What is "Mobile Teaching and Learning" and how will it affect me?

How can I avoid problems with my Scatcat e-mail?

CTC HelpDesk to Expand Hours of Service!

FHSU Internet Dial-Up Service to be Discontinued

Important Software Center Update

Spotlight on a CTC Employee

Happy Birthday HelpDesk!

New Product and Anniversary Specials Continued!

Help Us Help You!

Other HelpDesk Headlines

What is "Mobile Teaching and Learning" and how will it affect me?

Mobile teaching and learning is the versatile use of computing devices at some distance from the normal, fixed classroom or workplace to interact in some fashion with a central information system. The key concept behind mobile teaching and learning is based on the need to deliver intelligence to any location for the purpose of enhancing learning opportunities, improving productivity, and providing a competitive edge in the classroom and in future careers.

Beginning in Fall 2007, all new, on-campus students enrolled at FHSU will be required to use tablet computers so that they may take full advantage of the learning opportunities presented by the University. Apple computer users are not subject to the tablet requirement. The University strongly recommends but does not require current students to purchase tablet computers. For more in-depth information regarding this initiative and how it will affect you, please visit www.fhsu.edu/mobilecomputing/.

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How can I avoid problems with my Scatcat e-mail?

Proper management of the file space in your Scatcat account is important to help avoid problems that may arise. Some helpful information on how to manage your Scatcat account is provided in the following link: www.fhsu.edu/ctc/helpdesk/managescatcat.shtml

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CTC HelpDesk to Expand Hours of Service!

In order to better serve you, the CTC HelpDesk has extended their hours. The HelpDesk will now be open a total of 76 hours per week! The new schedule is as follows, effective January 8, 2007:

Click here to view HelpDesk office hours from now through the Spring 2007 semester.

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FHSU Internet Dial-Up Service to be Discontinued

Fort Hays State University's Internet dial-up system has served us well over the past ten years. However, as you are probably aware, many new, more effective options for Internet service have become available and most users are now taking advantage of them. Dial-up no longer provides satisfactory download speeds necessary to maintain system updates or perform student coursework. As a result, use of dial-up service has decreased considerably over the past four years. Less than 75 students currently have FHSU dial-up service and less than 50 of these accounts are being actively used.

As Internet standards have changed over the past few years, most dial-up equipment is no longer being supported by the manufacturers. Because of this, our dial-up system has reached its "end of life", and if the equipment should fail it is very likely that we would not be able to restore it to service. Thus, it is possible that dial-up service could end at any time without notice due to equipment failure.

For these reasons, FHSU Internet dial-up service will be discontinued at the end of the Spring 2007 semester (June 1, 2007, pending final approval by FHSU administration). Also, because the stability of the system can no longer be guaranteed, no new dial-up accounts will be established after December 15, 2006. Automatic renewal for student accounts will NOT be provided for the Spring 2007 semester. Student accounts that have already been established may be renewed in person for the Spring 2007 semester; however, we encourage all of our current dial-up users to evaluate new options for Internet service as soon as possible.

FHSU now provides free campus-wide wireless Internet service to our students, faculty, and staff. For information about using wireless Internet on campus, see www.fhsu.edu/ctc/helpdesk/wireless_info.shtml. FHSU also provides free Ethernet access to students living in the residence halls on campus (see www.fhsu.edu/ctc/res_hall_connection_policy.shtml). In addition, we are in the process of investigating other off-campus Internet options for our current dial-up users and will be sending helpful suggestions to them over the next few months to assist them in obtaining new service before the dial-up system is retired on June 1, 2007.

Please note that discontinuation of FHSU dial-up service will NOT affect your FHSU e-mail account. This means your "scatcat.fhsu.edu" or "fhsu.edu" e-mail address will remain active. FHSU e-mail can be accessed regardless of the type of Internet service you use. Please contact us if you need assistance accessing your FHSU e-mail after obtaining new Internet service.

We appreciate the patronage of our dial-up users over the past ten years and look forward to working with you during your transition to more efficient Internet service!

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Important Software Center Update

Some exciting changes are coming to FHSU's Software Center! In preparation for the release of Microsoft's 2007 product line, the 2003 products have now been updated to include a license for their 2007 version. As soon as all licensing and pricing issues have been finalized, the 2007 products will be posted on the site. Please note that delivery times may be delayed during this transition period.

In addition, we are very close to finalizing agreements to make Adobe and Macromedia products available on the Software Center at great discount prices. We have been working closely with E-Academy, Adobe, and Macromedia and anticipate that the new products will become available within the next few months, as soon as all licensing, pricing, and programming are completed. We greatly appreciate the extra efforts CTC and E-Academy staff have put forth in working to make these changes happen!

When the new products become available, you will be able to view their product information, prices, and system requirements by logging in to the Software Center and clicking on the Software link. For more information about the Software Center, see www.fhsu.edu/ctc/helpdesk/software_center.shtml.

The following Microsoft, Adobe, and Macromedia products will soon be available for purchase on FHSU's online Software Center:

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Spotlight on a CTC Employee

A Dozen Questions for John Wang, Unix System Administrator:

Q. How long have you worked for the Computing and Telecommunications Center? A. 2 and 1/2 years
Q. Hometown? A. Chang Chun. It is located in the Jilin province, in northeastern China
Q. What is your favorite hobby? A. Fishing
Q. What CD is in your CD player? A. Backstreet Boys
Q. Favorite Food? A. McDonald's Hamburgers
Q. Most visited website (besides FHSU.edu)? A. CNN.com
Q. Favorite Cartoon Character? A. Tomcat
Q. Favorite TV show? A. Friends
Q. Actor and Actress? A. Paul Newman, Jody Foster
Q. Favorite Movie? A. Braveheart
Q. Favorite video game? A. No
Q. Favorite vehicle? A. Chevy Silverado

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Happy Birthday HelpDesk!

Thanks to all, for joining us in our 10-year Anniversary Celebration on Nov. 9th, and special thanks to our sponsors, CTC, Tiger Info, and the University Bookstore, for their support !

In November 1996, the CTC HelpDesk was created to support student, faculty, and staff dial-up accounts. Over the past decade, the HelpDesk has transformed into a one-stop shop for all your troubleshooting needs, with support ranging from Internet dial-up access to on-campus wireless access, and everything in between.

Click here to view pictures of the Anniversary Celebration!

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Help Us Help You!

Have you recently contacted or visited the CTC HelpDesk? If so, how did we do?

If you have ideas, concerns, or other feedback, let us know! Contact us, complete our survey, or use our secure comments form to give us your suggestions. Thank you in advance for your feedback - we look forward to hearing from you!

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Other HelpDesk Headlines

CTC HelpDesk News is a semi-annual newsletter published by the
Fort Hays State University Computing and Telecommunication Center HelpDesk.
Nancy Cunningham and Michelle Schlyer, Editor

Special thanks to Student HelpDesk Consultant Kameron Davis for his extra effort on this issue!