Information Technology News Archive

1996 - 2017

In Brief September 2013

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latest news

  • OIT has a new mobile tool for finding available computers in drop-in labs, “PC Availability”.  This service can be found at http://www.oit.uci.edu/m/labs/
  • The Student Electronic Broadcast System (SEBS), which allows campus authorities to send bulk email to UCI students fitting diverse criteria, has been upgraded to use the Sympa mailing list software. Among the improvements now available are an improved interface to Registrar data (resulting in more accurate lists of students) and a more stable platform from which to send out the SEBS emails to students. More information on SEBS is available at http://www.oit.uci.edu/computing/sebs/
  • Windows XP is nearing end of life (Microsoft support for Windows XP ends on April 8, 2014). Users should plan to upgrade to newer versions of Windows as soon as possible. (Desktop Support clients are being upgraded, or are scheduled for upgrade before this date.)

Kuali Financial System Nears Release

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Kuali
UCI’s Kuali Financial System (KFS) team is helping UCI departments prepare for transition to KFS next year.

As noted in an earlier article, the Kuali Financial System (KFS) is new, comprehensive software that integrates UC Irvine’s core financial functions, including general ledger, procurement, budget, disbursing, and travel reimbursement. It will replace UC Irvine’s more than 30-year-old financial system, which is paper-intensive and has become increasingly difficult to support.

In addition to the KFS web site, where the project and its goals are described, OIT has created a Wiki which includes resources to help departments plan for the transition, links to training, and other key information.

UCCSC 2013 – A Collaborative Success

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UCCSC

UCCSC

On August 4-6, more than 300 IT professionals from throughout the University of California gathered at UCI’s Student Center to learn about one another’s challenges, projects, plans, and achievements.

Opening with a greeting from EVC and Provost Howard Gillman and a stimulating keynote speech by Google scientist and Distinguished UCI Alumnus Dan Russell, UCCSC featured over forty hours of technical presentations and panels, spanning the breadth of information technology that helps keep UC running.

Highlights from among the many presentations include:

UCCSC closed with the presentation of the Larry L. Sautter awards. From a pool of 27 nominees, interim UC CIO Mark Cianca congratulated the 2013 winners.

Most of the presentations were recorded with UCI Replay and may be viewed on the UCCSC web site (use the link “Session Recordings”).

Stay Safe While Using Cloud Services

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Cloud services such as Dropbox and Google Docs are becoming increasingly useful, numerous, and popular. You can work with your information – documents, photos, videos – from any internet-connected computer (including your phone) and trust that the information is backed up and secure.

However, when it comes to university data, additional considerations come into play. Are these services compatible with issues of privacy and security, federal and state law, and university policy?

OIT has published a document to help guide faculty and staff in the use of cloud services for UCI business. Highlights include three fundamental ideas you must keep in mind while using cloud services, a list of business situations for which cloud services are almost certainly inappropriate, and links to further reading.

Cloud services promise to save us time and money, and offer us the ability to share information and collaborate with unprecedented ease. However, in the university business context, additional prudence is in everyone’s best interests.

In Brief May 2013

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latest news

  • UCI is participating in the InCommon Certificate program, which allows delegated administrators in campus departments to issue and renew digital certificates used for such purposes as securing web servers run on behalf of their department.  Details can be found at http://security.uci.edu/sslcerts.php
  • ReadyTalk, UCI’s conference calling service, has been enhanced to include videoconferencing.  Up to four participants (selected by the conference host)  can provide video feeds, and up to 25 conference participants can watch.  More information is at http://www.readytalk.com/products-services/video
  • On May 22, EEE will be offering a workshop, “Working Safe and Smart in the Wild Web” to help faculty and staff learn strategies to protect your personal information while leveraging the power of the internet  for academic communication. Register at https://eee.uci.edu/workshop/cf