Archive for July 2020

Students can purchase Dell computers from www.dell.com/csuci

by Anonymous in ,

Students wishing to purchase their own Dell laptops that are comparable to those that the school provides in classrooms have the option to do so from a new Dell/CSUCI portal site.  The site suggests 4 different models priced from $749.99 - $1213.77.  Through special arrangement these computers come with a 3 Year ProSupport plus plan and $100 Back to School promo (Dell egift card).

These specific computers are not mandated.  We simply hope that the portal site provides another resource for students to consider as the campus prepares for remote instruction.

HyFlex-Capable Classrooms Coming Soon *Updated*

by Anonymous in , , ,

Dear Colleagues,

In an effort to provide creative ways to allow for remote instruction, ITS is exploring options where a hybrid flexible or HyFlex course format could be supported.

Five rooms that will be used for F2F (face to face) instruction for the Fall will have cameras, microphones and speakers installed which will allow in-person or online class attendance.   By utilizing permanently installed equipment and remote communication tools like Zoom or Teams, instructors will have the ability to interact with students whether they be physically on campus or remote.

The hardware needed for this solution will be brand new to CSUCI, but should integrate well with our existing computers and the control panels with which instructors are already familiar.  Equipment in these rooms should be fully operational by 9/25/20.  These rooms will be "proof of concept" rooms and will provide two slightly different equipment sets.  Faculty use of these rooms and input on them can greatly inform future purchases and installations.

The rooms identified for HyFlex are:

  • ALISO Hall 133 ----- Basic HyFlex (9/21: final configuration/calibration and testing)
  • ALISO Hall 134 ----- Level 1 HyFlex (9/25: installing document cameras, final room configuration)
  • ALISO Hall 231 ----- Level 1 HyFlex (9/25: installing document cameras, final room configuration)
  • ALISO Hall 234 ----- Basic HyFlex  (9/21: final configuration/calibration and testing)
  • SIERRA Hall 1344 ----- Basic HyFlex (9/21: final configuration/calibration and testing)

The main difference between Basic and Level 1 HyFlex is that Basic HyFlex rooms will have a single camera focused on the instructor and a ceiling mounted mic that will pickup the instructor's voice.  The Level 1 HyFlex will have cameras that the instructor can control and mics that will pickup sound in the room from instructors and students.

This is one of several efforts we are working on to help support remote instruction needs.  We are working closely with vendors and suppliers to expedite equipment purchases as quickly as possible, and will make another announcement when these rooms are ready for testing and use.

Thank you for your patience.


Monthly Bulletin - June 2020

by Anonymous in ,

I'm pleased to share the ITS monthly bulletin, which provides a summary of activities & accomplishments for the department of Information Technology Services over the past month. Stay healthy and safe everyone!

User Services

  • In support of virtual instruction, we have received digital recording equipment for testing by faculty.  Any faculty member may borrow a “kit” that includes a camera, tripod, mic and lights.  Please contact Dawn Canfield for more information.
  • In support of virtual learning, we are working with the library to build up an inventory of loaner laptops for students. We are training staff now on how to prepare these computers.  The library will announce this increased inventory of loaners by mid-August.
  • To address the need for recording or streaming video in classrooms we have reached out to vendor partners for quotes or RFPs for the purchase and installation of appropriate equipment.
  • In order to continuously improve abilities for remote technical support we have reevaluated TeamViewer and Dameware remote support tools and included more staff in demonstrations and training on the tools.
  • In partnership with our Professional Development department we have offered additional OneDrive training sessions and created custom training materials and resources for them.
  • We are evaluating and testing patch management software solutions to help keep software installations current and compliant.

Application Services

  • Development, Testing, Quality Assurance, and Move to Production completed or scheduled during June 2020:
    • IVO Completion Interface – Principle Development Completed, End-to-End Testing Started
    • Engage Interface – Principle Development Continues
    • Parchment Upgrade  - Principle Development Completed, End-to-End Testing Started
    • EAB Implementation Support – CO Unit Logic Error Principle Development Started
    • Transition of Web Applications from Freevo to .Net Core - Principle Development
    • Santa Rosa Island Web Application – Requirements Analysis
  • Database Scripts for the following areas were developed and deployed during June 2020:
    • Student Financials – Re-apply payment contracts
  • Work continues on the mandated CI Records, CI Personnel, CI Financials PeopleTools 8.57 Upgrades.
  • The Follow Maintenance was performed:
    • Maintenance pack MP 11.03 was migrated to CI Records
    • Maintenance pack MP 12 was migrated to CI Records and CI Personnel Testing
    • Maintenance pack MP 12.01 was migrated to CI Records Testing
  • The Following Data Warehouse and Institutional Reporting Activity took place during June 2020
    • COVID19 Commencement Survey Analysis Complete
    • Data Warehouse On Premise Migration Testing
    • Data warehouse operational work for BFA, Student Affairs and Academic Affairs
    • Power BI Data Reporting Proof of Concepts Continue
  • Application Services continued supporting the following operations and projects:
    • Year End Support for BFA
    • AWS Hybrid Cloud Project
    • CARES Refunding Process
    • Retention Policy Manager Logic Updates
    • Student Financials Fee Configuration
    • Identity and Access Management Support
    • CFS Related Support of BFA Operations
    • Data Warehouse Operations

