Services offered by OIS
About Information Services
The Office of Information Services (OIS) provides support for Academic and Administrative Computing, Networking and Telecommunications at Pittsburg State University. OIS provides the campus with effective and efficient information technology and related support services to assist the community’s information needs. We are committed to assisting the campus community in the appropriate use of information services and technology in academic and administrative environments.
Jerry Smith is the director of the department and has a staff comprised of 35 full-time, 2 part-time and numerous student employees. These staff members are divided into six functional work groups: Academic and Desktop Support, Administrative Computing Services, Systems Administration and Networking, Telecommunications, Information Security and Information Planning and Management.
Contact Information and Hours
OIS Campus Services/Help Desk |
OIS Main Department |
109 Whitesitt |
157 Kelce |
Extensions 4602 / 4600 |
Extension 4603 |
Fax - x4545 |
Fax - x4377 |
The department web site is www.pittstate.edu/ois.
When classes are in session, the Help Desk is open:
Monday – Thursday |
8:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. |
Friday |
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
Saturday |
8:00 a.m. – noon |
When classes are not in session, the Help Desk operating hours are:
Monday – Friday |
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
Campus Network
The campus data network is based on gigabit Ethernet with fiber to all academic and administrative buildings. Fiber and Category 5 copper completes the building infrastructure and provide 100 Mbps connectivity to the desktop. Wireless access is available in all buildings and public areas across campus (e.g., the Oval) including residential housing.
Internet Connectivity
KanREN provides PSU’s Internet connection. KanREN is a non-profit consortium of colleges, universities, school districts, libraries, and other organizations in Kansas, organized to provide statewide network connectivity as support of education and research. Currently our campus Internet connection is
1Gbps.
http://www.kanren.net/
Dial-Up Access
OIS does not provide dial-up access to the Internet. Pittsburg has several local ISPs, including cable modem and DSL.
VPN
A VPN (virtual private network) is available. The VPN securely connects computers located on the Internet and/or the campus wireless network to the PSU internal network. In addition to a secure connection, the VPN makes computers appear as if they were locally connected to the PSU internal network, allowing employees to use campus computing resources as if they were located at their desks.
https://go.pittstate.edu/vpn.access
ResNet
In 1997, OIS in conjunction with University Housing implemented a project to provide residential students with access to the campus network. Network connections are at 100 Mbps over a gigabit Ethernet fiber optic backbone to campus computer resources. These resources include full Internet access, campus web pages, Axe Library, academic servers, email and GUS. All of the residential hall rooms are wired for a port per resident for voice and data, along with access to the campus wireless network.
Network Services
PSU Email
PSU email accounts are available for current faculty, staff and students. Standard email quotas are 25MB for students and 50MB for faculty and staff. You can use any POP3 or IMAP capable email client.
A first-time PSU email account can be created in GUS. If assistance is needed, visit the help desk (109 Whitesitt). You will need to bring a photo ID and fill out an Email Account Request form. In most cases, your account is created immediately. http://www.pittstate.edu/geeks/ComputerService/SoftwarePrograms/PSUEmailAccount.html
GorillaMail
GorillaMail is a convenient way to send and receive messages through your PSU email account using a web browser and user-friendly graphical interface. GorillaMail allows you to access your Pitt State email account from anywhere, anytime.
http://gorillamail.pittstate.edu/
Preferred Email
Recognizing that all students do not use PSU’s email service, OIS developed a self-maintained Preferred Email Address option. Faculty, staff and students can log into GUS and update their personal information including the email address they prefer. Mr. BulkE and other functions use this email address for message distribution.
Anti-Spam Service
OIS provides a method for email users to deal with email messages that appear to be spam. Incoming messages can be scanned and analyzed by software called PureMessage. This software uses a variety of methods and heuristics to try to determine if your email is spam. You have the ability to tag or quarantine messages that the product has determined to be spam. As always, delivery of spam is an ever-evolving and constantly changing process, so it can be difficult to stop and there are no perfect or fool-proof methods of filtering or identifying spam.
https://go.pittstate.edu/ois/antispam/prefs.html
Anti-Virus Software
The campus uses Symantec Anti-Virus Enterprise software to protect campus resources against viruses. Your Technical Support Consultant will install the client software on your computer and current virus definitions are pushed to your computer via the campus Symantec Antivirus servers. OIS downloads the latest definitions from Symantec on a daily basis.
GUS
GUS (Gorilla User System) is a web-based, real-time, interactive information portal specifically designed to allow users to securely access academic and administrative information. Some examples of the services available are the Enrollment System, Advisement, Personal Information, Mr. BulkE (bulk email), ANGEL Course Selection, Payroll, Web Grade Submission, and Online Parking Permit. To use GUS, you must have a GusPIN. To apply for a GusPIN, bring a photo ID to the help desk (109 Whitesitt) or use the on-line password generation.
http://www.pittstate.edu/ois/AcademicSvcs/gus.html
Mr. BulkE
Mr. BulkE is a system that allows for the delivery of bulk email to groups on campus. Mr. BulkE advantages are 1) uses dynamic lists that are maintained on the primary campus database so that the most accurate information is processed, 2) avoids email bombs that can cripple email delivery by disallowing a ‘reply to all’ from the recipient, 3) provides easy posting of information to the campus community while reducing paper usage and reducing campus mail volume. Mr. BulkE is designed for short notes and memos that may point to web pages with more detailed information or to documents for downloading. Mr. BulkE should only be used for important notices that would be delivered to a large group of people. For other notices use Message Village.
http://www.pittstate.edu/ois/AdminSvcs/bulke.html
Mr. BulkE Rosters
Mr. BulkE Rosters is a specialized system within Mr. BulkE that allows you to contact all students in a given course or section or to individual students in any of the courses you teach. This system is based on students actually enrolled in the course and is maintained dynamically by the student information system.
