Make it Stronger

We have once again strengthened the requirements for passwords for the SHSU computing systems. This is the password you use for Windows and e-mail. If you change your password while logged into a workstation with the Ctrl-Alt-Delete option, or use the SamWeb password change function, the requirements now include:

Length: Your password must be at least six characters long.

Originality: The password cannot be one of the last ten passwords used.

Hard-to-Guess-if-They-Know-You: The password cannot contain three or more characters from your username.

Hard-to-Guess-if-They're-Just-Hacking: The password must contain characters from at least three of the following categories:

• English uppercase characters (A - Z)
• English lowercase characters (a - z)
• Base 10 digits (0 - 9)
• Non-alphanumeric (for example: !, $, #, or %)

We recognize that it can be frustrating to try to come up with new passwords that meet these requirements. We're trying to make it even more frustrating for people that want to slide into the University system with your access privileges.

Spring Cleaning in the Summer

If you have procrastinated on doing a major cleaning this spring, take time this summer to look around you.

• Clean out your S: drive and your mailbox. If you need assistance, contact the Helpdesk.
• Look at your web sites, and see if they are current. Ask the Web Team for help in updating them.
• Review your forms and ensure you are not asking for confidential information unless required by law. If your department has a form that is used campus-wide, make sure it is included on the Intranet list of forms.
• Look over your policies; are they are up-to-date?
• Look through your actual filing cabinets. Is confidential data stored there? Are you keeping the cabinets locked?

From SamInfo and Nell to SamMenu and SamWeb

Three more programs will be removed from Nell this month: The Unofficial Transcript, TRNS30R, Upper Portion of Transcript, TRNS34R, and Degree Plans, PACE20R. These functions are available from the SamMenu and SamWeb, and will be purged from Nell's administrative system on June 15th.

Not sure what's out there? On the SamMenu, MITX02RG - Program Listing and Locations, can be used to search for programs that are in SamMenu, Nell, or both.  Alternatively, within SamMenu, you may click on Help, Search for Program, and type in a search word, and it will return the programs with that word in the title.

The vast majority of the SamInfo programs have been moved to SamWeb. Please let us know if you have any problems with any of the new versions.

You May Be the Winner!

Thanks to all of you that take the time to stay on top of changes and security information through reading the Update. This month, we are giving away an HP Color Laserjet Drum Kit C4195A, a memory stick, or a box of paper. Rather than only rewarding the early bird, (since we really want to encourage you to actually READ the whole Update) we'll give you till June 2nd at 4 p.m. to write in and ask for one of those. We'll then do a drawing to determine the winners. Write to the Helpdesk, and ask for the drum, the stick, or the paper for your departmental use.

Instant Messaging

For those of you that think e-mail is just too darn slow, try IM'ing. Last month we installed a new IM client for campus. We apologize for the disruption it may have caused you as it started up when you logged on. We now have available some easy tips for using Jabber.

You can easily use this to communicate quickly with your staff.

Administrative Training

The Administrative Accounting office is offering training in late June and late July. Topics will include using Nell & SamMenu for financial functions, preparing Purchase Vouchers, Travel Vouchers and tracking your accounting transactions through the Budget Balance Report.

If you or someone in your department is fairly new to University accounting, this is a great opportunity to figure out how to read the reports and understand the ins and outs of fund processing. Sign up now for a hands-on class.

ITV Classroom Schedule Request Form

If you plan to use an ITV classroom for classes, dissertation defenses, a luncheon/coffee across states or an ad lib lecture, please plan ahead. There is a considerable amount of coordination that may be required---both on- and off-campus--to orchestrate one video conference call. So take the time to fill out the form to ensure your conference goes smoothly. The form is available from the Distance Learning web site. Contact James Van Roekel of the AITDL department if you have further questions.

Blackboard

The Summer 1 course copy deadline is fast approaching. Please make sure to copy any needed info from your Summer I 2005 courses into your Summer 1 2006 courses by Friday, June 9th. We will be removing the Summer I '05 courses that Friday. If you need assistance in copying your courses, be sure to look at the Blackboard software guides or e-mail blackboard@shsu.edu.

The Bb 7.1 upgrade has been pushed to later this summer so we can ensure we come through with all of our course data intact. We will be testing the conversion for any issues that might arise in a real conversion. We expect the upgrade to take place no later than the break before Fall semester.

Software Requests

Software licenses obviously cost the University money, as well as significant human resources, to install campus-wide. Frequently, new software installs may cause unplanned consequences for other software. Therefore, we need your feedback to know what software you must have to do your job. This month's question relates to the Corel Office Suite. Are you using the word processing software, WordPerfect? What features does WordPerfect have that you like? Do you use Quattra Pro? Have you tried Microsoft Office? Please let us know your thoughts on this product, so that we may plan for future purchases.

Faculty: Each semester we ask that you let us know which software you will still be using as part of your coursework. The deadline for Fall 2006 is June 1. Since you're just now getting this---we'll give you a couple of days grace here. Please let us know what you plan on using.

Mail Services Relocating

As a component of the expansion of the mall/commons area, this summer the Mail Services office will be relocated to a temporary building near the new Chemistry-Forensic Science building.

Departmental mail delivery will remain the same. Personal boxes will be eliminated due to the lack of space. If you have been renting your own personal mailbox, you will need to login to SamWeb and fill out a change of address for forwarding of your mail.

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 12 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