Save, Save, Save

The power outages are wreaking havoc with individual workstations, as well as, the switches that power the buildings. Be especially conscious of saving your work. Back up anything that is critical.

Profiles can be damaged when the electricity goes off while you are logged in. To help protect your information and your profile, log off each day. This is also a good time to backup your Windows profile. Click Start, All Programs, SHSU Utilities, Backup, Backup Profile, Bookmarks, Address book and save a current copy of your profile so that we can try to restore it if needed.

If your profile does get corrupted:

1. Reboot your machine,
2. Write down your node number, and
3. Come over in person with ID to the Helpdesk (AB1, 147) to get your profile restored or reset. We do not want to reset your profile without assurance that it's really you.

Reach out and Touch

Staying in communication is very important during times such as these. You can find reminders and tips in several places. We post messages as highlights on the main University site, Nell, Sam Menu, and the PC logon notice. We also modify the University switchboard information message.

The Public Relations Offices maintains the Today@Sam web site and the emergency information number 936.294.1826. If you become aware of important scheduling/closing information, please notify the Public Relations office so they can alert the Computer Services Helpdesk. Help provide the most current up-to-date information possible for the switchboard operators to share with concerned parents and students.

Thanks for spending the time to catch up on the news in the Update. We are giving away 1/2 box of paper to the first reader that asks.

Converting from Nell to Sam Menu

The moves continue with new programs replacing the old Nell programming. SECT20R, the SECTION SCHEDULE REPORT will be removed from Nell on October 15th.  There is a new version of the program "SECT20RG" available now on the Sam Menu under Student Records.

You may view the sections by All for the entire university, select a single College, pick only one Department, or further restrict it to just one course Prefix. You can select only the open sections, and you can choose to have it sort by faculty or department.

As of 10/15, we are removing the advisement program, ADVS01M, from Nell also. It is available from the Sam Menu.

Break the Chain

The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) offers cyber security tips. Tip ST004-009 addresses e-mail chain letters. These e-mail forwards can be a serious security risk since they may mask viruses or worms. However, even the "innocent" ones that are just hoaxes and urban legends can be detrimental to the University network. US-CERT points out:

• Chain letters use bandwidth and space in your Sent and their Received boxes
• Unsubstantiated e-mail causes recipients to waste time sifting messages and verifying the information
• Urban legends and hoaxes spread unnecessary fear or concern.

Please do not use your University e-mail account to pass on chains---unless you have first verified the legitimacy. For instance, a desperate Amber Alert was posted and forwarded for a little girl named Penny Brown who did not exist. Another popular forward is a gas boycott. It uses oil company information that is completely inaccurate.

The US-CERT tip site offers a number of URLs that will allow you to easily check the veracity. Or---just Google a section of the e-mail. You'll quickly get a response indicating if Urban Legends or Hoaxbusters has already debunked the story.

It's bad luck if you DON'T break the chain!

We appreciate your taking the time to read the Update and are giving away an SHSU USB 512 Mb Flash Drive to the first requestor.

Catching the Blackboard Wave

Over the past month we have had quite a few faculty hop on board and catch the Blackboard wave.  Additionally, sixteen SHSU student organizations have adopted a Blackboard Organization course site. 

The Blackboard Template Course contains pre-identified content areas that can easily be customized to meet your needs.  Each content area has recommended content topics, as well as, information about how to create the content.  Materials for students on navigation, resources, and other features are also available.  If you would like to try a Blackboard Template course, our Blackboard Team would be glad to create one for you.

Blackboard Day @ Sam Houston

A special day is planned near the end of the Fall semester to help get you started on the Spring Semester. Mark your calendars now. Blackboard is bringing their trainers to our campus. Make plans to attend Blackboard Day at Sam Houston on Tuesday November 29, starting at 9 a.m.  Topics will include: 

• Learning Theories in Education
• A Blackboard Update covering planned release enhancements
• Extending Blackboard with Building Blocks. A Box Lunch will be provided to those who register for this session.
• Blackboard Course Spotlights
• The Blackboard Backpack demo. 

We will be posting the locations later as plans are finalized and asking you to register then.

Training

Check out this month's training calendar . Researchers: Learn more about RefWorks. If you hate having to format your references over and over based on the specific journal to which you are submitting an article, this session may be a real timesaver. The NGL staff will explain how to download bibliographic information in numerous formats, such as national journals, or MLA. You can also share your information with a collaborator if you are co-authoring an article. Sign up for a class. Two more sessions of Research Databases in the Social Sciences are offered this month also.

Computer Services is offering more Blackboard: You Call It courses this month where you choose what you want to do. 

Do you have a department web page?  Are you having a hard time keeping it up to date because you are not quite sure how and are worried about messing up the page design?  If so, contact Jacob Spradlin and set up a Macromedia Contribute session for the folks in your department who need to get information out on your web page.  Macromedia Contribute is a web content updating software that makes updating your department's web page a snap.

Computer Services will also be holding a weekly Helpdesk FAQ course for SHSU faculty and staff. The course will cover topics like SamWeb and SamMenu, how and when you should reset your SHSU password, profile mangement and much more. Feel free to bring your questions and we will address them.

As always, feel free to sign up for training by appointment and we can come directly to your campus office.

Staff Changes

Garett Gowens is leaving SHSU for an opportunity in The Woodlands. Much of the University's web site is the direct result of Garett's creativity and skills. We're going to miss him! Jacob Spradlin will be assuming the webmaster duties during the search for Garett's replacement.

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. 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