Vice President for Information Technology Status and Activity Report for September 2023 Prepared by Timothy M. Chester, Vice President for Information Technology (VPIT) 1. Key Items for Faculty and Staff Meetings •
New Faculty Staff Technology Guide available: The 2023-2024 Faculty Staff Guide for the academic year has been released. All faculty and staff received an email to their UGAMail in mid-August with the link to the new guide. The 2023-2024 guide can also be found here: 2023-2024 Faculty Staff Technology Guide. If you would like a physical copy of the guide, they are available and can be mailed to you. To request a guide, reach out to Allyssa Robinson at allyssa.robinson@uga.edu.
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Microsoft InTune now available for departments: Microsoft Intune, the cloud-based endpoint management solution from Microsoft, is now available to UGA departments, free of charge. Since the launch in August, EITS has onboarded more than 20 departments, including University Housing IT, Auxiliary IT, Libraries IT, Terry College IT and the College of Veterinary Medicine IT and others. Departments that are interested in utilizing this solution can submit an Intune Onboarding Request via TeamDynamix and EITS personnel will work with requesters to complete initial setup tasks and provide additional resources to aid in the transition. For more information about Microsoft Intune, please contact Ashley Henry (ashenry@uga.edu) or visit the EITS Knowledge Base.
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Submit requests for STF one-time funding: Requests for proposals for the FY24 STF onetime funding process were distributed to deans and unit heads August 31. Units who receive base STF allocations are eligible to submit requests for proposals. This one-time funding is in addition to any support that a college or unit may receive as a part of its base STF allocation and must be of an instructional nature. This year, the committee will accept requests for multi-year initiatives. Proposals can request funding for up to three years total. The proposals must be submitted through the office of the appropriate Vice President, Dean, or Associate Provost by October 13 to be considered during the current cycle. Please direct comments or questions to Dr. Toby Graham, chair of the Student Technology Fee Advisory Committee at tgraham@uga.edu or (706) 542-0621.
2. Services for Students •
Work continues on more than $1M in campus wireless upgrades: Work is under way on more wireless upgrades in academic buildings and student housing across the Athens, Buckhead, and Griffin campuses. These upgrades are part of EITS’s work to continuously improve Wi-Fi connectivity and coverage to support teaching, learning, and student life. The $1.2 million a year project, funded by Student Technology Fees, includes wireless refreshments and redesigns in many buildings. By the end of the summer, all residence halls in East Campus Village and Soule Hall will be completed, the last to receive this wireless upgrade. Upcoming upgrades also include Physics, Fine Arts, Moore Hall, the Business Learning Commons, Driftmier Hall, the Jackson Street building, Aderhold Hall, the Miller Plant Science building, and the School of Social Work. Technicians are also working on more improvements to other buildings and wireless spaces across campus; work for phase three is under way and expected to be completed next summer. For more information, contact David Stewart at stewart@uga.edu.
VPIT Status and Activity Report for September 2023
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