2007-2008 Technology Report
University at Buffalo Comprehensive Fee
Background
The State University of New York instituted the Technology Component in 1997 as part of a comprehensive plan to build and maintain an infrastructure that will enable UB to offer its students the highest quality learning environment. The Technology Component is used to address specific technology needs such as computing and information technology, library automation, remote network access, public computing sites, and student system automation.
Student Benefits/Impact
- Web based student services and information systems
- Participation in the Microsoft Campus Agreement
- UB Linux software distribution
- Tech Tools 2007 CD for new students distributed
- Tech Tools 2008 CD for new students in development
- Internet access, including wireless connections
- Email accounts with increased mailbox limits
- High speed wired residential facilities
- A wide variety of various technology help options
- Download site for required computer software for all students
- Educational discounts on equipment and software
- On-line educational resources
- Distance learning options
- Software and training options
- Printing services dramatically improved with iprint@UB and new hardware
- New software distribution management system, SoftGird, which allows more software to be installed quicker, on-the-fly, with little or no regression testing
- Dreamweaver highend web-authoring and management tool brought to the Public Sites
- Increased Photoshop licenses for image editing in addition to Scanner Stations
- State-of-the- art computing sites and classrooms located on both campuses
- Customized personal portals, such as myUB
- Installed HFNetCheck to manage patch application on Public Sites workstations
- 14 Adaptive Stations in Public Sites
- WindowEyes portable screen reading software enabled on all Public Sites workstations
- 2 Reader Stations using Kurzweil technology for converting text-to-speech in the Public Sites
- Student Needing Assistance Program (SNAP)
- 5 Scanner Stations in the Public Sites
- 67 workstations Linux computing site
- Public Sites in Ellicott (Red Jacket), Governors (Clinton), and South Campus (Clement) Residence Halls
- UB Netpass Residence Halls and Apartments security scanning service
- 30 ExpressStations in Public Sites to allow students quick access to productivity tools and printing
- 15 QuickConnect workstations in public areas outside of normal computing sites to provide more 24/7 access where students congregate
- 97 workstations in 3 Hands-on Computing Classrooms
- Refreshed all workstations to latest Dell specifications
- Upgraded all monitors from CRTs to Flat Panels for enhanced viewing as well as space, power, and heat reductions
- Increased hours in Capen Cybrary for 24/7 access during the semester; increased hours in Lockwood Cybrary to begin 24 hour access earlier in the semester.
- On-site consulting in most Public Sites to provide assistance with productivity and printing issues
- Specialized rapid response team to triage and solve/escalate problems to reduce hardware and software downtimes
Student Access
- State-of-the-art computing sites and classrooms located on both campuses
- 539 public workstations (North Campus)
- 105 public workstations (South Campus)
- 80 Library Reference Stations
- OpenPort high speed wired connections for laptops in Public Sites
- High speed wired residential facilities
- Wireless access on campus
- Remote access/dial-in modem pool
- UB Netpass Residence Halls and Apartments security scanning service
Contact Information
IT Public Computing Sites
Monday - Friday; vary by unit and location
North Campus Locations:
- Capen Cybrary: Undergraduate Library (2nd & 3rd floors)
- Bell Hall Room 101 (Linux Public Site)
- Diefendorf Hall Rooms 206-207 (South Campus)
- Health Sciences Library, 1st Floor (South Campus)
- Fronczak Hall Room 408
- Lockwood Cybrary: 2nd and 3rd floors
- Residence Halls (RedJacket, Clinton, & Clement)
- Public Site Classrooms (Baldy 206, Park 143, & Capen 120)
Public Computing Locations:
http://ubit.buffalo.edu/sites/ 
Office of CIO
Monday - Friday; 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
517 Capen Hall, North Campus
645-7979
645-7910
it-web@buffalo.edu
Expenditure Plan
Digital Library: $4,399,605
Continued support to infrastructure and enhancements to electronic resources available in the Libraries.
- Continue to increase number of electronic resources
- Continue to provide and enhance web based full-text and research oriented digital information products
- 24x7 access to Cybraries, UB's online catalog web interface and BISON
Fast Facts
- Provide access to over 74,248 electronic journals of which 10,487 are full-text; more than 182,940 e-books, 2000 types of reports, 87,000 music recordings and over 300,000 ArtStor images
Educational Technology: $1,067,618
Support for infrastructure, labs, software and training in development and advancement of instructional initiatives.