Message Village
Message Village is an electronic messaging system for use by the Pitt State community. Currently the Bulletin Hut is in use, with two other huts in final development stages - Student Hut and Work Hut. Message Village is designed to facilitate the flow of information throughout the University community in a more targeted, secure, and reliable method than email. An added benefit is to move the general campus communication to this system so that Mr. BulkE can be used for important campus information.
The Bulletin Hut can be used to post items for sale, PSU related activities, or anything else that could normally be posted via paper on a bulletin board across campus. However, it is not intended for commercial use and submissions are reviewed before posting. Individuals can subscribe to receive specific categories of messages or they can browse all messages.
https://go.pittstate.edu/mv/message.village
MailMan
MailMan, a mailing list manager program, is administered and supported by OIS for the benefit of the University community. Mailing lists are an easy way to reach a large audience quickly by automating the distribution of email to all those who subscribe to the mailing list. Current faculty, staff and student organizations can request a list.
http://www.pittstate.edu/ois/mailman
Administrative Accounts
Administrative accounts provide access to administrative data not currently available via GUS. This is primarily for administrative staff. If you are unsure if you need this account, contact your department chair.
Campus Directory
The on-line campus directory is modeled after the printed directory and contains contact information on current students, faculty and staff at PSU. Options are available for not displaying or partially displaying home information for faculty and staff. Students can authorize privacy holds on their records through the Registrar’s Office. The on-line directory is maintained as the most current information on people affiliated with PSU. The on-line directory allows search capabilities for employees and students. It is also constructed to find pertinent information on a given department with numerous alternate names to assist visitors in finding the department or person. The on-line directory can be accessed through the PSU web search http://www.pittstate.edu/search/.
Corporate Time / Oracle Calendar
Corporate Time / Oracle Calendar is a campus calendaring software package that allows users to schedule meetings with people across campus. Basic instructions are available here. Corporate Time is available by request. Contact your Technical Support Consultant if you are interested in using this program.
Changing Passwords
To change passwords for GUS, Email, Administrative Accounts or Corporate Time, please visit https://go.pittstate.edu/iss/account.management . The Pittsburg State University Password Policy can be viewed at http://www.pittstate.edu/itsec/approved/PasswordPolicy.html
Academic Support
Microsoft Campus Agreement
PSU has a campus site license for the following Microsoft products: Microsoft Office, Microsoft Windows, and Publisher. Contact your college Technical Support Consultant for additional information. The Microsoft Campus Agreement allows you to purchase MS Office for Mac or MS Office Professional for work-at-home use at a discount.
https://elms07.e-academy.com/psu/
AutoCAD
PSU has a campus site license for AutoCAD products. Contact your college Technical Support Consultant for additional information.
Statistical Packages
Currently PSU has a campus license for SAS and SPSS for the Windows platform. Contact your Technical Support Consultant for installation. Currently neither SAS nor SPSS are available for the Macintosh platform.
ANGEL 7.1
Pittsburg State is moving from Blackboard to ANGEL LMS in the fall of 2007. ANGEL is a web-based course management tool that allows instructors to manage course material and communicate quickly, easily, and effectively with their students. ANGEL can function both at a complement to traditional course and as a site for distance learning. Contact your college Instructional Support Consultant for assistance and to answer questions.
http://pittstate.angellearning.com/
Respondus
Respondus software is available to all instructors at PSU. It is a tool for creating and managing exams that can be printed on paper or published in ANGEL. Contact your college Instructional Support Consultant with any questions.
https://go.pittstate.edu/respondus
Telecommunications
Telecommunications and Network Services are both operated for the campus by OIS. PSU communications are carried over both copper and fiber. The Nortel 81C phone switch serves approximately 3000 phones and voicemail boxes for the campus and residence halls. Emergency phones are across campus and are in most elevators for safety purposes.
http://www.pittstate.edu/ois/TelephoneSvcs/
Telephone Equipment and Services
Various models of phones are available. You must submit requests for any changes in your telephone to your chair or department contact person.
Voicemail is available on all phones. Voicemail passwords must be 6 characters in length and can be a combination of letters and numbers. You can record an external, internal or temporary greeting which will be played if you are on your phone or do not answer. Voicemail instructions are available at http://www.pittstate.edu/ois/TelephoneSvcs/vm.html.
To report trouble with telephone service or equipment, please call the OIS Help Desk at extension 4600 to generate a trouble ticket. Problems are normally resolved within 24 hours.
Cell Phones
Cell phones are available for checkout from OIS. Either short-term or long-term rates are available based on the needs of the individual or department. Funding information and an authorized signature is required when the phone is requested. When requesting a cell phone, 24 hours notice is required. More details can be found at http://www.pittstate.edu/ois/TelephoneSvcs/cellsPagers.html.
Assistance
Student Support – Gorilla Geeks
Gorilla Geeks is part of the OIS Help Desk, which provides students assistance with various technology needs. Some of these services include personal computer virus protection and removal, wireless connectivity problems, assistance with campus educational software packages, ANGEL support, and affordable repairs on student personal computers or aid in specifications for new computers.
http://www.pittstate.edu/geeks
Campus Support Personnel
OIS works with the Instructional Support Consultants and the Technical Support Consultants within each college to support faculty, staff and students. Your Instructional Support Consultant provides computer lab information specific to your college and the resources available in your lab. Your Technical Support Consultant assists you with computer purchases and hardware and software support issues.
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