Information Technology ServicesRSS
Faculty technology showcase online
Faculty using technology-driven learning are presented in an online showcase, "Faculty and Student Technology (FAST)". The website, produced by Information Services Technology Transforming Teaching, highlights technologies and methods used by UNL faculty to meet learning objectives.
IS recommends disabling Java web browser plug-ins
Information Services is recommending computer users disable the Java web browser plug-in on all computers. An exploit directs users to malicious websites, infecting and allowing hackers to take control of individual computers. The exploit has put more than a billion computers worldwide at risk.
Check computer for critical updates, multiple web browsers
Information Services is reminding everyone to check for and apply critical software updates to your computers. Updates are a key way to prevent hackers, viruses and other malicious activity from compromising your computer and data.
Microsoft IE vulnerability
Due to security vulnerabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer , UNL Information Services is recommending all personnel temporarily cease use of Microsoft Internet Explorer and use Mozilla Firefox Extended Support Release ESR as a preferred browser.
HIVE tech collaboration plans 'meet and greet' Aug. 30
HIVE, a new technology collaborative, is hosting a meet and greet 3:30 p.m. Aug 30. HIVE is a grassroots organization linking UNL students with faculty and local businesses to develop working relationships and technology-based solutions. HIVE originated out of a UNL mobile app contest last spring.
Windows 8, Office 2013 demos Sept. 13
Campus demonstrations of Windows 8 and Office 2013 are Sept. 13 in the Nebraska Union Auditorium. The Windows 8 session begins at 8:30 a.m., while the Office 2013 session opens at 10:30 a.m. Both 90-minute sessions are free and open to faculty, staff and students.
i>Clicker upgrades available
i>Clicker upgraded software is being released, offering greater functionality and a simplified user interface. After quality assurance testing for the last six weeks, v6.2 of the i>clicker software for PC and Mac is available for download.
My.UNL/Blackboard Downtime, Aug 18
My.UNL/Blackboard will be unavailable on Saturday August 18 from 6am-Noon for routine system maintenance.
Monitor IS Alerts for system status:
http://is.unl.edu/isalert
Use MyUNL login for Telecom Online Bill Pay
All customers are now able to use their MyUNL login and password credentials to access the online bill payment system for telephone and wireless bills, effective August 15. The use of Lotus Notes login credentials to this site have been discontinued.
Brannen to retire Sept. 4
After a 23-year career with the university, Paul Brannen is retiring Sept. 4. Brannen, associate director of Information Services, was originally hired as an accountant for the former Computer Resource Center. He is a 1974 graduate of UNL and a U.S. Navy veteran.
Free classroom technology classes offered to faculty
Information Services is offering a series of free technology training sessions designed for UNL faculty. The one-hour Power Classroom workshop topics include My.UNL/ Blackboard, i>Clicker, PowerPoint, Adobe Connect and Maple T.A.
'Frontier' web server to be discontinued June 30
The final decommissioning process for the Frontier web server will begin June 30. UNL is completing its year-long transition of hosting university websites from a local server to UNLcms, a cloud-based, web content management system.
Departmental software purchase process changes July 1
Software sales for UNL departments will move from Information Services to Procurement Services starting July 1. An online catalog will be available through the eSHOP system. Software purchases for personal use will be made through the Computer Shop or online UNL Marketplace.
UNL web capacity testing is June 9
A test of the capacity of UNL's web servers is planned for 4 to 6 a.m., June 9. The test will gauge if the servers remain responsive in times of crisis. Some loss of functionality may be experienced during the test for websites and other network services hosted at UNL.
Telephone disaster recovery test is May 17
Starting at 7 p.m May 17, Information Services will conduct a test on emergency re-routing procedures for all calls to the UNL operator switchboards. No disruption of service is expected. The test will conclude by 8 p.m.
Lotus Notes email delivery ends June 30
The last day campus email will be delivered through Lotus Notes is June 30. The University of Nebraska is transitioning to Office 365, a system-wide application for email, contacts and calendaring. To prevent any disruption in email service, all faculty and staff should activate a new email account.
'Activate My Email' workshops begin May 1
Employees still needing to switch UNL email to the new Office 365 system can attend an “Activate my Office 365 Email” walk-in session beginning May 1. Employees will be able to activate a new mailbox, select a preferred email address and order migration for existing email and calendars.
Office 365 migration team looks at June 30 deadline, suggests steps
With just a few weeks remaining until the June 30 deadline, the UNL email migration team is asking campus units that have not transitioned to Office 365 take time to organize before diving in to the migration.
UNL launches Nebraska App
UNL has launched the Nebraska App, a suite of mobile applications that makes essential university resources available on mobile devices. The iPhone app is available in the Apple App Store and the Android app is available in the Android Market.
Register for March 21 NU Technology Day workshop
Registration is now open for NU Technology Day, March 21 at the East Union. The daylong information technology conference is free and open to all University of Nebraska faculty, staff and administrators. Register at http://go.unl.edu/nxo.
New email draws positive feedback after initial rollout
Microsoft 365, UNL's new email system, is working its way across campus. After the first roll out of accounts in December, an Information Services team led by Amy Metzger has delivered the Microsoft Office 365 email system to more than 400 of UNL's faculty and staff.
VPN required for secure remote computer access by Feb. 29
UNL will begin requiring the use of the Virtual Private Network for remote desktop access using the Remote Desktop Protocol beginning Feb. 29. Computer users trying to access office computers or servers from off-campus after Feb. 29 will need to do so using the UNL VPN.
New Virtual Private Network for UNL begins Jan. 25
A new Virtual Private Network for UNL, which allows secure, encrypted online connections to UNL internal data from anywhere, will be in operation starting Jan. 25 at 9 a.m. Current university system VPN users will need to make a change to their secure gateway/connect client.
UNL Antivirus for home computers
Purchase a new computer over the holidays? UNL employees should be reminded that UNL's antivirus is available as a free download for personally-owned home computers too. The previous contract with Sophos antivirus ended Dec. 30, 2011.
Office 365 activation and user training available
Account activation, frequently asked questions and user support training sessions are now posted on the Office 365 email migration website. Access is currently limited to technical staff and uses a three-step process to ensure users have met OS requirements and departmental migration plans.
Dial "7" to reach a research/extension facility
Effective January 14, personnel from the Lincoln campus can dial 7, followed by the extension phone number, to reach colleagues at university research/extension facilities. The new prefix accommodates the addition of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) at Curtis, Nebraska.
Ruhrdanz receives Regent's Kudo
Michael Ruhrdanz, Information Services Director of Communications and Operations was honored recently with a Kudo award from the University of Nebraska. University of Nebraska Kudos recognize staff who go "above and beyond,"
System Outages during Holiday Break
Information Services will be taking multiple systems off line for maintenance during the holiday break. Details can be found at http://is.unl.edu/outages
Beware: Email migration is prime time for scams
The university's email migration project presents an opportunity for email scams and phishing attempts. Faculty and staff should never respond to emails that they suspect contain malicious links or requests for login or password information. UNL never asks for login or password info via email.
New email system rollout begins today
UNL will begin transitioning faculty and staff email to Microsoft Office 365 today. The first to migrate to the new system will be the Office of the Chancellor, vice chancellors and support staff. All departmental email accounts for faculty/staff will be transferred during a six-month period.