Educational Technology Center
- Continue to assist faculty in advancing the design and delivery of education through web based and multi-media courses
- Provide software and equipment to UB faculty to enhance development of instructional tools, applications or innovative learning objects
Distributed Support for Technology
- Maintain computing labs on both campuses
- Provided summer workshop for undergraduate and graduate courses in computational science and bioinformatics, computing and visualization resources (CCR)
Student Services: $477,882
Infrastructure, equipment, software and technical services in support of university student systems and student service areas. Continued support to enhance student access to technology.
- Weekly My Opinion survey in conjunction with MyUB
- Provide multiple web based service options to facilitate student service information dissemination and service transactions on a 24-7 basis for enrolled students including: reservation forms; services and facilities information; self-help and developmental information; and service/business forms
- Career Planning and Placement web based services: On Campus Jobs Program, job and career resources and services
- 24-7 web based mechanisms for student feedback and questions
- Comprehensive Fee web site and report presentation
- Web based registration for event programs
- Technical support for the maintenance and enhancement of Student Affairs technology infrastructure and application development that supports twelve student service units
- Provide maintenance and support for DARS (Degree Audit System) that allows students to keep track of their degree requirements to graduate in a timely fashion (upgraded to version 3.5 software)
- Provide maintenance & support for CAS (Course Applicability System) part of the transfer articulation system that allows students and prospective transfer students to determine if courses taken at other schools will meet degree requirements at UB
- Maintain TES Online (Transfer Evaluation System) that allows Transfer & Articulation Dept employees to evaluate course descriptions/ create custom reports with information from multiple institutions
- Provide maintenance and support for Sigma (Student Financial Aid Management System)
- Over 1,500 web pages supported
- Over 54 million page hits annually
- 3,000 students served by Orientation application
- 33 MyOpinion surveys offered with an average of 461 student participants
- 125 companies use our automated on-campus recruiting program resulting in 1,103 student interviews
- Posted 5,048 full and part time jobs
- Had 6,738 students registered to use Career Services on-line services
- 12 Student Affairs units supported
iConnect @ UB: $8,210,895
Infrastructure, equipment, software and technical services in support of advancing UB's mission of excellence in research, teaching and service through the provision of high quality information resources and technology
Web Based Student Services
- Webreg
- Customized personal portals
- Provided web servers for personal web pages, student club web sites and audio or video of class sessions
- Software Download Site
Public Sites/Cybraries and Hands-on Classrooms
Public Sites and Cybraries are locations equipped with network-connected computers with productivity software, some with scanners, and with laser printers that are available to all UB affiliates, particularly students. Areas with 25 workstations or more are staffed with student consultants for resource maintenance and to provide assistance.
- State-of-the-art computing sites and classrooms
- Scanner Stations in Public Sites
- Express Stations in Public Sites and QuickConnects in other public areas on Campus
- Maintain Public Site availability 16 hrs/day 7 days/week generally plus two 24 hour sites, one site 7 days/week and one site 6 days/week
- Maintained 3 hands-on computer classrooms (97 seats) for instruction
- Monitor and repair software on over 724 public workstations located throughout campus
- Implemented new software distribution/virtualization system that allows more software to be installed with less conflicts, reduced development and turnaround time, and can add and update software on-the-fly midsemester as needed.
- Refreshed all workstations to latest Campus standard Dell workstations
- Converted all CRTs to Flat Panel Displays increasing work surface space, achieving significant reductions in energy use and heat production
- After Fall Recess, Lockwood Cybrary provides 24 hour/day service
- 539 public workstations (North Campus)
- 105 public workstations (South Campus)
- 80 Library Reference Stations (North and South Campus)
- Metered software at the public sites and licensing was determined by usage
- Provide metered premium software such as Adobe Professional, Photoshop, and Dreamweaver to public workstations
Public Printing
Printing services are provided in conjunction with public workstations for all students. Printing is done by medium to high-speed laser printers distributed in buildings or areas where computers are located. Most printing locations are staffed by student consultants who assist users with their printing needs.
