Meet the Computer Center Staff

Pam Hardin - Switchboard/mailroom Clerk

Pam is the switchboard/mailroom clerk. She is also a member of the Staff Advisory Committee and the Noel-Levitz Retention Committee. Pam is the first contact for all calls coming into the LSC-O switchboard, requiring unlimited patience while talking with customers to determine how to direct calls or give directions to the campus. Pam's other responsibilities include:

· Changing the night greeting on PBX to reflect campus closures for holidays, emergencies, etc.
· Sending out Global voice mail messages as requested
· Entering requisitions into the FRS system
· Entering Computer Center work orders
· Sorting the incoming USPS mail into mailboxes
· Sorting the incoming campus mail into mailboxes
· Training new student workers
· Providing a pickup/dropoff point for express mail
· Entering student Internet account requests
· Processing bulk mail (200+ pieces of mail at a time)
· Stamping postage on all outgoing mail (book rate, special rate, international rate, first class, third class, express, certified, with/without return receipt)
· Updating LSC-O phone list each semester

Tara Lanphar - Web Support Specialist

Tara is the Web support specialist, and she is a member of the Distance Education Committee. She is responsible for:

· Administering and updating the LSC-O Web site (designing pages, routing of pages to the Office of Public Information once all information for a page has been received and posted, posting of approved pages to the production Web server)
· Providing WebCT training to faculty just getting started in WebCT
· Providing Web CT technical resources to faculty experienced with Web CT
· Providing Web CT help desk resources to all distance education students
· WebCT administration (adding student accounts each semester for all courses, adding each course to WebCT each semester, upgrading WebCT)
· Being the backup security officer for administrative system access

Linda Cheatham - Telecomm/User Services Specialist

Linda is the telecomm/user services specialist and a member of the Workforce Wellness Committee. Linda's duties include:


· Telephone-related moves, adds, changes
· Assignment of voice mail boxes
· Assignment of long distance PIN numbers
· Micro Call call tracking software (telephone billing to bookstore, café, etc.)
· Weekly resource tracking for network printers
· Entering requisitions into the FRS system
· Training classes to faculty/staff relating to the Microsoft Office Products
· Checking each bulk mailing for completeness and taking it to USPS
· Assigning student worker schedules for switchboard coverage
· Completing student time cards
· Completing Computer Center work orders

David Johnson - Network Analyst Senior

David is the network analyst senior, and he is an adjunct faculty member, teaching the Cisco networking classes. David's other responsibilities include:

· Supervising the LSC-O server farm, consisting of seven separate Windows servers, one SCO Unix box for pharmacy software, one Microsoft Exchange server including spam and virus filtering software, two Linux servers that provide backup services to the other servers through an application called "Bare Metal Backup Professional" and two remote access servers providing dialup Internet access to students, faculty and staff
· Updating servers based on Microsoft patches
· Upgrading to new OSes
· Communicating to Lamar University for network issues
· Providing technical resources to LSC-O employees involved with pharmacy software
· Providing technical resources to Testing Center personnel when problems occur with any of the Internet-based testing applications.
· Installing, monitoring and maintaining the wireless access points on campus
· Managing network security issues, including the firewall and switch port security
· Creating and maintaining network documentation and procedures
· Adding LSC-O network accounts to the server
· Creating batch files for network accounts that require server space
· Completing Computer Center work orders and researching new technologies

Shane Trahan - Network Support Specialist

Shane is the network support specialist, responsible for:

· Completing Computer Center work orders
· Creating updates to LSC-O Channel 7
· Providing technical resources to LSC-O employees involved with key software
· Providing technical resources to LSC-O employees involved with the 20+ different allied health software programs
· Creating base images on lab PCs each semester (Medisoft, OPAC, Aleks, TI Connect, SamXP, Glenco, Microsoft Office, WordPerfect, Cortez, Peachtree, Quicken, etc.)
· Providing technical resources for video-related issues
· Providing backup for LSC-O Web site administration, updates and WebCT issues
· Help desk resource to LSC-O students
· Moving administrative reports to the file server
· Changing backup tapes and providing technical resources to Test Center personnel when problems occur with Internet-based testing applications

