CSUCI Deploys MATLAB and Simulink Anywhere Access for Students, Educators, and Researchers

by Anonymous in , , ,

New Total Academic Headcount (TAH) license underscores university’s commitment to bettering its learning environment 

California State University Channel Islands signed an agreement with MathWorks that provides all of our students, educators, and researchers campus-wide access to MATLAB, Simulink, and additional products. California State University Channel Islands joins more than 800 schools worldwide already using the MathWorks TAH campus-wide license.

CSUCI’s adoption of MATLAB and Simulink for technical computing and Model-Based Design further demonstrates the school’s commitment to continuously enhancing the learning environment for its students, educators, and researchers by providing anywhere access to cohesive industry-standard tools.

Our MATLAB and Simulink campus-wide TAH license includes analysis, design, modeling, simulation, code generation, and testing products for the engineering and science schools, plus computational finance for the business and economic schools. We are deploying these tools to students, educators, and researchers via a centralized license that increases the administrative efficiency of software management and distribution, and ensures that a common set of tools is readily available for all users.

Through the agreement between CSUCI and MathWorks, users will have access to software and associated documentation as well as immediate access to new releases. The TAH license permits the installation of MATLAB and Simulink on campus-managed and user-owned computers.

For instructions on downloading the software go to the California State University Channel Islands’s MATLAB Portal. Use your Dolphin User Name and Password to login and download the software.  You'll link your Dolphin User Name to your existing Mathworks account or if you don't already have one, you can create an account as part of the download process.

Access free, self-paced training to get started in less than 2 hours:  MATLAB Onramp.  You may also contact the IT Solution Center if you require further assistance with installation of MATLAB.

Monthly Bulletin - October 2018

by in ,

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

User Services

  • Expanding Digital Signage installation to include some areas for Student Affairs.  Procurement and installation workflows are being developed and will be tested by this group with the intent to provide a workable “opt-in” model for the rest of the campus.
  • Reviewing Dropbox training and support practices and materials for improvement.  As use of this campus resource grows, additional in-person and on-line resources will be developed.
  • Considering possible support needs for Extended University winter intersession and preparing mitigation strategies.

Application Services

  • Testing continues for the Grey Heller ERP Firewall project.  This project overlaps with Information Security.
  • Work Order Analysis for Application Services 
    • Completed the following number of work orders:
      • 49 for Academic Affairs 
      • 44 for Business and Financial Affairs
      • 01 for Information Technology Services
      • 01 for Student Affairs
    • New work orders opened this period:
      • 41 for Academic Affairs
      • 33 for Business and Financial Services
      • 01 for Student Affairs
      • 01 by a student
  • Angela Stockmon completed 10 sets of database clones to support Application Services ongoing projects and operations.
  • Maintenance packs MP 4.06, 5.00, 5.01 and 5.02 were migrated to our production CI Records and CI Personnel instances this month.
  • Application Services resolved 97 work order in October (as of this update).

Infrastructure

  • Increased Active Directory security with software fixes
  • Dropbox Teams pilot project began to rollout to targeted users/groups
  • Completed migration of SQL server databases from older Berm/Dune servers
  • 4 Infrastructure team members attended 3 days of NTA/CAST (system wide network and systems alliance) meetings in San Diego
  • 2 Infrastructure team members (system admins) completed a week of VMWare 6.7 training
  • 1 Infrastructure team member attended a week of SQL Server training
  • Oversaw semi-annual Data Center UPS maintenance by vendor
  • Developed scope and requested quotes for camera additions for Auxiliary Services cash counting operations
  • Forward progress of data cabling installations for 23 Student Housing additions
  • Assisted with interviews for new student workers for Solution Center
  • Met with consultants assessing ITS needs toward CIO search
  • 2 team members attended 1 hour Fall Protection/Arial Work Platforms training