- Maintain 35 public access printers to support high quality and timely printing services
- iPrint queue management and print quota allocation system that improved print job throughput by providing even access to printing service, reducing waste, and deleting excessively large print jobs.
- 24.9 million pages -printed during 2006/2007 Academic Year, down 13.5 million from previous year
- 12.4 million pages current through 2007/2008
Network Connectivity
Connectivity to campus and Internet networks.
- Remote access/dial-in 56k modem service
- Connections to the Internet (commercial) and Internet2 (research and education)
- Upgraded Internet connection from 300Mbps to 400Mbps
- Wireless connections
- ResNet (high speed wired residential network)
- High speed wired residential facilities
- Maintained a library of self-help documentation for connecting to the network
- Provide system to identify infected computers in Resnet, Wireless and remote access/dial-in 56k modem service
- Increased support to freshmen during September Welcome
- 11,314 successful connected to ResNet via UB NetPass during Fall 2007 and Spring 2008
- Installed more than 100 new wireless access points across both campuses
- Support 225 wireless access points to locations in 24 buildings on the South Campus
Assistive Computing
- Adaptive technology workstations in public labs
- Maintained Standard accessible software on 14 Adaptive workstations in public labs, including JAWS, Dragon Dictate, and ZoomText
- Maintained 2 Reader Stations using Kurzweil OCR scanning technology for conversion of printed and electronic documents into audio files to assist users with learning disabilities
- Maintained standard assistive software recommended by UB Center for Assistive Technology
Technology Classrooms
- Added 17 Projection Ready with Computer Technology Classrooms; laptop projection, DVD/VHS projection, refurbished classrooms
- Refurbished Wende 111 as a full Technology Classroom
- 102 centrally scheduled classrooms are currently equipped with technology
UBLearns Learning Environment
- Continued support for Blackboard including Production and Test systems, application upgrades and vendor suggested system enhancements
- Upgraded Blackboard application was completed prior to Spring 08 semester to version 7.2
- Projected UBLearns Course Sites 2,730 for Fall 2006 and 2,100 for Spring 2007
- Projected unique enrollments 90,000 for Fall 2006 and 69,000 for Spring 2007
- Enrollments averaged 33 students per course site
Campus Licensed Software (Support for UBMicro)
- Participation in the Microsoft Campus Software Agreement (MCSA)
- Provided software tools, documentation, and assistance for the products established by iConnect faculty Software Advisory Committee
- Linux software distribution
- Distributed 12,200 pieces of media to students of the full suite of Microsoft productivity software
- Distributed 32,944 Microsoft Campus Agreement licenses.
- Distributed 12,000 - 2007 Tech Tools CDs
- Plan on distributing 5,200 2008 Tech Tools CDs
- Over 110,000 visits to the Tech Tools download site
- Distributed licenses for academic software in support of UB's programs
- Auto Desk (unlimited use)
- XWin32 (unlimited use)
- Knoware (support & maintenance)
- Distributed over 1,800 software licenses (SPSS, SAS, AutoCad, Mathematica, Maple) for use in departmental computing labs
- Oracle accounts and software access were provided for database classes
- Linux software was downloaded 425+ times, and 57 CD sets were distributed at UBMicro
- 775+ machines are registered and 300+ are active in the Red Hat Network
Central Authentication and Email Services
Authentication (login) for many campus services and high availability email service.
- Over 4 million pieces of email are handled every day
- Implemented commercial spam identification service
- Maintained email delivery quality of service by reducing outbound spam
- Upgraded central email service infrastructure to increase service availability and delivery throughput
- Central authentication service
- Integrated Library Research Workstations into central authentication service
- Integrated UBlearns and software download services into web-based single-sign on service
- More than 30,000 active student mailboxes
- Increased personal filespace quotas (UBFS) from 15 MB to 250 MB
Central Help Desk
Computing assistance for students, faculty, and staff via phone, email, and a walk-in office.
- Provided over 30 different hands-on training classes for UB students
- Held 72 New Student Orientation sessions servicing 2,700 students
- Held 9 orientation sessions for parents of incoming freshmen and transfer students
- Published a variety of high quality publications for new parents and students
- Provide consulting services to all UB affiliates, primarily parents
- Increased service hours
- Provide self-help documentation
- Responded to over 22,000 inquiries by more than 13,500 customers
- Resolved 90% of problems in under 24 hours; nearly 80% in 10 minutes or less
- Moved office to a new location more accessible to students
- Provided 1-800 help line for new students
Internet Security Awareness
Increase student awareness and provide self-help tools for computing and internet security.
