Academic Computing
- Completed the implementation of a Web-based collaboration system (Xythos).
- Completed the server virtualization project that increases the reliability and availability of computer servers for the University.
- Completed a major upgrade of the campus e-mail system.
- Assisted Biology/Microbiology with a Beowulf cluster research project to review gene data.
- Assisted Computer Science with a grid and distributed computing research project, making use of unused GCA lab computer cycles for mathematical computations.
- Improved services to the campus community by completing the redesign of the Academic Computing Web site, using the Plone content management system.
- Implemented Instant Messaging (IM) using the campus e-mail server.
- Repurposed approximately 170 computers and sent them to local nonprofit organizations at no cost.
Business Operations and Training
- Restructured all Microsoft Office training classes offered to faculty and staff to conform to Office 2007 structure.
- Provided training and support for Plone, open-source Web page creation software application.
- Developed and provided TitanFiles/Xythos training classes to faculty and staff.
- Expanded the Training Web site and included online class registration and evaluation forms, created how-to videos to guide users through specific tasks in MS Word and Excel, and made all class manuals available online as another self-learning tool.
- Provided Essential Skills Training (e-mail, electronic calendar, computer security, etc.) to new employees.
- Provided Skills Inventory assessments to determine skill level for finalists (both current employees and all other applicants) applying for vacant administrative support Classified Staff positions.
- Conducted introductory MS Word and MS Excel workshops for community participants referred by Women’s Center and Workforce Development agency.
- Provided customized one-to-one training sessions for staff based on their specific needs and requests, using Microsoft Word, Excel and Access.
Media Services
- Assisted faculty with classroom response systems (clickers) to improve student engagement for approximately 1,500 students.
- Increased delivery of mobile equipment to classrooms by 8.5 percent. Computer deliveries increase by 12 percent.
- Provided a campuswide license and support for plagiarism prevention, GradeMark (online grading) and Peer Review (allows students to evaluate each other’s work).
- Assisted 15 faculty in the initiative to record lectures for distribution via iTunesU.
- Assisted the College of Business and Kinesiology and Health with using video feedback via the Web and TitanFiles/Xythos.
- Increased participation in a workshop series for instructional design of hybrid courses, using effective application of online tools. This series originally was offered in partnership with SoTL and now has expanded to other departments, such as Center for New Learning and Curriculum and Instruction.
- Assisted the College of Nursing with simulation and research technology.
- Automated the offering of iTunes U for storage and distribution of podcasts.
- Reported highest percentage of D2L use in UW System.
Telecommunications, Networking and Administrative Computing
- UW Oshkosh was the first in the UW System to successfully upgrade its Student Administration System (Oracle/PeopleSoft) to Campus Solutions 9.0.
- Implemented a new e-billing system for the Administrative Services Division to eliminate mailing tuition bills.
- Installed new network switches in buildings across campus to aggregate and increase the speed of network traffic.
- Developed a new automated system for the Office of Institutional Research to analyze Student Opinion Surveys for academic departments.
- Working with Gateway Enterprises Inc., developed a new automated interface between the Student Administration System and the cashiering system.
- Removed the proprietary IBM mainframe from UW Oshkosh’s computing environment, which has been used on campus for more than 30 years.
- Developed a system to manage online study abroad applications for the Office International Education.
- Extended secure remote connection, Virtual Private Network (VPN), to individuals needing or requesting the service.
- Completed a campus network redesign and upgrade project that added faster dual-core switches with automatic failover capability, improved security with better firewall capabilities and increased reliability with dual network connections to the main academic buildings.
- Improved campus security with cameras attached to the campus network.
- Installed connections for security phones and cameras in the new campus Parking Ramp.
- Installed connections for voice, video, data and security phones in the new Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
Click here to read last year's report.
