From the CTO

2007 Fall

OIT had a very busy summer making changes and preparing for the academic year. Some things are easy to see. Others are behind the scenes. But you have seen our summer work if:

• You're a first-year who used PeopleSoft self service to fill in all those first-days forms.
• You're using the new Webmail interface to read your mail.
• You've studied the aerial photographs for the Natural History of the Berkshires.
• You're able to compare Shakespeare clips from a variety of sources in your English class.
• You've discovered the Art Mecho Museum in Second Life.
• You're doing computational analysis of which genes appear across species.
• You're using GeoShear to learn about and analyze rock deformation.
• You're using the new computers in the computer lab in Stetson Hall.
• You've discovered the great new media studio open to all students in Spencer 216.
• You're using the upgraded computers in CDE, Hardy or Jenness
• You've noticed that the home pages for several programs have a whole new look.
• You've been a part of the Emergency Response cell phone notification testing.
• You are using the new “Route 2 System” in Career Counseling.
• You've used the new CUPS printing system and release station.
• You have one of the new usernames.

Or if

• You've been in a meeting or presentation in Griffin 3 and noticed there is no ugly projector in the middle any more.
• You've discovered that there is now dual-projection in Brooks-Rogers like there is in Wege auditorium, TPL 203 or Lawrence 3.
• You're using one of the 115 new computers that were deployed as replacements to faculty and staff with a new image that offers even better protection against viruses and spyware.
• You're one of the 51 new faculty who received computers.
• You've used your credit card at the Faculty House.
• You've had a reimbursement deposited directly into your bank account.
• You've used the emergency contact self service from HR.

These are all some of the projects OIT staff and worked on over the summer. The WIT summer program worked with faculty on 15 separate projects as well. There are also many things you never see, but they make your techno-life better. We have more disk storage, a new firewall, more bandwidth and virtual servers that will help save energy. We hope you will enjoy these new services throughout the year.

-Dinny Taylor, Chief Technology Officer