• Present: Leslie Dare, Max Carter, Jeff Naron, Tony Shurer, Stephanie Sobol, Joni Buss, Laura Munsterteiger, Allison Medlin, Richard Tyler, Jimmy Ledbetter, Brenda Lawrence, Pam Gerace, Lois Crowe, Nancy Breeding, Ron Foreman, Mike Bachman, Fred Eaker, Lisa Miles, Jason Petters, Susan Klein (ITD).
• Everyone is encouraged to network with each other; help each other. Contact Leslie Dare with any questions/suggestions.

2. Guest: Susan Klein (ITD)

• Powerpoint file is online; other details below.
• IT Reorganization: The existing RMIS and ITD units will become the Office for Information Technology (OIT) as of November 1, 2007.
• Calendar/Email:
  • Changes coming this academic year.
  • Question: Will calendar/email use be required of all employees as part of this transition? Answer: That is really a business operations decision, not a technology issue. The Division or departments within could decide to address this as needed.
• Office 2007 upgrade:
  • This version is very different from previous editions. Handy Tip: If you have a document created with Office 2007 that you can't open, install the Microsoft Compatibility Pack, which includes a File Converter. Once it is installed, you should be able to double-click on Office 2007 documents and they will open up. From there, you can "save as" a Word 97-2003 Document.
  • Also not yet known is what version will be selected.
  • Upgrade is being delayed until 2008.
  • Question: Will it include Publisher? Answer: Maybe. Need to decide which version; will keep this request in mind. (4 in attendance indicated use of this software.)
  • Question: Will we be able to move forward with a different licensing scheme? Answer: We will definitely discuss the possibility of Division-wide licensing to boost savings and efficiency. A subscription based on FTE of staff may be less expensive than individual licensing.
• Student Unity Email: The Unity email address is now the official email address used by the university for official email correspondance.

3. DETAG Updates

• Know your DETAG Rep! See our online roster. These folks are your advocates and would love to hear your suggestions and comments.
• Upcoming projects: Reviewing ETF submissions; developing the DETAG Series; producing podcasts; revewing Technology Plan data; developing resource templates; and more.

4. Division Training

• DETAG will again sponsor the DETAG Series, which will provide a number of technology training opportunities.
• Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint were very popular last year and may be repeated. Other workshops may include: Get More Out of the Web; LecShare; and more.
• Requested/suggested by today's participants: Adobe InDesign; MS Access; GroupWise; mobile devices (esp. connecting to calendar/email); Remote Access; communication tools (esp. for DE Students).

5. Podcasting

• DETAG will be producing more podcasts to add to the ones produced last year. Upcoming: Carmichael Rec Center Tour; CSLEPS; Banks Talley. Anyone interested in getting a podcast produced in their area should contact Leslie Dare or Eddie Lovett (chair of DETAG).

6. Blackboard Vista

• DETS will be facilitating more online workshops through Blackboard Vista (formerly known as WebCT Vista). Upcoming: Women Students at NC State; International Students at NC State.
• Additionally, other units are using Vista: Campus Rec; Counseling Center; SORC and others.
• Contact Leslie Dare if you want to explore possible uses of Vista in your area. More information is available online.

7. Software Purchasing

• Dreamweaver and more: with the exception of ETSS-provided desktop applications, all info for purchasing software is now on one website; Adobe purchases go through vendor (CIA) and some installs require an install CD, which you can get via an email request.
• ETSS Desktop applications need to be purchased via an online form that must be submitted by the LANTech. Titles include:
  • MS Windows XP Operating System
  • MS Office 2007 Professional (though you'll only get Office 2003 for now, and 2007 later)
  • MS Office 2000
  • MS Visio Professional 2007
  • MS Visio Professional 2002
  • MS Project 2000
  • WordPerfect 10

8. SIS

• The first Release of the new Student Information System (SIS) went live on September 10, 2007. A summary is avalable online.
• Part of Release 1 was the Student Portal. The Portal has an announcement section. Announcements for our areas will go through Leslie.
• Question: When will someone tell us about changes to current Rumba screens we use? Answer:Leslie gathered info about two years ago regarding units use of the current SIS. Those needs are being considered as the new SIS is being built. The current SIS will be kept running along side the new SIS until all transitions are complete. Leslie will be in touch about units' needs and functionality in the new SIS during the next year.

