Coming Soon! Mathematica will be on the SHSU network, as well as available for home use. Southwest Texas State and Sam Houston State have joined together to sign a site license with Mathematica. Don’t let the name fool you. This software is not just for the Math department. This product is being used in Japan by fashion designers, at Oxford University for teaching Finance, and at the University of Cincinnati College of Conservatory of Music for composing.

Check back next month for the installation instructions.
 

Christmas is coming; the goose is getting fat!

Mail your gifts and cards early and beat the rush. Holiday stamps are now available. Mail will be processed and put in the boxes during the holiday break.
 

We are having a lottery in order to send one lucky faculty member to the Blackboard Users Conference at the Baltimore Waterfront Marriott this February.  A winner will be drawn from a list of e-mails sent to blackboard@shsu.edu. So just send us your name and you could win an all-expense-paid trip (airfare, hotel, meals, and conference fee). You'll get to see and hear how other faculty are incorporating pedagogical strategies and enhancing the educational experience with Bb.
 

Go GUI

Faculty: It's time to enter Fall 2002 grades. 40 Macintosh users have just added the GUI SHSU menu capability. If you're using a Macintosh, and haven't yet switched to the GUI Menu, get your request in to the Helpdesk (4-1950) now. You'll avoid having to know your Nell password!

Academic Departments: A new program available under the Miscellaneous section of the menu is BORD05RG. This is a report of textbooks previously used which can be requested by course, college, or department.
 

It’s MAGIC!

SHSU has begun a project to refresh its administrative software. The two key elements of this MAGICal solution are Mimer and SP2. Mimer is a relational database system from Upright Database Technology, Uppsala, Sweden. SP2 is our SHSU GUI system. It's from Flexus Corporation, Bangor, PA. We expect to complete the project within three years. The following five terms illustrate why we are moving into this database solution.

Manageability: There are over 600 files currently being used on Nell. We’re combining all these into one database with Mimer.

Accessibility: We will be using standard SQL (Structured Query Language). SQL is the standard interactive and programming language for getting information from and updating a database. Mimer was selected, in part, because it’s the only database management system (DBMS) that is 100% in conformity with the international SQL standard.

GUI: The menus and programs will all resemble the web, Mac, or Windows-type programs you expect. Unlike with Nell, you get to use your mouse!

Independence: The new system will not have to run on Nell’s VMS system. It works on Windows, Linux, UNIX, or Open VMS. It will provide interoperability based on open standards.

Client-based: The thin client abilities of the new system will provide our distance learning faculty and students the same environment as our on-campus users. Companies such as Volvo are already using Mimer for their international operations.
 

Get Profiled

The 2002 Mini-Profiles and the new Fall 2002 Pocket Facts have just been released. The Fall 2002 Pocket Facts' printings are an initial print. If you would like more, there will be a second printing in January. Please call 4-3619 or e-mail courville@shsu.edu to request extra copies.
 

We know this month is hectic, so there are no courses on the training calendar for December. If your schedule does have some free time, sign up for a Mindleaders online class, or give us a call and we'll design something just for you.
 

As of January, all new workstations will be configured with Microsoft Windows XP for the Operating System.  If you are interested in having Windows XP installed on your current PC, call the HELPDESK at x41950 and put in a workorder. 

After the December break we will be removing access to Office 2000. So if you haven't already, be sure to install/use the Microsoft Office XP office suite.