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Volume 1, Issue 2 March 2018, Spring Semester Edition


Greetings from the CIO

Sharyne MillerThe spring semester is well underway, and I’m eager to share with you some of the work that ITS has been doing to develop, support and engage our campus community. From outreach and education to ongoing improvements, there are numerous academic initiatives that we hope you’ll be as excited about as we are.

For starters, Tech Nest, our renovated interactive technology and training venue, is opening this month in the Fisher University Union where B1NAR1ES used to be. As for the classroom experience, we have installed exciting new technology in various classrooms that improves collaboration and allows for more engaging presentations. View more specifics in the “Ask an Expert” section. What's more, is the memorable and rewarding opportunity several ITS staff members had in sharing their education and work experiences with the brilliant young women of the Isaac Bear Early College Women Empowered Through Education Club.

ITS is excited that UNCW was the first UNC System school to go "all in" when it came to purchasing Adobe Creative Cloud for students. Our next initiative is to arm our campus community with the skills to transition from digital consumers to digital producers with Adobe workshops/training coming in the fall.

Furthermore, ITS has recently created a Mac Users Group committee comprised of faculty and staff, with plans to add students in the near future to ensure we include all client perspectives regarding the Mac user experience on campus.

ITS is also continuing to enhance the ITS Request System, after our redesigned relaunch in August 2017, by concentrating on the knowledge base. We understand the importance of continuing to improve the ITS Request System with our clients in mind, which is why over the next year we plan to implement chat functionality, consolidate services and simplify service pages with even more enhancements to follow.

I encourage you to peruse the rest of the Tech Talk newsletter as many of the above-mentioned initiatives and more are conveyed in greater detail, such as our “Cyber Security Tip” section. This newly added feature in Tech Talk is designed to encourage cyber security awareness and education around campus.

Lastly, so you don't miss out on any of our news, please take a moment to subscribe to this newsletter by clicking the "Subscribe to Tech Talk" button on the top right-hand panel. We hope you will join us!

Thank you,
Sharyne Miller

ITS News & Updates

ITS Scheduled Maintenance Weekend is September 7 – 10

August, 2018

As part of our preapproved scheduled maintenance weekends, from September 7 (5 p.m.) – September 10 (8 a.m.), ITS will be performing maintenance work on various campus systems. (more)

Zoom Replaces WebEx

August, 2018

UNCW has adopted a new collaborative meeting tool for web conferencing, online meetings and synchronous Distance Education classes called Zoom. Zoom replaces UNCW’s instance of WebEx. (more)

Quarterly Apple Discount (formerly called Apple Bulk Order) – ends Sept. 1, 2018

August, 2018

Requests for the quarterly Apple Discount can be submitted from August 9 – September 1.  The last day Apple will accept a PO will be September 6. If you are interested in purchasing Apple products for your department and would like a discounted quote, follow the instructions in this article. (more)

ITS Scheduled Maintenance Weekend is August 3 – 6

July, 2018

As part of our preapproved scheduled maintenance weekends, from August 3 (12 p.m.) – August 6 (8 a.m.), ITS will be performing maintenance work on various campus systems. (more)

Coming Soon: Changes to UNCW’s Email Login Page

June, 2018

Whether you call it “Office 365 email,” “OWA” or simply “mail.uncw.edu,” soon the Web page where you enter your email login credentials will be branded with iconic UNCW imagery.” (more)

New: Chat with the TAC!

June, 2018

Need computer or technology help? You can now chat with the Technology Assistance Center (TAC)! ITS has just begun piloting a new chat function at the TAC. You can check it out by visiting uncw.edu/tac, and selecting the “Chat Available,” button located under “Popular Quicklinks.” As we pilot this new feature, chat will have limited hours. If chat is unavailable, the button will state “Chat Unavailable.” (more)

ITS Scheduled Maintenance Weekend is June 1 – 4!

May, 2018

As part of our preapproved scheduled maintenance weekends, from June 1 (12 p.m.) – June 4 (8 a.m.), ITS will be performing maintenance work on various campus systems.  (more)

Tech Nest Opening Next Week in FUU 1002!

April, 2018

ITS is excited to announce the soft launch of our Tech Nest space in Fisher University Union (FUU), Room 1002, and invites you to stop by the week of April 9 for many exciting events! The space was designed with our students, faculty and staff in mind and can be creatively used for a multitude of purposes. (more)

Coming Soon: Tech Nest

March, 2018

This month ITS will be opening Tech Nest in the Fisher University Union where B1NAR1ES used to be located. Named by students, the newly redesigned space will offer interactive technology and training opportunities for faculty, staff and students. (more)

Join Us to Provide Feedback on the TAC

March, 2018

ITS is seeking faculty, staff and student volunteers to provide feedback on Technology Assistance Center (TAC) services during one of our three brief feedback sessions. TAC services include walk-in help, phone calls and tickets submitted to the TAC. We are eager to hear what you have to say about ways we can improve your experiences with the TAC. (more)

Banner 9 Upgrade & Training Info

March, 2018

ITS is excited to announce that our campus is upgrading to Banner 9. The first portion of this upgrade occurred over the March 9 – 12 weekend. In addition, ITS is offering instructor-led and online navigation training to UNCW staff & faculty who are interested. (more)

Adobe Creative Cloud Support

February, 2018

UNCW was the first UNC System school to go "all in" when it came to purchasing Adobe Creative Cloud for students. We want to arm our students with the skills to transition from digital consumers to digital producers, which is why we're sharing some tools and information to help you learn more about Adobe products without having to become an Adobe expert. ITS is excited to continue supporting UNCW's faculty and students with this initiative and plans to hold some Adobe workshops/training in the fall. (more)

ITS Request System Continues to Improve

February, 2018

In August 2017, Information Technology Services launched a redesign that focused on improving the user experience of the ITS Request System, which is comprised of the ITS service catalog and knowledge base and accessible through the Technology Assistance Center's (TAC) homepage. Since then, we have continued to enhance the system for our campus community by concentrating on the knowledge base. (more)

Kudos to ITS Employees Receiving the Long Leaf Pine Awards

January, 2018

ITS is pleased to announce that ITS staff members have received Long Leaf Pine Awards, which are awarded to residents who have provided “exemplary service to the State of North Carolina and their communities that is above and beyond the call of duty and which has made a significant impact and strengthened North Carolina.” The Governor has bestowed the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award to Steve Swart, Dana Ward, Don Sloan, Ellen Gurganious, and Jeff Hunnicutt. Kudos to them for receiving this prestigious award. (more)

ITS Training and Development Opportunities

January, 2018

ITS offers a variety of in-person training and development course opportunities, including Banner 9, Office 365, Adobe, SharePoint, Excel and more. To view the full list of courses and to sign up, please visit the Dare to Learn Academy. New classes are added often, so check the catalog regularly! (more)

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