Information Security    

  • Information Security addressed three significant security incidents requiring SIRF reports.
  • Information Security submitted four news articles to the CI News Center for National Cyber-security Awareness Month.
  • Information Security conducted six Business Email Compromise awareness training sessions to the following groups this month: Human Resources, Office of the President, CI Police Department and the Project PROMESAS staff.
  • Carlos Miranda continues to address campus reported phishing email attempts.
  • Continued configuration and testing of Spirion, which will be replacing our current Identity Finder product.
  • Neal Fisch completed the following regular audits:
    • Monthly - Segregation of Duties in PeopleSoft
    • Monthly - System Access vs. Terminated EE’s
    • Quarterly Data Center and Oracle Account Audit
  • The second pilot group for DUO 2-Step (multi-factor) authentication has performed well with no reported issues or questions from the pilot group.
  • Work continued on CI’s annual Security and Data Risk Assessment (confidential data) to be turned in to the CO in December.  Surveys were sent to designated CI administrators to complete before 11/29/2018.
  • Information Security resolved 124 work order in October (as of this update).
  • Completed 3 Information Security Vendor Risk Assessments tied to IT Procurements.
  • Carlos Miranda was asked to present at the 2018 Submerge User Conference and Phishing Defense Summit.
  • Carlos Miranda completed a CISSP course offered by UCSD
  • Carlos Miranda attended a Cloud Security Summit hosted by Palo Alto Networks in Irvine.

Project Management

  • CI Fileflow document management: XML to TS130 process development in support of intelligent capture of transcripts continues. 
  • Scheduling IRPE migration from TrackIT to TeamDynamix
  • Completed first draft of major IT project review, for presentation to IT Policy & Planning Committee
  • Leading additional training sessions to support TeamDynamix administrator development
  • Kicking off procurement of Via Watermark assessment system for School of Education

Web Services

  • CI Fileflow document management: XML to TS130 process development in support of intelligent capture of transcripts continues. 
  • ​Delivered updates to GPA calculator administrative console for Academic Advising
  • Delivered GRE test sessions registration system for Extended University
  • Developing campus calendar demonstration for Enrollment Management to migrate the campus calendar to more flexible Trumba campus calendar format
  • Working on updates for New Student Orientation web site, VPBFA web site, Extended University and School of Business
  • Working on myCI 3.2 updates to develop new minimal and compressed views of user interface

Administration (AVP’s office)

  • Congratulations to Tara Hughes on her transition to Human Resources as Interim Manager of Administrative Services. Tara Hughes serves as the Interim Manager for an expanded Solution Center. In her new role, Tara will lead a team in building and managing the expansion of the Solution Center to include Human Resources’ first point of contact.
  • Congratulations and farewell to Nasser Mansour, Enterprise Services Engineer, who accepted a new position outside of CSUCI.    
  • Led October IT Policy & Planning Committee to review draft list of major IT projects
  • In partnership with Teaching & Learning Innovations, procured Badgr Pro software to facilitate expansion of digital badging and microcredentialing programs
  • Evaluating customer relationship management (CRM) system needs of Extended University and Enrollment Management
  • Peter attended Ventura County Regional Broadband Summit in Camarillo
  • Peter attended the Educause National Conference in Denver, CO

Monthly Bulletin - September 2018

by Anonymous in ,

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

User Services

  • Offered an open meeting for campus members to learn about the wepa print kiosk station being tested.  An accessibility review is underway.
  • Preparing purchases of classroom computers from the AY 17/18 MSFT fund to be deployed early next year
  • Working with Teaching and Learning Innovations team on developing online technical training modules
  • Worked with the library to update and improve messaging to students on appropriate computer use
  • Installed new computers for users on the Santa Rosa Island research facility
  • Worked with infrastructure and security teams to implement new hard drive encryption practices 

Application Services

  • Testing continues for the Grey Heller ERP Firewall project.  This project overlaps with Information Security.
  • Lacey Lovejoy significantly assisted Student Business Services with resolving their payments issue that occurred between 9/19 and 9/21.
  • Lacey Lovejoy completed 14 requests for BFA related to various Student Finance issues and inquiries from SBS staff.
  • Shawn Bochat completed corrections to the Academic Planning Report (APR).
  • Shawn Bochat provided updated data information for the Med Proctor system in Enrollment Management.
  • Angela Stockmon completed 6 sets of database clones to support Application Services ongoing projects and operations.
  • Maintenance pack testing for MP 4.06 and 5.00 continue with move to production, tentatively scheduled for Monday night 10/8.
  • Lacey Lovejoy and Wayne Goodwin attended Integration Tools I training from 9/10 – 9/13.
  • Application Services resolved 77 work order in September (as of this update). 