9. Phone Numbers

• Always include the 919 area code on web pages, print publicity and any other documentation. Many students are using cell phones that were activate at home, and often from a different area code. It is good to provide all ten digits as standard information at all times.

10. Regular Tech Updates

• In addition to email, regular technology updates can be found through these two blogs.
  • Leslie Dare
  • DETAG Link

11. Division Technology Award

• Not to early to be considering potential nominees! Award information is online. DETAG reviews and votes on the nominations.

12. Computer Security Day

• This will be held November 30th. The focus is protecting university data, including personal staff and student data. There will be workshops and speakers. More information coming soon.

13. Surplus Reminder

• Please send info for surplus items to Leslie Dare, who will forward to all Division LANTechs.

14. New Computer Purchases

• Be sure to have ETSS check out specs for any new machine you wish to purchase that will connect to the network. Current recommended specifications are online.
• Laptops: consider keeping “as is” if not needed to connect through the ETSS network.

15. Clean Your Computer Day

• Tuesday, September 25. More information is online.
• Cleaning the inside is all about deleting old files and emails that you don't need, and reorganizing the ones you keep. This will help your computer run more efficiently, make you more efficient as you work with files that are more organized, and also reduce your ETSS bill. Important tip: Don't wait until the 26th do start cleaning up old files and emails. Get a jump on things and start that process today! ETSS is likely to take a billing snapshot the first week of October, so you want to get this part done by then.
• Cleaning the outside is all about getting the dust and grime off your computer, mouse, keyboard, screen and cables. While your at it, why not give your whole desk a good cleaning too!

16. Web Accessibility

• All websites should comply with the university's Web Accessibility Regulation.
• Work with Saroj Primlani (513.4087) to review your site.
• If you are going to redesign your site, please contact Leslie Dare, who has materials that may be very helpful to the process, and is available to advise you through the process as needed. Also, Leslie is trying to move all websites into the Student Affairs webspace, and redesigns present a good opportunity to do so.

17. Web Stats

• We have setup databases for everyone to use SlimStat; directions coming soon. See this site for how it will look.

18. Databases Available

• DETS has a number of mySQL databases available for units who wish to use these for database web programming. Contact Leslie Dare for more information.

19. RSS Feeds

• New feeds available off of the Division home page.; let me know if you create one so it can be added to our list; Leslie can provide a template for feeds if you need.

20. WayBack Machine

• This archive service provides views of previous versions of your websites. A great resource...and fun!

21. Web Redesigns

• The Division of Student Affairs website and the DETS website will both be updated this year. The Division site will be updated (but not redesigned) and cleaned up; the DETS site will be completely redesigned and updated.

22. Miscellaneous Questions/Comments

• Question: I had to install the security update on GroupWise. Now it seems that Frequent Contacts are not used in the auto-completion of names. How do I fix this?
  Answer:
  • Open the Address Book by clicking on the Address Book icon at the top.
  • Choose "File/Name Completion Search Order"
  • Click on "Frequent Contacts" and add it to the selected books column. You can also add any other books you've created.
  • Use the "Down" and "Up" options to position the books; most folks like to put "Frequent Contacts" first.
  • Click on "OK" and you are done.
• Question: Will the re-org impact how I access my home and share files?
  Answer: Maybe. Right now you have to use Net Storage. It is possible that the re-org results in some changes in how Student Affairs manages our disk space. This might result in a new way to access that disk space remotely.
• Question: Are templates from the new university home page design available?
  Answer: We don't know. Leslie has asked as well but never got a response. Leslie will request more information and let everyone know.
• Question: How can I auto-archive? (And I don't like having to archive in general.)
  Answer: The LANTech can request this via an online form; it requires Director-level approval. Users are encouraged to regularly review and organize their archive space to avoid excessive costs associated with archiving. (It is possible that archiving would no longer required in the new email environment. Instead users would just be allocated a certain amount of space, and would buy more as needed.)
• Comment: We want the minimum provided disk space to be increased from 50/50/20 MB (Home, Archive and Share).
  Response: This feedback will continue to be shared and will be considered as services are examined during the re-organization of the new OIT.
• Comment: We need our disk space separated from a parent department because sometimes we can't save files.
  Response: It is possible that the re-org results in some changes in how Student Affairs manages our disk space. This might result in more options for partitioning that space within and between departments.
• Question: Is there a GroupWise client for the Mac?
  Answer: Yes. It can be downloaded from the Novell website; search for it under the downloads section. You will also have to use the VPN client.