status of this project will be forthcoming.
Questions or comments? Email us at macits@rit.edu