Telephone Voice Mail

Do you have a password set on your voice mail? If so, you can call in from off-campus and check it at any time. Just call 936.294.4375 and then enter your 5 digit extension. You'll be prompted then for your password. You may check your voice mail from there. You may also change your message even when you're off-campus. If you unexpectedly have to be out of your office, you can go into Voice Mailbox Setup, and alter your outgoing message. Suggest another number for the caller since you're out of your office. It's guaranteed to cut down on how many calls you have to return when you come back and the caller isn't frustrated by expecting a quick return phone call!

This latest e-mail virus "Myparty" originated from Russia. Our programmers are continuously in contact with other universities such as Texas A&M so that we may share information about viruses as quickly as possible. However, your assistance is critical in stopping these viruses before they cause similar damage here at SHSU. Don't open e-mail that makes you suspicious. Check with the Helpdesk first.

Training

The University has adopted MindLeaders as our external online training source. You may know that it offers technology sessions on Outlook, Excel, Word, Powerpoint, and PaintShop Pro. Additional classes are available through their End User Business Skills catalogue. Would you like to improve your or your staff's communication skills? Go through the Business Communication Series and/or the Grammar Series. Would you like to become more knowledgeable about Sexual Harrassment issues? MindLeaders offers seven classes on the laws and procedures. They also have a Customer Service series and Motivation series.

Computer Services will pay the subscription fee for access to MindLeaders for the next 12 months. You may take as many of the courses as you'd like during the upcoming year. These are online courses that you can complete while in your office or at home. Contact Christy Cross if you'd like to be enrolled in MindLeaders.

On-campus one-on-one and class sessions are posted on the training calendar for February. Enroll in a course or suggest other ideas for classes that you would like offered.

Blackboard

Blackboard has now acquired Prometheus from George Washington University. Prometheus has been touted as a customizable platform for faculty to use in creating their online classroom resources. This acquisition will add 65 more universities to the Blackboard system. The growth in Blackboard helps ensure that other companies such as book publishers will continue to expand their offerings written especially for the Blackboard platform.

There is still time to register for the Blackboard Convention in Phoenix, Arizona in March. Christy Cross and Jacob Spradlin will be attending to get the technical end knowledge. Topics for users include: Evaluating the Success of Online Learning; Using the Discussion Forum: A Comprehensive Overview; and Managing the Paper Load: Effective and Efficient Paper Grading using MS Word and Blackboard's Digital Drop Box.

New Staff

Rob Kennedy joined Computer Services as a Computer Systems Technician on February 1st. He will be assisting with the management of the computer labs. Rob worked for Computer Services as a student, and graduated in 1998 with a B.S. in Geology and has been working for the Huntsville Independent School District.

Security

The T: drive is a storage space for all departments to share information. It is frequently used by faculty to place files that their students may access. If you'd like to have a new folder created on the T: drive, please send e-mail to the Helpdesk to request this. As a reminder: do NOT place confidential material on the T: drive----unless you have first requested the T: drive folder have restricted access. There is universal access unless you specifically request otherwise.

You can right click on your folder, click Properties, and Security, and view who has access to the folder. You may give only Read access to a user, and Full Control to someone else. Check with the Helpdesk if you have questions. Just be very careful about the information you place there. Make sure you have it protected.