Infrastructure

  • Ongoing migration of SQL databases.  Recently migrated RIMS, Mainsaver, Prolog, and Traka.
  • Ongoing SSO (single sign on) implementation with Blackboard E-Accounts
  • Replaced battery backup devices (UPS’s) in all 12 telecom rooms in Broome Library (refreshed due to age)
  • Troubleshot and repaired (with Cisco TAC assistance) major problem with Cisco access control system
  • Preplanning for wireless infrastructure for new Commencement location
  • Assisted Computer Science department to train students to do data cabling and termination
  • Ongoing consulting on campus EcoVox energy management system project
  • Created a group policy that changes the logon screen on the library lab machines to a more informative picture with logon instructions and how to get help from the solution center
  • Created an Office 365 Suite Application deployment in SCCM for future updates of Office products on campus
  • Enabled the writing of Bitlocker encryption keys to active directory on all Active directory staff/faculty machines for the campus’ future computer encryption compliances
  • Aided in the installation and configuration of Spirion software for Information Security that is replacing Identity Finder for DLP on workstations
  • Worked with Communications and Marketing on an organized list of email addresses of users who have access to send campus global emails as well as student campus global emails
  • Worked on and came up with a potential solution for shared and delegate calendar issues that included duplicate, missing and incorrect shared calendar items
  • Ongoing internal cleanup of campus firewall rules and server connections
  • Completed migration of all SQL DB’s from older equipment on Berm/Dune to newer SQL servers on ebb/flow
  • Upgraded Commvault version 10 to version 11 on a VM with Windows Server 2016. Still need to configure it to support our new VMWare vSAN.
  • Began discussions to migrate groupshares to Dropbox. Still under review whether this is a good solution or not.

Information Security

  • Carlos Miranda and Neal Fisch hosted Business Email compromise training for Human Resources
  • Carlos Miranda submitted one article to the CI News Center for this month.
  • Neal Fisch rolled out the second pilot group for DUO 2-Step (multi-factor) authentication and held an enrollment and training session on 9/25.  Participants in this group are from HR, Payroll, SBS, Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, Admissions, Finance and Procurement.  This phase is scheduled to last 2 weeks.
  • Workstation Encryption Project:  As of early September, any new non-lab/non-instructor Windows machine, as well as any Windows machine requiring a re-image will be encrypted before it is delivered by User Services.
  • Beginning CI’s annual Security and Data Risk Assessment (confidential data) to be turned in to the CO in December.
  • Information Security resolved 74 work order in September (as of this update).
  • Completed 5 Information Security Vendor Risk Assessments tied to IT Procurements which included Follett, Watermark, and Blackboard eAccounts.

Project Management

  • Melissa Bergem led system administrator training workshops for the TeamDynamix ticketing system for ITS and Division of Business & Financial Affairs team members.
  • Significant progress has been made on the integration solution to enable Intelligent Capture of Transcripts (ICT) using CI Fileflow, powered by Perceptive Content. Design document was approved and, to accommodate Enrollment Management’s (EM) needs, training for EM has been moved to the week of January 14, 2019, go-live date has been moved to February 25, 2019. Cross-training for ITS team members in Perceptive iScript programming language is in progress.
  • First planning meetings for Dropbox Phase 2 implementation (migration of department shares) were completed.
  • Completed implementation of Risk Safety Solutions Hazard Assessment Tool and Inspect Application ahead of Oct 1 deadline mandated by Chancellor’s Office.   
  • Tracking procurement completion of Ecovox Energy Management System and ESM Campus Marketplace to begin project kickoffs.

Web Services

  • ​Completed migration of campus web site search from SearchBlox to Google Custom site search for improved searchability and results.
  • Added 8 additional services to myCI: Academic Calendar, Events Calendar, Campus Directory, Schedule of Classes, University Catalog, Academic Advising, Follett EDiscover, and Qualtrics.
  • Web Services developers have been cross-training in iScript programming language in support of CI Fileflow service support.
  • Completed upgrade of IT Procurement Impact Assessment (ITPIA) form system to streamline the ITPIA notification experience and leverage the TeamDynamix API to read and write data into TeamDynamix, and automate email notification.  
  • Completed timeslot automation enhancement for Housing & Residential Education information system (StarRez)
  • Delivered, deployed and completed Fall Student Research Showcase registration system https://ciapps.csuci.edu/conferences/fallstudentresearch2018/Submission

Additional services added to myCI

by Anonymous in , ,

I'm pleased to announce that we've added some popular services to myCI that may already be familiar to you:

  1. Academic Calendar (for important academic dates & deadlines)
  2. Events Calendar (for campus events) 
  3. Campus Directory (find student, faculty & staff contact information)
  4. Schedule of Classes 
  5. University Catalog
  6. Academic Advising
Not all of these familiar services require authentication through myCI, but as they are some of the most frequently visited and used, we wanted to make it easier for current students and employees to locate these services (and save them in their Pinned Services, if desired). 

