Campus Computing News

Important Back to School Information

By Claudia Lynch, Benchmarks Online Editor

This summer has been a time of change for the UNT Denton campus. Even if you're not new here, you may be surprised at the number of things that have changed and/or are in the process of changing. For example:

• The old Chemistry Building (Masters Hall) is gone. It will be integrated with the existing Biology Building to form a new Life Sciences Complex. For more information on this project see this UNT News Service article.

• Entire departments are relocating.

• UNT has contracted with a new mail service provider, Pitney Bowes, in the University Union. This means that UNT addresses will change since the USPS will not permit box holders to use “P.O.” as part of their mailing address. Additionally, the new extended zip code for UNT is 76203-5017.

Now for the specific computing services information:

^{The CITC Helpdesk}

The CITC Information Technology Helpdesk -- http://www.unt.edu/helpdesk -- is located in the Information Sciences Building (ISB) room 119, directly across from the Science and Technology Library. If you don't know where else to call, or when no one else can help you with your computer on campus, call, go by, or send mail to the Helpdesk: 940-565-2324 helpdesk@unt.edu.   Students, take a tour of Student Computing Facilities at UNT: http://www.unt.edu/helpdesk/studenttour/index.htm   Faculty, please read http://www.unt.edu/documentation/newfaculty.htm

Illegal File Sharing Make sure you are aware of the consequences of illegal file sharing and also available alternatives: my resnet student center   Copyright and Peer-to-Peer Use in the Dorms and Elsewhere at UNT   UNT Copyright Compliance Policy

Benchmarks Online

Benchmarks Online  is a monthly publication of Academic Computing and Services, a division of the University of North Texas Computing and Information Technology Center. You are reading the August issue now. :)

Informative items from recent issues of Benchmarks Online:

• Get it while it lasts! UNT Support of SkillPort Computer-Based Training Ends November 2008 - Free online training is highlighted in this article.

• The College of Education General Access Computer Lab Renovation: Creating a welcoming environment for all learners.

• Student SAS Distribution Policy Changed - As of the end of the Spring 2008 semester, on May 12, 2008, Academic Computing and User Services will no longer distribute SAS to students via the UNT Bookstore. Students who wish to acquire SAS to complete class assignments are recommended to purchase the SAS Learning Edition which is available via e-Academy, where the SAS Learning Edition for Students is available for $60. More information can be found at the SAS Learning Edition webpage and in the April issue of Benchmarks Online.

• Photoshop Express - Free Online 'Photoshop' is a pretty good deal - If that sounds interesting, click here to keep reading.

• UNT, Microsoft partner to give students free access to top software development programs -- Through its participation in DreamSpark, Microsoft’s program that provides free development software to students, UNT’s Computing and Information Technology Center is allowing students to download full professional versions of Visual Studio 2008, Expression Studio, Windows Server 2003 and XNA Game Studio 2.0. For further information, click here.

• IT Help is Here -- A new resource is available for those needing help with Information Technology at UNT. The Helpdesk Central page has been replaced with a new "IT Help Center" site which will make it even easier for customers (anyone with an EUID and password) to submit a request for IT support. The IT Help Center is one-stop shopping for making requests for IT support. Click here to read more about the IT Help Center.

• Information Security Awareness -- If you are a faculty or staff  member who comes into contact with University data (e.g., student records, personnel information, financial data, etc.), you should read this article.

• Do you need to configure a Debian PXE server to automate installs? If so, then you're in luck! Details here.

• Are you a staff or faculty member who owns a cell phone? Click here to find out all about "Discounts for UNT employee personal cell phones."

• Managing your Spam - We've made the transition from GroupWise to Outlook, but the rest of the information in this article is still relevant. Click here for further information.

• Other Items of Interest - From the article "Computing Resources at UNT - Finding Your Way Around":

• Gartner Research -- UNT students, faculty, and staff have access to Gartner Research at: https://gartner.unt.edu/ CITC also sponsors direct access to Gartner researchers. For more information see Getting Direct Access to Gartner Researchers.

• Statistical and Research Support Services -- "The mission of the Research and Statistical Support (RSS) group at the University of North Texas (UNT) is to facilitate access to current research tools and statistical methodologies and to promote these methods to the research, instructional, and administrative communities at UNT; to encourage a collaborative research environment for researchers through the development and use of innovative computing technologies; to provide training and consultation in the appropriate use of  statistical methodologies and computer software; and to facilitate access to data collection and data management technologies." [From the Research and Statistical Support website]. The RSS Group publishes a monthly column in Benchmarks Online. This month's column is: Statistics: a Clarification. [See "Past Research and Statistical Support (RSS) articles of possible interest" below for more articles.]

• CITC Data Management Services - Services include:

1.  Exam Grading/Analysis:  NCS Forms 4521 & Self-Score 106273.  Exams can be processed within 15 minutes while you wait, or you can drop off and have results e-mailed for your convenience. Analyses’ include Detailed Item Analysis,  Frequency Distribution, and General Test Analysis (indicates which question(s) missed most).  

2. Departmental Course Evaluation Processing:  Departmental evaluations processed using NCS scantrons.  Reports are produced using customized SAS programs, and delivered electronically in Excel and text format. 

3.  Research Projects: Key-Entry of survey or research projects (grad student dissertation research allowed!) into a custom data file, ready for analysis. 

4.  Scannable Form Design: Customized survey or evaluation “bubble” forms created using any current form, or just a new idea!   Our service includes scanning the completed forms into a data file, ready for analysis, quick and easy!  For more information on this service:  Joann.Luksich@unt.edu

• High-Performance Computing Initiative - "Academic Computing Services supports multiple clusters of 32 and 64-bit processor systems running Linux for compute-intensive scientific research. Cluster computing provides dedicated systems for concurrent processing of jobs in a batch environment."

• Past feature articles of possible interest:

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