Infrastructure

  • Installed new phone system hardware:  2 Cisco servers, 2 Cisco voice routers, 2 Cisco analog voice gateways
  • Configuration of new phone system hardware to match existing setups
  • Migrated off old Cisco VoIP phone system to the new hardware with much newer version of the Call Manager Software
  • Tested all migrated phone system components
  • Installed and did basic configuration on new network border firewall devices
  • Ongoing management of campus SAFE project
  • Provide support to staff, faculty and employees for access to CI resources and applications
  • Involved with other staff in identifying and commencing search for photo submission application – MyPhoto
  • Worked with Advising\Tutoring Centers to update student and course information for import to their department application for summer session

Information Security

  • Continued work on refining scanning process for servers and workstation using Qualys
  • Information Security held training with Police for incoming students this as part of online orientation
  • Audit observation remediation continues
  • Continued with scheduled internal quarterly and monthly internal assessments for:
    • CI Records, CI Personnel, and CI Financials
    • Unisys Data Center
    • PeopleSoft Oracle Accounts
    • Segregation of Duties
  • Monthly CSU ISAC and ISAC EC meetings
  • Resolved 52 work orders

Project Management

  • Adobe Sign: Successfully completed deactivation of CSUCI DocuSign account. Worked on electronic signature authorization approval and review by stakeholders in Business & Financial Affairs. Led Adobe Sign Collaborative working group meeting, and Adobe Sign Office hours session.
  • Completed final report for CSU multi-campus business process automation at scale innovation grant project. More information is available in the CalStateTech Slack channel: https://calstatetech.slack.com/archives/CPNBH816V
  • Closed AWS innovation grant project with Environmental Science and Resource Management (ESRM)
  • Restarting online photo submission project: worked on product evaluation and completed reference interviews for MyPhoto product
  • Completed IT project portfolio review meetings with Division Project Coordinators for 3 divisions
  • Completed testing of TeamDynamix ticket cleanup/reassignment scripts with ITS Infrastructure. 207 tickets were updated in 30 minutes.
  • Work continues in support of Early Childhood Education center proposal, Dropbox to OneDrive migration, Rocket Trubiquity document management system upgrade
  • Resolved 37 IT procurement requests

Web Services

Administration

    • Congratulations to Kiki Patsch and the Environmental Science and Resource Management program, which received Amazon Web Services (AWS) $50,000 in AWS credits from the CSU Chancellors Office and Amazon for their proposal "Leveling the Computing Playing Field" 

    Monthly Bulletin - May 2020

    by Anonymous in ,

    I'm pleased to share our bulletin, which provides a summary of activities & accomplishments for the department of Information Technology Services during May 2020.

    User Services

    • Three staff members were reassigned from User Services to Security and student assistants have been reduced from 6 to 2.  Helped onboard, train, and transfer a student assistant to the Application Services team.
    • In collaboration with the Library, a hotspot loaner program has been developed and the Library will announce its readiness to manage it soon
    • Additional forms have been created in Adobe Sign
    • Additional software has been added to the CIVL Virtual Lab for summer session and in preparation for the Fall term
    • Supported users in migrating their data from Dropbox to OneDrive
    • Encouraged and assisted with Zoom updates for users, which will allow them to take advantage of enhanced security features.  Also encouraged and facilitated Windows OS updates.
    • Continued to provide or exchange loaner laptops for faculty and staff as needed
    • Provided user training or orientation for OneDrive and Teams
    • Participated in ongoing security audit analysis and related process improvement
    • Participated in reviews of necessary patch management software
    • Upgraded AV in several classrooms
    • Worked with facilities to prepare Trinity Hall storage area for use
    • Assisted executives with orientation and use of the CSU’s secure data transfer tool
    • Assisted Auxiliary Services with a review of shared MFPs
    • Contributed to the BFA newsletter, The Companion
    • Provided technical support for the President’s Staff Forum

