Ongoing Projects
Data Protection & System Recovery for Academic Supported Machines - annual updates
Since 2004, the Data Protection & System Recovery Plan for Academic Supported Machines has been and will continue to be updated every fall. The objective is to minimizing systems downtime and data by documenting existing backup and recovery procedures. The procedures answer the question, "How would we operate if w had a short, medium, or long term outage?" The scope currently covers five departments: Computer Science (CS), Extended Education, Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Mathematical Sciences (MA), and Mechanical Engineering (ME). Remaining departments and institutes will be covered in subsequent project phases.Data Protection & System Recovery for IT-Supported Systems - annual updates
Since 2003, the Data Protection & System Recovery Plan for IT-Supported Systems has been and will continue to be updated every fall. The objective is to minimizing systems downtime and data by documenting existing backup and recovery procedures. The procedures answer the question, "How would we operate if w had a short, medium, or long term outage?" The scope covers Network Operations, email, Banner, myWPI, and all other IT-supported administrative systems and applications.IT Strategic Planning
The objective of IT Strategic Planning is to utilize a planning and communication tool that documents who we (the IT Division) are, where we want to go, how we plan to get there, and how we are doing. This project started in 2003, when we selected the Balanced Scorecard Methodology, developed by Kaplan and Norton (WPI grad) and used by over 50% of the Fortune 100 companies. We defined our values, surveyed the IT staff on how well we meet them, developed and are implementing a 5-point communication plan. In 2004, consultant Paul Niven facilitated the provost and several faculty and staff members in proposing an academic vision for the university. This was quickly followed by an orientation to the balanced scorecard by Niven open to IT staff, the provost, and academic department heads. The IT Managers developed mission and vision statements and a strategy map with support from staff. The four perspective teams wrote a description of each objective and one or two measures for each objective. In 2005, we developed a process to determine our current state on each of the six measures. In 2006, the division continues to monitor these six measures.
Library Entry Level Floor Evolution
For the past year the second (Main) floor of the George C. Gordon Library has been undergoing an almost complete makeover. The previous configuration of the entry level reflected an outdated, inefficient service model. With a goal of creating more inviting spaces that work well for both users and staff, library users were queried by survey and via focus groups to gain a better understanding of their expectations. In addition, library staff identified needs and came up with solutions to best serve library patrons. As a result, a number of enhancements were implemented to improve efficiencies and overall aesthetics. The User Services office areas were relocated from the southern to northern side of the building, and the vacated space was converted into three new Tech Suites. The circulation and reference desks have been combined into one highly visible single point of service desk. Reference shelving, which was intrusive in location and size, has been greatly reduced and relocated to the opposite side of the main floor. Line of sight issues have greatly improved for both users and staff. In the place once occupied by reference shelving, several large screen computer monitors were installed at tables to help students study in groups. The entry level floor has also been designated a "noisy" area, which facilitates the group collaboration that is common in the WPI curriculum. The orange carpet has been replaced with a contemporary blue/green carpet, and five new "pods", or computer study tables, were installed to enable students to plug into the network. Signage throughout the building and at computer stations was made more visible, and ADA workstation access was improved.
Goddard Collaborative
The Goddard Collaborative is a group of regional institutions (colleges, museums, K-12 schools, and nonprofit educational institutions) that are working together and within their communities to build a technology infrastructure to share knowledge and resources. The group was started in 2002 when WPI invited regional colleges to meet to explore submitting an NSF High-Performance Network Grant proposal to join Internet2 and connect through WPI's Goddard GigaPoP. While those institutions did not submit a grant proposal, the goal of connecting to the Goddard GigaPoP remains. The group meets monthly, exploring benefits and costs. For more information, visit the collaborative's web site.
A la Carte Training
The Academic Technology Center offers university departments samples from its a la carte training menu. These short 15-minute sessions offer faculty a brief introduction to a variety of educational technologies for use in the classroom. For more information on the a la carte training program or to arrange a session for your faculty, please contact Keith).