We've also added 2 new services to myCI which do require credentials to access: 
  1. Follett Discover: enables students to purchase & read textbooks and course materials, and faculty to select course materials
  2. Qualtrics: enables students, faculty and staff to create and share web-based surveys and forms
Have another idea for a useful service to include in myCI? Please submit your suggestion through the IT Solution Center self-service portal. 

Subscribe to receive ITS News updates via email

by Anonymous

As a reminder, you can subscribe to receive daily ITS news updates by email here. Once subscribed, you will received a daily digest of new posts made to the CSUCI Information Technology Services (ITS) News blog.

It's the easiest way to have the latest information about news, updates and changes to ITS delivered right to your email inbox...and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Subscribe now

Monthly Bulletin - August 2018

by Anonymous in , , ,

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

Highlights:

  • Completed move from Solano Hall to Lindero 2nd floor & Trinity Halls
  • Launched myCI v3.1 on 8/3, which includes the ability to pin favorite services and search for services. Learn more about myCI 3.1 
  • Installation & configuration of digital signage system for Student Union is in progress.

User Services

  • Coordinated the installation of a new digital signage system (Carousel) in the student union building.  The installation is a pilot for the rest of the campus. 
  • Completed the deployment of 37 new computers to faculty and/or staff as part of the summer refresh effort
  • Upgraded several Mac labs and instructional spaces with new machines or updated software
  • Upgraded 29 Instructor workstations, as well as audio-visual (AV) equipment in Malibu 120, Smith Decision Center 1908, and Napa 1123
  • Installed 4 Promethean Smart Displays for the School of Education
  • Working with campus architects and facilities to define and plan for technician workspace in Trinity Hall.  The plan calls for a space that will greatly facilitate all work performed by the ITCs in their efforts to support the computer lifecycle for all CI user-facing IT equipment.  The space will also serve as a secure area for equipment to be stored, and as is mandated by audit findings.  Deprovisioned hard drives in particular, will be kept secure until they are destroyed.

Application Services

  • Successfully completed installation of Grey Heller ERP Firewall into our test CI Records instance.  Creation and execution of the test plan is scheduled through September as well as documentation and move to production planning. This project overlaps with Information Security.
  • Application Services resolved 62 work order in August (as of this update).

Infrastructure

  • Oversaw ongoing repair work on Data Center uninterrupted power supply (UPS2)
  • Moved entire office from Solano Hall to Trinity Hall
  • Assisted with networking setup throughout ITS moves from Solano Hall to Trinity Hall
  • Created scope documents for quote solicitation for moves in Lindero Hall and for Modoc Hall new building
  • Added campus Wi-Fi capabilities to the Follett Bookstore at the Town Center and assisted with completion of Follett Bookstore connection to campus Blackboard server for student purchasing
  • Worked with the Follett bookstore to add point-of-sale (POS) access to CSUCI Blackboard Transact application allowing transactions using DolphinCash tender
  • Updated licenses on license server for multiple campus software
  • Fully cutover our email away from IronPort spam protection and onto Exchange online protection with Office 365
  • Ran through an Active Directory Security assessment and begun work on strengthening security on our Active Directory servers
  • Met with Microsoft on upgrading our Windows Server 2008 servers to a supported Operating system. End-of-life is coming up for 70-80 of our servers in the next year.
  • Configured server portion of the new Carousel digital signage software that will be used on campus
  • Completed SQL database upgrade and migration of two instances
  • Completed single sign-on (SSO) for Follett
  • Continued with migration of databases from beach\it_apps to a newer server
  • Worked with Josh Magana to add an AT3000 device for Meal Donation program at Islands Café

Information Security

  • CI hosted Palo Alto Networks to review current firewall and security tool configuration, as well as ways to boost usage and utilization
  • Carlos Miranda continues to address campus reported phishing email attempts
  • Carlos Miranda completed installation and setup of Spirion, the leading provider of enterprise data management software to help businesses reduce their sensitive data footprint and proactively minimize the risks, costs and reputational damage of successful cyberattacks, which will be replacing our current Identity Finder product.
  • Neal Fisch completed the following regular audits:
    • Monthly - Segregation of Duties in PeopleSoft
    • Monthly - System Access vs. Terminated EE’s
  • Preparing to increase pilot group for DUO 2-Step (multi-factor) authentication and roll in participants from Finance.
  • Met with SADA Systems and Infrastructure Technology team supporting CI’s new Exchange Online environment to discuss fine tuning of delivered security functionality
  • Continued work with User Services on encryption project and scheduling for rollout
  • Beginning CI’s annual Security and Data Risk Assessment (confidential data) to be turned in to the CO in December
  • Information Security resolved 79 work orders in August (as of this update).

