Managing your Inbox

It is sometimes frustrating trying to manage email with all the junk mail we receive. You can use the Filter feature offered by Outlook and Netscape to help eliminate those unwanted spam messages. Outlook/Netscape can search for commonly used phrases in such messages and automatically move them from your Inbox to a junk e-mail folder, your Deleted Items/Trash folder, or any other folder you specify. To learn more about this feature go to the Software Guides for Faculty and Staff or contact the Helpdesk for assistance, ext. 41950.

It is important to remember to empty your Deleted Items/Trash folder on a weekly basis. These items are not automatically removed upon closure of Outlook/Netscape, unless you have that setting in place. It is also equally important to delete items located in your Sent Items folder on a regular basis. The amount of space that you're using can quickly add up if you don't delete unneeded old mail. These extra documents will slow down your response time in using your mail, and will also make it take longer to scan for viruses, so .... help the entire campus system by keeping your mailbox cleaned up!

If you want, you may use the Export feature to move email items to a separate saved location on your computer. For instructions on how to Export, contact the Helpdesk at ext. 41950.

Have you noticed e-mail messages about a new, terrible virus? Virus Hoaxes are one of the fastest growing types of spam-mail on the Internet. They are e-mail messages sent by friends and family meaning to help, but just end up cluttering your inbox.

How do I tell if the virus warning I receive is a hoax?

Hoaxes frequently urge the reader to forward the warning to everyone they know. Hoaxes usually claim to be from an odd consortium of well-known technology companies like AOL and IBM or Microsoft and Sony. Most hoaxes make absurd technological claims intended to frighten, but are easily spotted if you know what to look for. Genuine warnings will include a link to a legitimate source for more information.

Where can I go for more information?

The following three Web sites will help you verify whether a particular warning is legitimate: U.S. Department of Energy's HoaxBusters, Vmyths.com, SecurityFocus. You can also check the Computer Services Virus/Internet Hoax Information page.

Training

We are offering two Blackboard orientation sessions for students this month. These sessions will acclimate your student to the Blackboard environment and give them a head start to understanding your web enhanced or on-line courses. This way you won't have to use your valuable class time giving out the technical information. We will contact you in advance with the dates to give you the opportunity to let your students know.

Since everyone is so busy starting the Spring semester, we have an abbreviated training calendar for January. Check out our new topically-formatted schedule and enroll in a course or give us ideas for other classes that you would like offered.

Blackboard

Academic Departments: Would you like to schedule a special workshop for your faculty? We are currently offering classes targeted to specific disciplines to help you augment your regular classes and to assist in developing an on-line presence with your off-line material. Call Jacob Spradlin at 43929 to discuss some possibilities.

New Staff

Wade Williams joined Computer Services as a Computer Systems Technician on January 2nd. His main responsibility is working to keep SHSU's web pages in check with State, Federal, and University guidelines. Wade has worked for Computer Services as a student, and graduated in December with a B.S. in Computing Science.

Ronnie Whitlock joined Computer Services as a Computer Systems Technician on January 2nd. Ronnie will be working in the Network/ Infrastructure section of our department. Ronnie also worked for Computer Services as a student Network Technician and is a December 2001 graduate majoring in Ag Business and minoring in Computer Science.

Kayla Stephenson is a new employee for Computer Services. She is a Computer Systems Technician working in Client Support.

Kelly Bentsen also joined the Computer Services Department as a Computer Systems Technician. Her focus is programming for the new menu system. Kelly is a Junior majoring in Computing Science.

Security

REMINDER: The computer account password that you use for logging in on the PC, checking your e-mail, or dialing in from home needs to be changed IF you haven't changed it in a year.

If you're on a PC on-campus, you may do a CTRL-ALT-DELETE at any time, and choose Change Password or use the utility on the SamInfo option of the University web site. We are currently creating a new version of the utility that will work on a Macintosh. Until this is working, you may use a PC to change your password, or come by the Helpdesk in AB1 with your ID.

We do realize how much you hate changing passwords! However, this change must be made to allow us to store everything on a better, bigger system. We will be setting your password to expire at the end of January 2002----if it has not been changed. Take a moment right now to create your new password.