Reach Out and Touch for Less

We will be switching from Texan (which uses AT&T long distance) to Southwestern Bell long distance this month. The good news is the price is dropping for long distance to 4.6 cents per minute, and 7.6 cents per minute for the calling card. The cutover should not be noticeable as far as your service. However, if you have trouble dialing long distance or if you receive a complaint of a caller not being able to reach the University, please contact Betty Brewer at 43777.

We will be changing out all calling cards within a week after the cutover. Betty will notify everyone with a card in time for them to pick up their new ones to eliminate any problems.

Save Money

If you're sending more than 200 letters through the U.S. Mail, talk to Carl Hicks at 43001 BEFORE you prepare your mail. Bulk mail is much cheaper, and will help reduce your mail expenses. If you are going to send it first class, and pay the 37 cents per letter, you do NOT have to seal your envelopes. Just keep the flaps up, and the machine can seal them as they put the postage on.

Warning, Warning!

Reminder: We recommend you submit your new computer orders through Computer Services to ensure your workstation will be compatible with the SHSU local area network. You may use the Workstation Request Form.

If your department does decide to purchase a Dell Dimension directly, without going through Computer Services, please make sure that the Dell you purchase does NOT come with a CNet PRO Network Card. These cards are not communicating properly on our network and will disconnect your computer from our network unexpectedly.

Software Requests

FACULTY: Please be sure to request any software on the network that you will be using during the semester each semester. This needs to be done even if the software is already present on the network. If we do not receive a request your software may be disabled/removed.

If the software is not already on the network, please put in a software request and bring a copy of the software and any license information to Computer Services AB1 Room 124. Please allow one semester to evaluate, install, and test the software. Keep in mind, not all software is compatible with SHSU configurations, so give us a chance to evaluate the software before any final purchases are made. You don't want to spend a considerable amount of money on software and licenses, and then find it will not work on SHSU's network. If you have any questions about software, or would like software evaluated, please e-mail us at software@shsu.edu.

Summer installation requests must be received by April 1 and Fall requests by June 1. The software request form can be found on the Computer Services Software Request webpage.

Blackboard

We've survived the initial conversion. We hope the inconveniences were not too difficult for each of you starting the Spring 2003 semester. Remember as you're evaluating textbooks for this Fall, be sure to ask the publishing rep whether they have the component for Blackboard. These cartridges can provide lots of time-saving enhancements to your class.

Sam Houston Joins Consortium for Student Retention Data

The Office of Institutional Research has accepted an invitation from the University of Oklahoma's Center for Institutional Data Exchange and Analysis (C-IDEA) to participate in a consortium for student retention data exchange. The consortium has over 400 members, representing every level of Carnegie classification from Doctoral through Baccalaureate, public and private, large and small institutions.

The data collected is used to generate comprehensive retention reports for the members. These reports examine the retention and graduation rates of students by race/ethnicity and gender against institutional characteristics such as selectivity, institutional size, and control, with each member receiving a customized peer report. The peer reports compare the retention and graduation rates of Sam Houston State to those of 5-20 other self-selected peer institutions.

AITand DL

Faculty: Do you know what those initials stand for? It's your department of Academic Instructional Technology and Distance Learning. James Van Roekel is the department director. He is your technical advisor for the the design, purchase, and utilization of classroom-based technologies; i.e., computers, audio/video recording, playback, and Internet broadcasting.

The Office has recently been awarded a TIFB HE4 grant from which 5 Tegrity WebLearner systems have been purchased for the four Colleges and the Newton Gresham Library. Tegrity WebLearner Platform packages are turn-key hardware and software solutions for converting classroom presentations into multi-media web content for on-demand and live delivery via the internet, employing browser-based viewing and interaction with no special software plugins for students. If you'd like more information, contact James.

GUI now available for more Macintoshes

Previously Macintoshes with dual processors were not capable of accessing the SHSU GUI menu. The new operating system OS 10.2 does allow this function. The upgrade in operating system is approximately $79. After you have received the new system, you may call in a Work Order to the Helpdesk at 41950, and we will install the GUI interface.

Student Access to Nell

Supervisors: Remember it's up to you to monitor your student's use of the critical programs in Nell. You can run MTRK09R by username. Do this frequently to ensure your students are using these programs only when appropriate. Also, please notify the Helpdesk at helpdesk@shsu.edu when you have a student employee with Nell privileges leave your department. Help us protect the security and confidentiality of the University's administrative records.

Technology Training

Check out the schedule, sign up for Mindleaders online classes, or give us a call and we'll structure a class to fit your department's needs. Be sure to let your students know that we are offering FREE training classes for them this month.  The Classes are "Introduction and Advanced Web Page Building with Macromedia Dreamweaver" & "Photos for Your Web Page with Paint Shop Pro."  The classes will take place on Feb. 10, 12 & 17.  Have them keep an eye on the student web page for more details.

New Faces in IR

Brian Cordeau has joined Institutional Research as an IR Analyst. Brian is a December 2002 SHSU graduate with a major in Computer Science and a minor in General Business. Brian will be working with the web site and programming areas of IR. His office number is 319L in AB1 and his phone number is 294-3989.

Sharon Wiederstein is also going to be an IR Analyst. Sharon's office is AB1 319J and her phone number is 294-3619. She has both a master's (Sociology with demography emphasis) and bachelor's degree (Sociology) from Texas A&M University.