Kevin Michalak - LAN Technician

Kevin, the LAN technician, has the following responsibilities:

· Completing Computer Center work orders
· Providing technical resources to LSC-O employees involved with ID software
· Updating LSC-O PC inventory database
· Creating reports from PC database as necessary
· Creating base images on lab PCs each semester (Medisoft, OPAC, Aleks, TI Connect, SamXP, Glenco, Microsoft Office, WordPerfect, Cortez, Peachtree, Quicken, etc.)
· Providing technical resources to Testing Center personnel when problems occur with Internet-based testing applications

This article is designed to give LSC-O personnel a summarized listing of the computer center staff responsibilities and a better understanding of how computer center jobs affect LSC-O as a whole. Also many thanks to those computer center staff that I, as the Coordinator of Information Resources, have the good fortune to supervise! Signed, Linda Burnett.

Work Orders Completed

This table details the number of work orders completed within the specified month.

Work Orders completed:

January 175
February 173
March 149
April 142

Just a few things to keep in mind while reviewing table:

•Some work orders involve multiple computers/problems.
• Some work orders that are phoned in directly to staff may not be recorded in the work order system.
• Work completed as planned, like computer replacement in labs, upgrades that are campus wide and software loads in labs prior to each semester,are not recorded in work order system.

Linda Burnett
Coordinator of Information Resources

Email: It’s not just for business anymore! by Dave Johnson

Email, like many other computer functions, has managed to work its way into the fabric of our lives. It has become an integral part of the way we communicate. Here at LSC-O, we use email for many different communications purposes:
· easy way to get information out to the entire faculty and staff
· used to transmit reports to the system office
· students can send homework assignments to their teachers
· email forms are used to submit work orders to the Physical Plant and Computer Center
· critical computer systems send email to warn of potential problems
· used to communicate with vendors for pricing and support information.

I’m sure you can think of many other ways we use email that could be added to the list.

Ensuring the constant availability and security of our email system is a top priority for the LSC-O Computer Center. This effort has become increasingly difficult because somewhere along the way, email has been hijacked! It has turned into a bloated resource hog that is quickly trying to devour the Internet! Here are a few jaw-dropping stats from April 2004:
· 72 to 76% of all Internet email is spam, or unsolicited commercial email (UCE)
· 7 and 14% of all Internet email is virus infected
· almost 10% of the traffic on our local network is email.

The percentage of unproductive email has increased dramatically over previous years and has the potential to render email as we know it unusable. Many steps have been taken to try to control this problem,but spammers and virus writers are proving to be formidable foes. They readily adapt to blacklists and filters designed to block spam and viruses. An even more ominous development is the joining of forces between spammers and virus writers. Several viruses in circulation install email server software on unsuspecting users’ computers allowing spammers to turn those machines into spam-generating sources. Hijacked home computers with broadband network connections like DSL and Roadrunner are now the largest source of spam.

Several plans are being promoted to deal with the spam and email virus issue. The CAN-SPAM law passed by Congress last year has yet to have any effect on the problem, but efforts to enforce the law are just beginning. A major conference on email technology is set for this month in San Francisco that may pave the way for advances in dealing with this issue. Microsoft has proposed a fee-based email system but efforts to tax email in the past have met with strong resistance.

There are things we can all do to help with the problem in the meantime:

· at home, make sure that your Windows based PC is running antivirus software and keep it updated regularly
· use the http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com website to keep your PC protected with the latest security patches
· use a firewall to keep your PC from being compromised from the Internet
· check your PC regularly for spyware with a product like Spybot Search and Destroy (available free from http://www.safer-networking.org/) or AdAware (also free at http://www.lavasoftusa.com/).

