Classrooms Get Upgrade Over Summer

During the last few weeks of summer, several classrooms in Dallas Hall have been given a much needed upgrade.

2015-09-02_11.53.14 Faculty teaching in these rooms will now notice that HDMI is an available source and the black AV box has been moved into the lectern to give you more room to stand. We’ve also re-designed the keypad interface so users can select a laptop input just by pressing a single button. (Previously it was necessary to also make a selection on the small switcher that was under the keyboard tray.) If you want to use your laptop, simply choose VGA or HDMI on the familiar keypad and plug in the appropriate cable. These rooms have also been given new projectors that provide a brighter, clearer image.

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Faculty Media Lab to close during renovations

OIT’s Faculty Media Lab will close on July 23 for the duration of the CUL renovations. The Faculty Media Lab has provided dozens of faculty with a space for multimedia projects, digitizing, and multimedia training.

While the space will be closed, the assistance provided will continue through other areas on campus. General multimedia question and assistance can be obtained by contacting the OIT Help Desk at 214-768-HELP or help@smu.edu. The SMU STAR Program will still continue to work on faculty and department digital media projects; Please continue to make requests though the help ticket system. For digitizing needs, please contact the CUL’s Norwick Center for Digital Services for availability and assistance.

New Voicemail System Implementation Begins

Beginning on July 13, OIT will transition the existing campus voicemail system to the new Unified Messaging service.

This new service will deliver voicemail messages straight to your email mailbox. A speech-to-text transcription will be included in the email message along with the actual audio file. In addition, users can call into the voicemail system to retrieve messages as well as access email, calendar appointments and more. If an individual calls your number but does not leave a message, a missed call notification will be delivered to your email as well. All of these features (and more) can be controlled from the options menu within webmail.smu.edu.

OIT personnel will be migrated the week of July 13. The week of July 20, a pilot group will be migrated. This two week period will provide valuable feedback on both the migration process, our communications and our documentation. We will then schedule the remaining voicemail moves to take place during the months of August and September.

It is important to note that any messages that exist on the current voicemail system will NOT be migrated to the new system. Once your voicemail is migrated, you will no longer be able to access the old system. Therefore, it is imperative that you review any existing messages and document any numbers or details you may need from those messages before your scheduled migration. Each person will receive an email with the date of their migration and more detailed instructions.

To view additional information on this new service, visit http://www.smu.edu/BusinessFinance/OIT/Services/UnifiedMessaging.

The IT Help Desk is Moving!

Moving Truck

We’re Moving on July 2!

In an effort to better serve you during the Fondren Library Center remodel, the IT Help Desk will be relocating to the main floor of the Hughes-Trigg Student Center for the 2015—2016 school year. We will still be providing the same excellent service that you have come to expect, just in a new location starting July 2.

SPSS License Renewal

Every summer, SPSS goes through a license renewal process. During this time, some customers will be given a countdown for when their license will expire. While this message is distressing, there is a 90-day grace period during which there will be NO disruption of service.

Once SMU has received the renewed licenses, all machines running SPSS versions 21 or 22 and have LANDesk installed will update automatically. Those who have software older than versions 21 and 22 will need to update to one of the two most recent iterations via LANDesk. Those who do not have LANDesk or would like assistance with updating to the two most recent versions should contact the SMU Help Desk for assistance. Version 23 will be made available at this time as well for those who would like to update. And of course, SPSS is available at all times via apps.smu.edu.