The Face of Sam

In 2005, 13,470,519 visits were recorded on the University's main web site. Since this area is our vibrant front page to the world, it's time to update it with a new look. We are evaluating designs now that will give the University site a fresh, professional look, while complying with ADA, Texas, and federal design requirements.

Give us your opinions on a couple of our first drafts. Choice A or Choice B.

Software for Checkout

The University has licensing for some software packages that may be used on your University laptops, and also on your home computer if you are using it for SHSU business. For the Microsoft products, please complete the Microsoft Campus Agreement and we will contact you when the CDs are available for pickup.

From Woes to Pros

Have you ever prepared the most pedagogically brilliant lecture (enhanced by Powerpoint) in the history of academia, and then had your projector not function?  Here's some simple tips to make you a Projector Pro.

A projector is just like a multi-source flat-panel display.  One has to properly select the incoming signal. Some projectors SHOULD do this automatically, but that is a feature that can also be disabled by an unsuspecting (evil) end user. 

• When making the source choice: NTSC, RGB, and Computer (1 or 2) are for PowerPoint and laptop presentations. Composite, Analog and Video are typically for VHS/DVD combo system playback.
• Should the lamp light be visible on the projector lens but not displaying a preferred output, pick up the remote control and look for a "Source", "RGB", "Video" and/or "Computer" selector.  Cycle through the different modes, and you may  be surprised at how easy it is to remedy the missing source problem.

Account Access

Last month's Update discussed administrative program management for replacement employees. A new GUI program has been written to make figuring out who has what easier. MITX06RG will list all the programs to which an individual has been granted specific access.  It will also have the access level a person has for that program, if applicable. 

Additionally, MITX11RG will list the descriptions of access levels that have been defined.  Both programs are under Computer Services on the Sam Menu, and are open to all faculty and staff.

Making it Easier

We are phasing out the SHSU Installation Menu. If software is available on a PC, it will automatically be under SHSU Programs. All new software versions we have deployed since the beginning of the Fall Semester were placed directly under SHSU Programs.

Make it easier on yourself too. Start the new year out by protecting your profile. Click Start| All Programs| SHSU Utilities| Backup| Backup Profile, Bookmarks, Address Book.

Reminder: Just Say No to 1

The University, and therefore your department, is having to pay long distance charges for calls that can instead be made free of charge. Leave off the 1, and make many (formerly long distance) calls for free.

Prefixes 208, 344, and 536 in the 903 area code are within Huntsville's local calling zone. SHSU business calls made to Leona and Centerville, for instance, can be made directly without dialing 1, and will not result in a charge for your department. New Waverly can be called directly without even dialing with 936 area code.

You can also call many numbers in Houston free, without dialing the 1. All campus phones can dial, toll free, what's defined as the "Houston local calling area."  You can dial many of the numbers within the 713, 832, and 281 area codes.  The free calls do not extend to The Woodlands or Spring.  Don't worry about those though; you'll just get a busy signal before you finish dialing if the number is not within the free zone. Just dial 9 and then the ten-digit number. (713 or 832 or 281)-yyy-xxxx. 

Training

Individual one-on-one training is always available. Just contact the Training office at 294.4357 to set up an appointment.

Blackboard

A bit of Merlot can make your day or class go much smoother. MERLOT is a resource within Blackboard that allows searches for content enhancements. For instance, your lecture might be on Woodrow Wilson's presidency. You can quickly find, with a MERLOT search, a 36 second audio file of President Wilson speaking on democratic principles.

Within your class in Blackboard, under the Control Panel| A Content Area| click the drop-down search box, and choose MERLOT. You can then search for the videos, tutorials, article and photos.

Staff Changes

We are welcoming back Garett Gowens, Wade Williams, and Jeremiah Dey this month. Wade will rejoin the programming staff and Garett will resume his webmaster duties. Jeremiah is returning from a tour of duty in Iraq---so we are especially grateful to have him back safe and sound. Jeremiah will also be in the administrative programming group.

Ricki Hodges has been a mainstay in our web/Blackboard team as a student leadworker. She will be joining the fulltime staff this month. Ricki's a senior in the field of Multimedia Authoring/Graphic Animation.

Zac Braaksma will be supervising the maintenance team, along with Rick Gattis. Zac was formerly a student leadworker for us, and is replacing Ronnie Whitlock---who is now in Networking.

Aaron Daniel is our newest staff member in the systems team. Aaron's primary responsibility will be the Voice Over IP telephone programming.

To help you know who's who and how things are organized, check out our Org Chart.

What's Good, What's Not?

The Helpdesk provides support for university equipment and software on the local area network. Each month's Update will now include the versions of software and minimum requirements for hardware with the new or changed information highlighted and bolded.

• Memory Sticks: Purchase (and encourage your students to buy) flash drives that are USB Mass Storage Compliant.
• Operating Systems: The supported version of Macintosh machines is OS X, versions 2, 3, and 4. The supported version of Microsoft's Operating System is Windows XP.
• Software Packages: The supported versions of Office suites are Microsoft's Office 2003 and WordPerfect Office 2000 for PC's and Microsoft Office 2004 for Macintoshes.
• Hardware Configurations: The minimum requirement for SHSU Local Area Network support for a PC is a 1Ghz processor, with 512mb RAM, and a 40GB disk. The minimum requirement for a Macintosh on the LAN is a 733 mhz processor, with 512mb RAM, and a 40GB disk.

Approved for campus-wide e-mail distribution by Associate Vice President Jim Stevens