Here at LSC-O, we use these methods and more to help maintain a clean computing environment. Our email system is protected by antivirus software and a spam filter. The antivirus system checks every email message entering or leaving our server for viruses and averages finding and removing about 50 per day. The spam filter checks the subject line of every email message for key words. These words are generally the 4-letter variety not appropriate for the work environment, but it also includes some brand names (Viagra) and terms commonly used in spam subjects (free, amateur). The filter does not check the body of the message, only the subject line. If you should happen to send a message that gets rejected, you will receive notice from the email server that includes the offending word. This allows you to easily resend the message with a different subject line. If anyone wishes to review the list, email me at Dave.Johnson@lsco.edu and I will be happy to forward a copy to you. Be forewarned that the list contains terms that could make a sailor blush! This very basic filtering system containing only 45 words prevented more than 16,000 spam messages from reaching our mailboxes in April alone.

The size of the email databases that contain all of the messages has a direct impact on the performance of our system. Deleting unneeded messages from your mailbox helps the system to respond faster and perform more reliably. If you would like to archive your old messages, place a Computer Center workorder and ask for the creation of personal email folders. We have a method available which allows us to create storage areas where you can save messages, keep them readily available for easy access, while still reducing the load on the system. We can do this for all faculty and staff who use Outlook to access their email. This service will not work for adjunct faculty or anyone who uses the web interface only to access their email. Please remember to continue to empty your Deleted Mail folders regularly. Your much appreciated efforts in this area have reduced the email databases by several gigabytes in size.

Summer XP Upgrade by Kevin Michalak

The LSC-O Computer Center has started an upgrade of the computer systems onsite to Windows XP. We are working on a process this summer to complete the upgrades throughout the campus. A great number of our faculty and staff have had the chance to experience Windows XP already with a new office computer or working in a computer lab. Currently we are upgrading the library laptops and plan to start the testing center and faculty/staff offices soon. Along with the Windows XP upgrade will be the upgrade to Office XP. You may notice a slight difference in the look and design of these newer versions, but for the most part they work the same.

What are the advantages of Windows XP and Office XP?1. The ability to recover your work in many cases, if your program crashes before you can save your work.
2. Fewer reboots.
3. Superior operating system technology allowing for easier multitasking and system memory protection.
4. System Restore feature that allows you to reverse a change that has harmed your computer.
5. Windows XP protects system files from being overwritten when you install new programs. If a file is overwritten, Windows File Protection will restore the correct version.
6. Office XP Task Panes provide single-click short cuts to relevant features and advanced search capabilities. Find files more quickly, format content more easily, and work more efficiently.
7. Manage multiple calendars and tasks. Coordinate meetings and conference rooms using new Office XP features such as group schedules, propose new time, and unified reminder windows.
8. Customize Smart Tags to identify and access your own data,such as grades or enrollment recognized by Office applications.

If you have not had the opportunity to experience Windows XP or Office XP, stop by the library lab in room 131 to familiarize yourself. For more information please contact Kevin Michalak ext 3328 in the Computer Center or visit www.microsoft.com.

Information for this article found at
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/evaluation/whyupgrade/top10.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/Education/FastFacts.aspx

Microsoft Office Shortcuts by Linda Cheatham

Microsoft Office has many short cuts keys built in it for you to use. You can shorten your steps on completing a document quicker if you learn some of them. I have listed a few that come in handy and I hope that you enjoy them as well as I do.

Line Spacing Shortcut Commands

Press To change line spacing to
Ctrl + 1 = Single Spacing
Ctrl + 2 = Double Spacing
Ctrl + 5 = 1.5 line spacing
(*Use the numbers on the keyboard, not the numeric keypad)

Paragraph Alignment Buttons and Commands

To align text Button Shortcut command
At the left margin Ctrl + L
Between margins Ctrl + E
At the right margin Ctrl + R
At the left and right margins Ctrl + J

Commands

Command Mouse Keyboard
Uppercase Functions Caps Lock Key
Bold Click the Bold button On the Formatting toolbar. Ctrl + B
Italics Click the Italic button on the Formatting toolbar. Ctrl + I
Underline Click the Underline button on the Formatting toolbar. Ctrl + U
Remove all character formatting Ctrl + spacebar
Display Font dialog box Format, Font Format, Font
Format Painter Click the Format Painter button on Standard toolbar.
Display Symbol dialog box Insert, Symbol. Insert, Symbol.
Insert date Insert, Date and Time. Alt + Shift + D.
Insert time Insert, Date and Time. Alt + Shift + T.
Update date or time field F9
Highlight text Click the Highlight button on Formatting toolbar, select text.
Display help Window Help, Microsoft Word Help. Help, Microsoft Word Help.
Display Office Assistant Help, Show the Office Assistant. Help, Show the Office Assistant.
Display Office Assistant dialog box Click Office Assistant, then click the Options button.

