Showing posts with label laptop computers. Show all posts

Returning Loaner Laptops

by Anonymous in , , ,

Dear Colleagues,

It is time to start thinking about returning any loaner laptops that were checked out from ITS during the pandemic.  Faculty and staff members who no longer need their loaner computers should return them at the earliest opportunity.  We will be reviewing our ticketing system and other records to follow up with individuals who were issued loaners to set specific return dates.

Loaners may be returned to us in Lindero Hall most normal business days between 9am and 4pm however, please do not drop into tech offices without making prior arrangements.  Login to the Solution Center portal and "view your tickets" to update your loaner laptop ticket indicating that you're ready to return the loaner.  If you can't find your loaner ticket, please submit a new ticket noting that you're ready to return a laptop.  One of our technicians will respond with time options for returning the laptop.

*Please remember to bring your power cord along with your loaner laptop*

Thank you for your partnership and stewardship in caring for CSUCI property.  Please contact the Solution Center at 805-437-8552 with any questions you may have about this process.

 

Where is your old computer?

by Anonymous in , , , ,

This is a reminder that old computers (generally 2 years beyond warranty or 5-7 years old) should be promptly removed from campus.  It is important that old computers be removed as they can pose security risks and cause friction in user and IT workflows.

You’ll be practicing good digital citizenship by notifying IT of old computers in need of removal. Please submit a Solution Center/Help Desk request for us to decommission such machines.  We can make special arrangements to have them physically removed when it is safe, but first we need your request submitted to plan the work.

Thank you for your partnership!

Library Lockers for Contactless Pickup

by Anonymous in , ,

Our colleagues at the library have instituted a contactless procedure for picking up equipment or materials checked out from the library.  36 lockers are now located in the Founders Courtyard near Broome Library for this purpose.

Please see their equipment webpage for more details.

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.

Draft Protocols for In-Person IT Support

by Anonymous in , , , ,

Dear Colleagues,

While we continue to work remotely we recognize that some members of our University need in-person assistance with their university computing devices.  The default and preferred way to provide support continues to be virtual, however when in-person support is needed for desktop/laptop computers, tablets or other electronic equipment we ask that users follow these protocols to reduce potential exposure to and spread of COVID-19:

• Do Not Visit IT Staff without an Appointment– Contact your IT professional and ask for an available time to deliver or set up your equipment. Do not stop by the offices or work areas of IT professionals for assistance without prior scheduled approval.

• Bring or Pick Up Equipment in Designated Locations – Your IT professional will designate a location on campus where you may drop off or pick up equipment.

• Prepare Your Workspace – If your IT professional will be setting up or configuring technology within your workspace, please arrange for open and safe access to the area.

• Avoid Close Contact – If you have to be present, allow for a distance of at least six feet between you and your IT professional at all times.

• Please Be Patient – Our university IT professionals are working diligently and taking extra precautions to ensure safety. Technicians may need additional time to properly address their users’ IT needs.

Computer refresh at CSUCI

by Anonymous in , , , , ,

Two questions that Information Technology Services (ITS) frequently receives are:

  1. how often are campus computers refreshed, and
  2. how is computer refresh funded?
We're pleased to share some answers to these questions.


Personal Faculty & Staff Computer Refresh
Since 2013, refresh of faculty and staff personal desktop and laptop computers has been funded from the general campus budget as described in the ITS Business Practice for Hardware End-of-Life and "Red Tagging" (BP.03.012):

“Each division receives funding from the University budget to support regular, timely refresh of computer equipment, and each division is expected to prioritize and manage the regular refresh of out-of-warranty and red-tagged computers using those funds at their discretion.”

Lab & Classroom Computer Refresh
Computers in labs and classrooms (including instructor workstations) are primarily funded from two sources. The primary source of funding is the Materials, Science, Facilities & Technology (MSFT) student fee. Computer lab and classroom equipment that is not funded through the MSFT may receive secondary funding for refresh using general funds at the discretion of the sponsoring department/division, strategic initiative or other special one-time funding sources.

Funding Challenges and Strategies for Refresh
Unfortunately, current funding levels limit the University's ability to keep all computers up-to-date. ITS can help divisions and departments to identify and prioritize computers for refresh. Keeping all University computers current is important for security and compatibility. University organizations should target to refresh their computers on a regular, rolling cycle that corresponds to computer end-of-life (see below). To facilitate this process, ITS maintains a database of personal, lab and classroom computers as described in the ITS Business Practice for Personal Computer Inventory (BP.03.009).

Computer End-of-Life
To keep CSUCI's computing environment up-to-date, the ITS Business Practice for Hardware End-of-Life and "Red Tagging" (BP.03.012) identifies a 5-year lifecycle for desktop, laptop and tablet computers for personal, lab and classroom use. In addition, all new computers purchased should have a 4-year extended warranty.

How to Purchase New Computers
Standard desktop and laptop computers can be purchased through the standard IT procurement process. These computers have been selected to serve a majority of campus needs and to facilitate support. Non-standard (or custom) computers can be purchased through the custom IT procurement process.


Thanks for your support in keeping CSUCI's computing environment secure and up-to-date. Please contact Chief Information Officer Jim August at jim.august@csuci.edu with any additional questions about CSUCI's computer lifecycle and replacement process.

