Summer 2018 - UNIT Progress Report

Dear Villanova Community;

Welcome to the Summer 2018 issue of UNIT's Progress Report. This newsletter is meant to inform you about UNIT Projects, Support and Service Offerings to the University. Please let us know if you have any comments or ideas for future issues by contacting: support@villanova.edu.

Workday at Villanova University

Villanova University has selected Workday as Villanova's next generation ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) for Finance, HR, and Payroll. Workday is a cloud based software application suite that specializes in human capital management, financial management and student management. The Discovery phase of this University wide impacting project has commenced with involvement from UNIT, multiple stakeholder groups and the vendor.  Currently details and project scopes are being worked out with our implementation partner Sierra-Cedar Inc. The project team will be communicating a more formal project kickoff with plans and timelines for the entire project in the very near future.

Thank you for your support of this University impacting project.

UNIT Services and Collaborations

Web Conferencing Update: Bb Collaborate Ultra and Zoom

Over the last year, Bb Collaborate Ultra and Zoom have added several new features to enhance their platforms.  These new features will help to improve the overall teaching and learning experience for staff, faculty and students.

Bb Collaborate Ultra

•  Phone Only Dial-in - You can now call into a Collaborate session without joining the session on a browser. From your list of sessions, select the name of the session you want to call into.

•  Editing Recording Names - Give your recordings a new name. Access Recordings from your scheduler. Find the recording you want to edit. Open the Recording options and select Edit name.

•  Application Sharing Bandwidth Improvements - We are making changes to reduce blurriness when viewing application sharing.  Collaborate is using use additional measurements for a more accurate picture of network conditions, which greatly reduces the frequency of the blurry moments.

•  Session Attendance report CSV export - Moderators can now export session attendance reports as a CSV file to view and manipulate in Excel

For more information on any of these features and additional new features, please visit here. 

Zoom

•  Ability to zoom into shared content in meetings and webinars - When viewing shared content in a meeting or webinar, a user can now zoom in to the content

•  Push to talk- Allows users to temporarily unmute themselves by pressing the space bar.

•  Up to 49 video streams in local recording - Local recording in gallery view can capture up to 49 video streams.

•  Enhanced ability to pin videos - If the host has spotlighted a video, the host or co-host of the meeting, or the host or panelist of a webinar has the ability to pin a different video.

•  Send Code snippet over chat - Copy and paste bits of code over chat and preserve the code formatting. This must be enabled by the account owner or admin and requires a separate package download.

For more information on any of these features and additional new features, please visit here. 

University Website Redesign

University Communications and Marketing and UNIT completed phase 1 of the Website Redesign project in May.  This phase included a new design template for the University homepage, updates to all 6 college homepages, new pages for the Office of the President, Alumni, Academic Enterprise, and features a Villanova created Academic Program Explorer.  For information about the project please visit here. 

Spring Classroom Technologies Upgrades

M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing - Driscoll Hall

Six labs featuring all of the technologies of a typical classroom plus simulation for health assessment, standardized patient observation and testing were upgraded in the spring semester. The upgrades include new HD projectors, HD cameras, software-based video conferencing, wireless A/V and switchers. The Dean's Boardroom received a complete A/V upgrade supporting digital signals, BYOD devices and the unique uses of the boardroom. The upgrades also include a new HD projector that extends out of a wall pocket on a Crestron controlled actuator. The motorized projection screen drops from the ceiling to reveal an integrated HD camera for video conferencing. The space also features a house computer, audio conferencing, wired and wireless A/V connectivity and a wireless touch panel for Crestron system control.

UNIT Support Solutions

UNIT's TechZone@Falvey Opens

UNIT's TechZone now in Falvey Library - On Thursday June 14, UNIT's TechZone at 101 Vasey Hall closed permanently and moved to a new location on the first floor of the Falvey Library. UNIT's TechZone@Falvey will continue to support the technology needs of our community including the following services: WIFI Connectivity (Mobile, Laptop, Tablet...); IT-Related Support (myNova, O365, Email, Blackboard...) Software Support/Hardware recommendations; Virus and Malware remediation; VPrint and Mobile Printing; Lab Support and Charging Technology; Residential Networking Support; and Password Assistance. Please visit the Techzone@Falvey with any questions or IT Support needs.

Spring Semester 2018 Wireless Upgrades

VUGuest Wireless Enhancements

The University's investment in its wireless environment now demands the robust security of its wired network. Over the spring, to support the broader range of user and device access, UNIT provided an additional layer of security for Villanova's wireless infrastructure.

The deployment of Aruba ClearPass Wireless Access Management technology (ClearPass) now allows for secure automated "onboarding" of guest, BYOD and mobile devices, including Windows, Mac OS X, iOS and Android devices.

The benefit of ClearPass is that University employees, visitors, contractors, and guest wireless devices will authenticate to and access University wireless services in a more efficient and secure "policy-based" fashion. In addition, ClearPass provides more efficient and effective technology for wireless access troubleshooting, ability to deploy AP real-time patches and updates, and better tools for visibility into wireless performance monitoring and traffic analysis - all in support of UNIT's commitment to providing robust and secure wireless coverage and capacity!

Outdoor Wireless Improvements

During winter 2018, UNIT deployed brand new Aruba APs purposed especially for outdoor Wi-Fi coverage. This effort extends the range of the University's wireless network, by enhancing outdoor coverage and capacity from Bartley Hall up through the Grotto!

Reliable outdoor wireless coverage is now available in designated campus areas surrounding "the Quad," Connelly Center, St. Rita's Hall, Kennedy Hall, Vasey Hall, Austin Hall, Dougherty Hall, and Grotto area.  Future areas for outdoor wireless include the courtyard for new Lancaster Area Housing.

Security

Tips for Safe, Summertime Fun

June is Internet Safety Month and with kids out of class and families gearing up for getaways, it is a good time to take action and protect your mobile devices.

Travel has become - literally - more "mobile" than ever before.

Avoid mayhem and make magical family memories by taking a few simple cyber safety steps before you head out of town.

Before your hit the road and while on the go! Make sure to:

•  Lock down your login: Your usernames and passwords are not enough to protect key accounts like email, banking and social media.

• Make sure all devices are password protected: Use a passcode or security feature (like a finger swipe) to lock your phone or mobile device.

•  Actively manage location services: Location tools come in handy while planning your trip or navigating a new place, but they can also expose your location - even through photos. Turn off location services when not in use.

• Get savvy about WiFi hot spots: Do not transmit personal info or make purchases on unsecure networks. Instead, use a virtual private network (VPN) or your phone as a personal hotspot to surf more securely.

• Turn off WiFi and Bluetooth when idle: When WiFi and Bluetooth are on, they connect and track your whereabouts. If you do not need them, switch them off.

• Protect your $$$: Be sure to shop or bank only on secure sites. Web addresses with "https://" means the site takes extra security measures. However, an "http://" address is not secure.

• Never use public computers to log in to any accounts: Be extremely cautious on public computers in airports, hotel lobbies and Internet cafes. Keep activities as generic and anonymous as possible.

• Share with care: Think twice before posting pictures that you would not want certain people (like your parents or employer) to see or photos that would reveal you are traveling.