Character Formatting

Formatting Method
Uppercase letters Press the Caps Lock Key.
Bold Press Ctrl + B or click the Bold button on the Formatting toolbar.
Underline Press Ctrl + U or click the Underline button on the Formatting toolbar.
Italics Press Ctrl + I or click the Italic button on the Formatting toolbar.

Selecting Text with the Mouse

To select complete these steps using the mouse.
A word Double click the word.
A line of text Click in the selection bar to the left of the line.
Multiple lines of text Drag in the selection bar to the left of the lines.
A sentence Hold down the Ctrl key, then click anywhere in the sentence.
A paragraph Double click in the selection bar next to the paragraph or triple click anywhere in the paragraph.
Multiple paragraphs Drag in the selection bar.
An entire document Triple click in the selection bar.

Selecting Text with the Keyboard

To select Press
One character to right Shift + right arrow
One character to left Shift + left arrow
To end of word Ctrl + Shift + right arrow
To beginning of word Ctrl + Shift + left arrow
To end of line Shift + End
To beginning of line Shift + Home
One line up Shift + up arrow
One line down Shift + down arrow
To beginning of paragraph Ctrl + Shift + up arrow
To end of paragraph Ctrl + Shift + down arrow
One screen up Shift + Page Up
One screen down Shift + Page down
To end of document Ctrl + shift + end
To beginning of document Ctrl + Shift + Home
Entire document Ctrl + A or click edit, Select All

A Tip from the Mail Center by Pam Hardin

Mailing Large Braded Envelopes

Mailers of this type are rarely sealed when received at the mail center. The flap catches on the postage machine when attempting to add postage. This causes either a jam in the machine or the mailer tears. Please seal these mailers if they are to be stamped with postage.

The placement of the address labels is also important. The correct placement of labels is with the flap always to the right looking at it from the front. The postage machine at LSC-O is only one of many automated machines through which a single piece of mail will be passing. The placement of labels in relation to the flap is very important when mailers are mechanically processed.

The Who, What, and Whys of Channel 7 by Shane Trahan

Late in the 2003 academic year, LSC-O purchased new equipment for cable Channel 7. Channel 7 is used to broadcast information about events and classes going on at LSC-O. The new equipment is called a Media Xtreme Video Generator and it is awesome.
It has many different features from to choose and work : TV Quality, 600 background or make your own, Logo capable, smooth crawl and many more options to choose and use.
I will bet your next question is how do I put my information on this channel? Your answer is that it must relate to Lamar State College-Orange and the departments. If it does, you can e-mail the details to Betty Jo Spence in Public Information. She will review the information and then pass it on to me.
First, I receive the info and build the page from scratch. Second, I dial into the xtreme box and upload the new page to be displayed on cable Channel 7. If you would like to read up on the Media Extreme go to:http://www.mediaxtreme.tv/ or you can stop by the Computer Center and take a look.

Work Order Submission by Tara Lanphar

The computer/telephone related work request forms (IE. hot pink sheets) are located at the switchboard or can be entered on the LSC-O internet. A computer and/or telephone related work request can be submitted by:

1) Calling the switchboard and relating the necessary information
2) Completing the form in person
3)Filling out the online form located at http://www.lsco.edu/TechResources/ccforma.html

Examples: computer related problems with student labs, computer related problems with office computer, moving telephones, changing telephone numbers, administrative computing access (FRS, SIS, HRS), NT access, moving computers, etc.

Based on the information given, the work request will be entered and submitted for processing. Work requests are processed based on a combination of priority, date requested and staffing resources. A notification email will be sent when the work order is received by the individual responsible for completing the request.