Campus Rewire Upgrade
The Campus Rewiring project is based on the 5-year network plan to keep all facilities as modern and up to date as possible. The current upgrades include installation of CAT6 and multimode fiber optics to all ports in academic buildings, expansion of the WPI internal fiber-optic plant, and regular upgrades to network equipment and services as new technologies become available. WPI campus dorms will also recieve regular upgrades to its infrastructure and equipment under this plan.
Goddard I2 GigaPoP
WPI Network Operations has created the Robert H. Goddard GigaPoP that offers Internet2 connectivity in Worcester and the central New England region. The gigaPoP has purchased an OC-3 (155 Mbit/s) connection to the Qwest Abilene backbone of the Internet2 network. Future plans include providing Internet 2 access to other universities in the Worcester area as well and other sponsored participants like Higgins Armory and the American Antiquarian Society. For more information, visit the Goddard GigaPoP Web site.
Greek Fraternity/Sorority Network
WPI's Greek Network, established in 1997, connects 18 fraternities and 1 sorority to the campus network. The original network utilized 16Mbps wireless bridges with 10Mbps hubs within the houses to provide, at the time, state-of-the-art connectivity. The proposed network uses new 10/100Mbps switches connected to 60Mpbs links to campus at half the cost.
IQP & Sufficiency Sponsorship by WPI Archives
The WPI Archives sponsors IQP and sufficiency projects on an on-going basis. Past projects involved designing user’s guides to the Robert Fellman Charles Dickens Collection, researching and writing a history of Woodbury and Company, and developing a website on Worcester authors and poets. Currently, the WPI Archives is sponsoring a IQP with Professors David Finkel and Dean O'Donnell to create an exhibition on the history of video game design and storytelling. The exhibition will be based on and will use objects from Stanford University's recent exhibit "Fictional Worlds, Virtual Experiences: Storytelling and Computer Games." The exhibit will open in B Term 2005.
Cataloging & Digitization of Photograph Collection
The WPI Archives & Special Collections seeks to catalog and digitize its photographic collection onto PastPerfect, a collections management database for museums and archives. The WPI Archives currently oversees a collection of 8,000+ photographs documenting the visual history of WPI from the 1860s to the present. PastPerfect will provide the Archives staff with the ability to track and search its photographic collection on-line and also provide an option for Archives patrons to search the database.
Researching and Evaluating New Technologies
The CCC is constantly evaluating new technologies for improving services and improving end user productivity. Requests can be sent to helpdesk@wpi.edu.
PDA Stylesheet
In an effort to provide improved access to WPI's Web site and Web-based resources for members of the community using hand-held computing devices, the Web Development Office is creating and testing style sheets to optimize the display of university pages for such devices.
Teaching Technology Fellowship
The Teaching Technology Fellowship program encourages and supports WPI faculty to use emerging technologies in the teaching of their courses. Currently in its second year of operation, this year the fellowship welcomed five new university professors to the program joined the program bringing the total number of faculty involved to 12. For more information, visit the Teaching Technology Fellowship Program Web site.
Wireless Network
WPI's Wireless Network is a supplement to the preexisting network structure that allows for greater accessability and mobility. Implemented using the 802.11b standard, this network connects all types of computing services via 11Mbps. Future planned upgrades include expanded coverage and 802.11g availability, which will provide 54Mbps. For more information, and to get access to the network, visit the NetOps Wireless page.
myWPI
myWPI is the central portal for the WPI community, and that fact alone keeps in a constant state of evolution. We are also looking to bring more constituents of the WPI community into myWPI including alumni and perspective students. Blackboard, the software behind myWPI, has released a new major release of their product, and we are currently evaluating that release for deployment. At the same time we are also looking at the best ways to integrate as many of WPI's back-end systems together as we can making all systems easier for end users.
Maintained by itwebLast modified: May 09, 2007, 15:56 EDT
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