Wi-Fi Assist and Managing Cellular Data

Apple recently released iOS 9 with a new feature called Wi-Fi Assist. Wi-Fi Assist allows the device to use cellular data to keep your internet connection active in areas where the Wi-Fi signal may not be very strong.

Android has had a similar feature for some time called Smart Network Switch. To the chagrin of some users, they are finding their cellular bill higher as data overages have been incurred. With application management, you can find it possible to leave the feature on and still not rack up huge data charges.

Disabling Wi-Fi Assist

Disable iOS 9's Wi-Fi Assist — Disable iOS 9’s Wi-Fi Assist

Let’s start with how to disable the Wi-Fi assist. Some users may just want to turn the feature off and not risk those charges.

To disable Wi-Fi Assist:

Launch Settings.
Select Cellular.
Scroll to the bottom.
If the switch for Wi-Fi assist is green with an |, the feature is enabled. If it is colorless with an O, the feature is disabled. To turn the Wi-Fi Assist off, tap the green switch.
To enable the feature, tap the switch again.

If you are concerned about the possibility of an extreme amount of cellular data usage and the fees that may come with it, we recommend disabling the Wi-Fi Assist, or Smart Network Switch in the case of Android users, feature off and manually controlling when your device is on Wi-Fi vs cellular network. Continue reading Wi-Fi Assist and Managing Cellular Data

Phishing Exercises Coming Soon.

Phishing No. It’s not about fish doing Zumba.

Twice per year, SMU conducts a simulated phishing exercise where the University sends a simulated phishing message to employees based on the types of phishing messages we have most recently received. Last year, over 100 SMU accounts were compromised due to users falling victim to these attacks so we are committed to reducing our click through rate through user education and awareness. When we started the simulated phishing awareness campaigns in 2013, we saw a 40% click-through rate. In 2014, we reduced that click-through rate to 20%. In our first campaign of 2015 that number had dropped to just 10%.

SAS e-Learning Available

SAS OIT is working with SAS to provide self-paced e-learning for users of SAS software. This SAS Education Analytical Suite will allow you to study SAS programming at your own pace and convenience, at no cost, from the comfort of your own computer.

To access the SAS Education Analytical Suite, you will need to activate the training under your SAS Profile. These activation codes are available from the IT Help Desk. Just contact the IT Help Desk and request the SAS e-Learning activation code. Anyone with a valid SMU account is eligible to receive the activation code for e-learning.

SAS Analytics technology in a bundle specifically designed for teaching and research in education. Licenses for the Education Analytical Suite come with unlimited access to these SAS e-learning courses:

SAS Programming Language

SAS Programming I: Essentials
SAS Programming II: Data Manipulation Techniques
SAS Programming III: Advanced Techniques and Efficiencies
SAS Macro Language I: Essentials
SAS SQL I: Essentials

SAS Enterprise Guide (point-and-click interface)

SAS Enterprise Guide 1: Querying and Reporting (latest version of the course)
SAS Enterprise Guide 2: Advanced Tasks and Querying

Statistics

Introduction to Statistical Concepts
Predictive Modeling Using Logistic Regression
SAS Enterprise Guide: ANOVA, Regression, and Logistic Regression
Statistics 1: Introduction to ANOVA, Regression, and Logistic Regression

Also available, by request, is the Associated e-Learning with SAS Enterprise Miner. The Associated e-Learning with SAS Enterprise Miner training includes:

Applied Analytics Using SAS Enterprise Miner
Rapid Predictive Modeling for Business Analysts

Faculty and Students: Receive free hands-on-training for Mathematica

Wolfram has created a new outreach program that gives faculty and students free hands-on training for Mathematica and SMU has been invited to participate.

Join a free online training session to learn different ways to interact with Mathematica—enter queries through free-form input and the Wolfram Language, create notebooks, perform symbolic and numeric calculations, generate 2D and 3D graphics, create interactive Manipulates, analyze data, and turn your notebook into an interactive presentation. This is an exciting opportunity to learn directly from the authors of the book Hands-on Start to Wolfram Mathematica and Programming with the Wolfram Language and ask questions during the interactive Q&A. Participants will need access to either Mathematica for the desktop or Mathematica Online to utilize the hands-on aspects of this training.

Classroom Support Enhancements

In addition to upgrading the technology equipment in several classrooms, we are also working on a few new processes to provide quicker response to classroom calls as well as keep faculty informed of maintenance issues in their classrooms.

Emergency Response:

We currently have 4 full time staff on the AV/Event Support team. These individuals are currently serving as first responders to classroom calls. They also have a team of student workers and the OIT Desktop Support team to assist as backup.
As we implement the shared services model in IT, there will be embedded desktop support technicians throughout campus. These individuals will be responsible for providing quick classroom response due to their location. They will continue to be dispatched from the Help Desk, but can provide a quicker response time as they will be in near proximity of the classrooms in their area.

Classroom Maintenance

When classroom technology fails and requires maintenance, the AV team will first attempt to install temporary equipment in the room that day to be used until the room is unoccupied for maintenance to occur. Carts are being compiled with the necessary equipment and will be stored in various buildings on campus.
The AV team is implementing a notification process to alert any faculty that are teaching in an impacted classroom of the technology issue and if temporary equipment is available. The faculty will be notified via email throughout the fulfillment of the maintenance activities.
A webpage has been built which will automatically display a list of any classrooms that are currently under maintenance as well as a status of these rooms. The information is available at www.smu.edu/BusinessFinance/OIT/classroommaintenance
We are also in the process of implementing new management tools to provide reporting, health checks and possibly even remote capabilities for the classroom equipment. As these tools are implemented, many issues can be prevented or resolved quickly without dispatching a technician.

Finally, we realized that our instruction sheets in the classroom were not updated following the upgrade of equipment in several rooms. We are working on new instructions and will ensure that these are accurate and available in all classrooms quickly.

We will continue to look for opportunities to improve our classroom response service as it is a critical component for instruction!