Support for Windows 7 ending

by Anonymous in , , ,

Please be advised that Microsoft will be ending support for Windows 7 in January 2020.   All CSUCI computers should be running current operating systems for the best user experience and improved security.   Windows 10 Enterprise is the recommended operating system for PC users.  Though it is not yet required to upgrade, users may log a Solution Center request to do so.   The Information Technology Consultant (ITC) assigned to your area can provide advice and guidance on upgrading.


New instructional computers, Spring 2019

by Anonymous in , , , ,

We are pleased to announce that new computers have been installed in the following classrooms or labs:

  • Aliso 231
  • Bell Tower 2716  
  • Bell Tower 2684 
  • Sierra 1222 
  • Sierra 1232 
  • Topanga 1976 

There are also several rooms with new instructor computers or projectors installed. In most cases this equipment was specified and funded by Materials, Science, Facilities and Technology (MSFT) fee proposals submitted about a year ago, intended to refresh aged equipment. As we work toward bringing all classroom technology up to current standards we will appreciate your thoughtful feedback on the performance of the equipment in these rooms.

As always, if you have any trouble with this or any other classroom computer please log a help request, or call the Solution Center at: 805-437-8552

ITS Department Tech-E Trophies Awarded

by Mike Long @ ITS in , , , , , , , , , ,


ITS Department Tech-E Trophies Awarded

Recognizing Excellence in Service and Profession since 2011

In 2011 the ITS department sought a means to recognize and celebrate the people who keep all the technological plates spinning at CI.  The men and women of ITS work hard on many fronts, making sure that all the programs, applications, devices and connections that the campus depends on to meet our common mission are working at all times.  The ITS Tech-E award (a take on a common term for tech people--“techie” and the E for excellence)  was born out of this desire to recognize their hard work.  A committee of ITS peers was selected who worked together to identify and describe the traits that mark an EXCELLENT worker and these traits are included on the semi-annual nomination forms to help people identify those ITS personnel who best exemplify those traits.  In recognition of the fact that many ITS personnel do not get much face time outside of the department, eventually two separate but similar awards were created.  The Tech-E for Excellence in Profession is voted on by the ITS group only and is presented to that person who voters felt most exemplifies the traits of a positive attitude, dependability, approach-ability, innovation, and unselfishness.  The Tech-E for Excellence in Service recognizes those same traits but is voted on by the entire campus community of Faculty and Staff.  

(Side note:  Nominations will be sought again in the middle of the Spring Semester; keep an eye out for that email and nominate the ITS individual who represents excellence in Service to you!)

At a departmental Lunch and Learn the week of December 10th, two new winners were identified and were recognized for their contributions.  This semester the ITS Tech-E award for Excellence in Profession was awarded to Pedro Rivas.  Pedro is a member of the ITS Infrastructure Group who is a System Admin and focuses largely on ID Management work and is an innovator in many other areas.  Pedro has the distinction of having worked at CI as a student assistant for the Infrastructure group and eventually graduated not only with a degree in Computer Science but also a full-time job with ITS!  The Tech-E award for Excellence in Service was presented to Anderson Hanchett.  Anderson has been working (and excelling!) as an Information Technology Consultant for the Solution Center for nearly 18 months.  In this role, he handles many issues for users with desktop computers, laptops, wireless, and printing issues and has clearly stood out as a great example of ITS Excellence.  The entire ITS department congratulates these two fantastic hard-working colleagues!


Pedro Rivas receiving the Fall 2018 Tech-E for Excellence in Profession from Interim AVP Peter Mosinskis   ---->






Anderson Hanchett being congratulated by Interim AVP Peter Mosinskis for winning this semester’s Tech-E for Excellence in Service

   <----







Computer end-of-life and red-tagging of IT equipment - update

by Anonymous in , , , , , , , ,

The Division of Technology & Innovation (T&I) at CSU Channel Islands has recently updated its business practice with respect to how support is handled for IT equipment which has reached its end of life. 

The University currently supports a portfolio of several thousand desktops, laptops, tablet devices, printers, projectors and other office and classroom equipment. In order to maintain a modern, reliable and secure computing environment for the campus and to ensure that CSUCI students and employees have good working equipment to perform their daily assignments, it is necessary to regularly remove older technology from production and replace it with newer, more reliable technology. A regular refresh cycle reduces the burden of support by technicians in T&I for older, less-reliable, and increasingly non-standard equipment.

Please take some time to review BP.03.012 - Business Practice for Hardware End-of-Life and "Red Tagging". The updated practice describes:

  • the criteria for equipment end-of-life; 
  • how end-of-life equipment will be marked by T&I technicians with a red tag; and 
  • the level of support that T&I will provide for red-tagged devices.

As University divisions and campus organizations may not be fully aware of the number and location of computers in their area that will be considered as "red tagged" in accordance with this practice, during the spring 2018 term T&I User Services will be contacting each division with an inventory of personal computers and equipment in their area which fall into the category of "red tagged" equipment, to enable each division to plan for appropriate refresh of end-of-life equipment. In accordance with this practice, these inventory reports will be provided to each division by T&I User Services on an annual basis. 

Please contact T&I Manager of User Services Dawn Canfield at dawn.canfield@csuci.edu with any questions about this practice or the computer inventory. Thank you for your cooperation in helping to keep CSUCI's technology environment up-to-date!