Project Management

  • Closed the fall 2018 major project review submission period. Submitted project requests are currently under review by ITS. Learn more about the project review process.
  • Closed projects for ID Card Printer upgrade, Orgsync migration, and Migration of Microsoft Exchange to Azure/Office365 
  • Kicked off ESM Campus Marketplace project and Ecovox Energy Management System projects

Web Services

  • Launched myCI v3.1 on 8/3, which includes the ability to pin favorite services and search for services. Learn more about myCI 3.1 
  • Deployed new social media campaign on 8/22 for goCI mobile application for fall 2018, in collaboration with Communication & Marketing
  • Launched redesigned Center for Multicultural Engagement web site
  • Due to ongoing search quality issues with Chancellor's Office sponsored SearchBlox search appliance, Web Services began development of an alternative search system using Google Custom search. 

Welcome to Fall 2018! Summary of summer 2018 changes

by Anonymous in , ,

Thank you & welcome to the fall 2018 semester! I'm pleased to share a quick recap of important changes that occurred to CSUCI's technology organization, location, systems and services over summer 2018:


…T&I is now ITS! The Division of Technology & Innovation is now the department of Information Technology Services (ITS), reporting to the Vice President for Business & Financial Affairs Ysabel Trinidad. The Teaching & Learning Innovations team, under the leadership of Associate Vice Provost for Innovation and Faculty Development Jill Leafstedt, now reports to Provost Geoff Chase. 

...The ITS leadership team has changed. Peter Mosinskis is the interim AVP for Information Technology Services. Peter remains responsible for the Project Management and Web Services teams. Peter’s leadership team includes Herb Aquino, Director of Technology Infrastructure (Herb manages networking, wireless, servers, telecommunication, email, & the Solution Center); Dawn Canfield, Manager of User Services (Dawn manages desktop technical support, lab and classroom audio/visual support); and Neal Fisch, Director of Enterprise Services & Security (Neal manages Peoplesoft development and operations, and information security programs).

...ITS moved from Solano (and other areas) to Lindero Hall 2nd floor and Trinity Halls. About 30 IT staff members have moved from Solano Hall, or Del Norte, or the Bell Tower to new spaces in Lindero and Trinity Hall. If you look for someone in their old office and don’t find them, don’t worry, they’re still here! Please check the campus directory for their new location.

...ITS has a new self-service help portal. The IT Solution Center portal can be accessed through myCI (or by visiting http://go.csuci.edu/solutioncenter/)

...myCI now has the ability to add favorites and search for services. Learn more about myCI v3.1

...ITS is piloting new kind of self-service printing system called Wepa. A Wepa printer is on loan from Wepa for the Fall semester and anyone may test it. It is currently located in Broome Library 1350 and configured to use single sign on. It can also integrate with some of our other CI cloud services like CI Docs (Google Docs) and Dropbox@CI. You can learn more about testing the print station from one of the friendly technicians in the library’s Solution Center Service Desk area, or visit the Wepa web site to learn more.

...ITS has performed many upgrades in our computer labs and classrooms. Most computers in our PC classrooms and labs are now running Windows 10 and Office 2016. Many rooms have new computers, too. Notably, the instructor stations in the Del Norte classrooms are small form factor computers that are mounted behind the computer monitor. These computers do not have CD/DVD drives installed. If you anticipate needing to use an optical drive for CDs or DVDs you may contact the Solution Center to borrow an external drive.

...ITS has implemented a new spam filtering system (Microsoft Exchange Online Protection) to further protect our campus email systems from malicious email. Click here to request help with spam filtering

...you can now subscribe to receive ITS news updates by email here, or read news updates and subscribe on the ITS News blog

Need Help?
Visit the IT Solution Center portal (accessible through myCI), or call 805-437-8552.