- Purchased site license for Symantec AntiVirus and Client Security Firewall
- Purchased one year site license for Symantec End Point Protection
- Produced and distributed 30,000 IT Security Guides
- Symantec Client Security, AntiVirus downloaded
- Computer security learning session provided to new students and their parents during summer orientations
- Participated in computer security portion of University Residence Halls and Apartments "Move In" video
UBMicro IT Support Services (Campus Computer Store)
- Aggregate acquisition of IT standardized computers printers and software
- Student Needing Assistance Program (SNAP) provides loaner computers, printers and software to students with financial need
- Provided PC remediation, network access, and security services for 2,010 student, faculty and staff owned computers
- 2,500 mailings produced in support of this program
- Produced and distributed the Back to School Survival Guide (4,000), Back-to-School Technology Guides ( 21,000), and Graduate Student Guides (5,000)
FAQs
Q. What is UB doing to improve printing in the public computing areas?
A. iPrint@UB has been implemented this year with allocations. The iPrint system improves printing performance by reducing wasteful printing, reducing printing jobs to those that are actually needed, and queuing large print jobs to specific printers. Students will be allocated 1,500 pages for the academic year, which is expected to meet 95% of printing needs. Additional pages can be purchased with Campus Cash or copier vending card. We also replaced our older printers with newer printers. Our average wait time for a computer printout is about 10 minutes, a drastic improvement from last year.
Q. Why don't more courses and instructors utilize the features in UBlearns?
A. UBlearns adoption by instructors continues to grow; Fall courses are estimated at about 2600. Instructors are encouraged to use UBlearns features at workshops provided by the Teaching and Learning Center, and through best practices features in the UBlearns newsletter sent to all teaching faculty. UBLearns 'Help' page have been revised and updated providing current application version information for instructors to assist with usage. Our plan is to establish a development server where faculty will be encouraged to innovate with new course management features with the hope of including these new features into regular courses support through UBlearns.
Q. Why aren't there more computers for students on campus?
A. UB understands that students appreciate having access to computers when they are on campus and cannot access their personal computers. Following review of workstation usage this year, some research-only workstations were replaced with workstations with both research and productivity applications.
Q. How do I get my copy of Microsoft software?
A. You can pick up your copy of Microsoft software at UBMicro. Bring your student ID. You may also acquire Microsoft software online. For more info, visit: www.ubmicro.buffalo.edu
and ubit.buffalo.edu/software/index.php
.
Q. What is UB doing to help students keep their computers secure and free of viruses and other malicious software?
A. UB provides the Symantec Internet Client Security package which includes antivirus and firewall software, computer security advice, and assistance. In 2006, the Symantec product was upgraded to include new features for Privacy Control and Ad Blocking. In 2007, it was upgraded to Symantec Endpoint Protection. For more information, visit UB's computer security Web site: hhttp://www.ubmicro.buffalo.edu/1/repair.php
.
Q. Why is UB using Netpass?
A. UBNetpass is required for access to our computer network from apartments and residence halls. UBNetpass prevents disabling viruses from entering our system and keeps our network outside of the apartments and residence halls safe for use.
Q. What is UB doing to expand the number of wireless access points?
A. UB has an existing program to expand the number of wireless access points. You can view the current list of wireless zones: http://ubit.buffalo.edu/ubwireless/
Q. What is being done to improve Webmail?
A. With the rise in spam emails to the campus, efforts are focused on the protection of campus email delivery, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008. Enhancement in email and spam filtering tools were done and are being made available to the UB community to easily and effectively filter out the multitude of unwanted emails. The old web mail client (silkymail) vendor went out of business and the campus was left with the risk of running an unsupported tool. This prompted efforts to choose and provide a replacement web mail client (@mail) The simple and mobile version have been implemented and the advanced feature set is being worked on for deployment.
Q. What is UB doing to provide student services 24x7?
A. Today, we cannot provide 24x7 access to Student Information Systems such as DARS because our current hardware configuration requires "down time" to perform system maintenance and down time to backup data regularly. We are looking to minimize this down time.