    Application Services

    • Development, Testing, Quality Assurance, and Move to Production completed or scheduled during April 2020:
      • Duo Interface for Direct Deposit – Move to Production in CI Records
      • Security Navigation Generation - Move to Production in CI Records
      • IVO Completion Interface – Principle Development
      • Engage Interface – Principle Development
      • Parchment Upgrade  - Principle Development
      • EAB Implementation Support – CO Unit Logic Error Analysis
    • Database Scripts for the following areas were developed and deployed during January 2019:
      • Admissions – Academic Plans Codes
      • Student Records – Student Groups Cleanup
      • Student Financials – StarRez Interface Staging Cleanup
    • Work continues on the mandated CI Records, CI Personnel, CI Financials PeopleTools 8.57 Upgrades.
    • The Follow Maintenance was performed:
      • Maintenance pack MP 11.03 was migrated to CI Records Testing
    • The Following Data Warehouse and Institutional Reporting Activity took place during April 2020
      • COVID19 Commencement Survey Analysis Began
      • Admit Hub ChatBot Data Integration into Data Warehouse
      • Data warehouse operational work for Student Affairs and Academic Affairs
      • Sunset of SAAS Analytics Platform
      • Power BI Data Reporting Proof of Concepts Began
    • Application Services continued supporting the following operations and projects:
      • Perceptive Content Retention Policy Manager Vendor Information Sessions
      • CARES Refunding Process
      • Student Financials Fee Configuration
      • Identity and Access Management Support
      • CFS Related Support of BFA Operations
      • Data Warehouse Operations
      • APDB Data Issue Research

    Infrastructure

    • Installed new phone system hardware:  2 Cisco servers, 2 Cisco voice routers, 2 Cisco analog voice gateways
    • Configuration of new phone system hardware to match existing setups
    • Migrated off of old Cisco VoIP phone system to the new hardware with much newer version of the Call Manager Software
    • Tested all migrated phone system components
    • Installed and did basic configuration on new network border firewall devices
    • Ongoing management of campus SAFE project
    • Provided support to staff, faculty and employees for access to CI resources and applications
    • Involved with other staff in identifying and commencing search for photo submission application – MyPhoto
    • Worked with Advising\Tutoring Centers to update student and course information for import to their department application for summer session

    Information Security

    • DUO for Students successfully implemented.
      • CSUCI is now 100% MFA required for myCI applications and the 1st in the CSU to have this required control in place
    • Continued work on refining scanning process for servers and workstation using Qualys
    • Held class through CSUCI’s Professional Development department titled “Computer Security Tips- Working from Home”
    • Submitted articles for the News Center for May
      • May 20, 2020 : Fake jobs offered via Zoom and text message
    • Aruba VPN users all migrated to PAN Global Protect VPN.
    • Resolved 76 work orders
      • 26 Phishing
      • 34 Misc. Information Security Requests
      • 11 PeopleSoft Security
      • 5 MFA
    • Audit observation remediation continues.
      • Successfully completed migrations of the following 3rd party software from JAMF for computers that were connected via VPN:
        • Adobe Flash
        • Zoom updates
        • Google Chrome
        • Firefox
    • Continued with scheduled internal quarterly and monthly internal assessments for:
      • CI Records, CI Personnel, and CI Financials
      • Unisys Data Center
      • PeopleSoft Oracle Accounts
      • Segregation of Duties
    • Assisted Commencement team with security review of StageClip
    • Information Security support and discussion for Adobe Sign project related to PII containing forms
    • Monthly CSU ISAC and ISAC EC meetings

    Project Management

    • On May 11, successfully completed upgrade of TeamDynamix to v11.1. Release notes are available at https://solutions.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/1965/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=100106
    • Providing project support for Duo for Students; CARES and Direct Deposit; Early Childhood Education center planning; Emergency Preparedness; Dropbox migration to OneDrive; CI Fileflow retention policy manager implementation
    • Work continues on the BP Logix business process automation proof of concept for the CSU.
    • Project management and support for Fall Planning Task Force (http://www.csuci.edu/fptaskforce)
    • Working on campus authorization for electronic and digital signature, in alignment with CSU policy.
    • Coordinate AWS grant review and submission to the Chancellor’s Office.
    • Resolved 15 IT procurement requests

    Web Services

    • ​Continuing to work with DSA on migration of http://theisland.csuci.edu content to new content management infrastructure and resolution of known issues.
    • Continuing to evaluate SiteImprove, Monsido, and Blackboard Ally in support of accessibility scanning and remediation efforts for non-HTML documents.
    • Resolved 58 service requests