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March 2004 Update

In This Update


First Technology Fair for Administrative Staff and Faculty on March 26

The first technology fair specifically for UW administrative staff and faculty is set for Friday, March 26. "BizTech Showcase 2004: Taking Care of Business" features presentations and booths that show how new and existing technologies at the UW can:

  • Make administrative and other job tasks easier
  • Make accessing information simpler
  • Enhance and support effectiveness on the job

The fair runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the HUB East Ballroom. Topics and tools showcased include Financial Desktop, eProcurement, Husky Card, online learning options, UW Project Tracker, Web Work Request System, MyUW, Nebula, Catalyst Tools, computing security, and many others.

To pre-register (which automatically enters you in a drawing) and for more information, go to http://www.washington.edu/admin/biztech/


UW Technology Advisory Committees' Actions

Proposal to Significantly Increase Wireless Access (Endorsed)

A proposal to significantly increase wireless access at UW Seattle has been endorsed by the Academic Technology Advisory Committee (A-TAC), the University Technology Advisory Committee (U-TAC), and the Board of Deans. The proposal calls for:

  • Allocating central funding to provide wireless access to popular shared gathering spaces, major libraries, classrooms, and major shared meeting rooms
  • Partnering with the Student Technology Fee Committee to provide wireless at the HUB and other major student social gathering spaces
  • Establishing a central fund to pay for ongoing maintenance and upgrades by C&C of wireless installations where one-time capital deployment costs can be covered by contract/grant or other departmental sources

The proposal will now be submitted to the president for consideration.

Increased Resources for Administrative Computing (Recommended)

The Information Technology Advisory Committee (I-TAC) unanimously recommended increased funding to support UW administrative systems (student, financial, human resource/payroll, and others). The funding will:

  • Improve system integrity, security, reliability, and responsiveness to business needs
  • Support completion of productivity enhancement projects
  • Allow better project planning and cost estimating
  • Support the UW's approach to modernizing its administrative systems by renewing and extending existing functionality, an approach used successfully by the University Services Renewal (USER) project

In making its recommendation, I-TAC noted the importance of administrative systems in supporting the academic enterprise. U-TAC also endorsed the recommendation, which now will be considered in the UW budget planning process.

UW Security Policy (Approved)

The UW Information Systems Security Policy recommended by the U-TAC has been approved by President Lee Huntsman as university-wide policy. It has been incorporated into the UW administrative policy statements and can be viewed at: http://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/APS/02.01TOC.html

UW Chief Information Security Officer Position (Recommended)

U-TAC recommended that the UW hire a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to oversee development of institutional computing security policy and to coordinate information security efforts across the UW.

The CISO would report to a senior UW executive and work with key senior managers to:

  • Oversee the creation and maintenance of UW information security policy
  • Lead security risk assessment efforts
  • Direct an institutional security awareness and training program

The position is necessary to raise the awareness of computing security risks and allow the UW to plan strategically and respond at an institutional level to attacks on computing security that are growing more aggressive, more frequent, and more devastating. This proposal will be submitted to the president for consideration.

Software Licensing Evaluation (Underway)

A subcommittee established by A-TAC will evaluate options, benefits, and costs of rationalizing software licensing across the institution. Representatives from academic units and central offices, including C&C and Purchasing, comprise the subcommittee, which will:

  • Look at the programs at peer institutions
  • Survey UW academic units and departments to identify common needs
  • Explore software licensing options
  • Assess the feasibility and cost effectiveness of this approach at the UW

The subcommittee will report its findings and make a recommendation to A-TAC.

Funding for Classroom Technology Improvements to Focus on General Assignment Classrooms (Recommendations)

Fiscal Year 2004 funding of $1.6 million for classroom technology improvements will focus primarily on basic upgrades to general assignment classrooms, as recommended by A-TAC. The committee was charged by the provost with making the recommendations.

The funding will provide new data projectors in 34 classrooms, replace obsolete projectors in 26 classrooms, and add 35 new portable projectors. Installation should be complete by Autumn Quarter.

A-TAC also suggested earmarking some funds for technology improvements in Health Sciences classrooms and for upgrading the computer classroom collaboratories in Odegaard and Mary Gates Hall. A-TAC further recommended setting aside some funds for possible allocation to UW adaptive technology labs and for other purposes. The recommendations have been forwarded to the dean of undergraduate education.

For more information regarding the Technology Advisory Committees, contact: tac-staff@cac.washington.edu


C&C Online Computer Training Courses by Annual Subscription

C&C is offering access to over 1,000 computer training courses through the end of 2004 for a $74 annual subscription fee. This self-directed learning option is available 24 hours a day on the Web. Register online for as many classes as you like. Categories include:

  • Databases, e-business, and IT security
  • Hardware, networks, and operating systems
  • Programming and Web development

Courses cover A+, Adobe, Apache, Corel, Crystal, FileMaker Pro, i-Net+, Java, Linux, Macintosh, Macromedia, Microsoft Office and MCSE, Novell, Oracle, Quicken, Security+, Solaris, and XML.

For more information, visit http://www.washington.edu/computing/training/elearn.html
or contact training@u.washington.edu


Campus Computing Security Awareness Campaign: Your Input Sought

As part of the U-TAC recommendation to approve the UW Information Systems Security Policy, C&C is charged with carrying out a UW computing security awareness campaign and would like your ideas. Would you be interested in a presentation to a specific group of faculty or staff in your department? A handbook? A Web site? Posters? Security fair? Seminars or workshops? Videos? Monthly tips? What topics should definitely be covered? We appreciate all suggestions!

Send your suggestions to security@cac.washington.edu


You May Not Be Getting UW Information Sent to You by Email

Faculty and staff at schools and colleges who receive email at a departmental or non-UW email address may be missing important official UW information. Official messages are sent to UW Email addresses (to uwnetid@u.washington.edu).

To receive these messages, just set your UW Email address to forward messages to the address where you actually read your email. To check and set the forwarding of your UW Email address, go to MyUW (http://myuw.washington.edu). In the right column under "Email" select "Manage Your UW NetID Resources" and follow the instructions for "Change UW Email forwarding."

Check with your local computing support person if you need help. For more information about managing email, see http://www.washington.edu/computing/email/managing.html


UWTV Expands Coverage Area

With the recent addition of Olympia and Centralia, UWTV is now available in 850,000 homes in Western Washington and over one million households in the state as a whole. This expansion is part of a continuing effort to provide the UW community with more methods to communicate with students, alumni, lifelong learners, and the general public.

For more information about UWTV, see http://www.uwtv.org/