Internet Connection Speed
This year is record-setting for SPU with the largest incoming class in the school's 110-year history. Amid the blessings and opportunities that growth affords our community, there are some downsides, not the least of which concerns network speed and bandwidth. Corresponding with this year's marked increase in enrollment SPU's network infrastructure has experienced a significant decline in performance. Since the start of school our connection to the Internet has been "maxed-out" for upwards of 16 to 18 hours a day. Connections time-out and fail (email, web pages, etc…) and when they do connect, they run agonizingly slow. We all share this pain!

Computer and Information Systems is diligently looking into effective, long-term solutions to the problem. There is no quick or inexpensive solution and the situation will probably persist for a while. Despite the technical challenges, there are things we can do as a community to mitigate the current Internet-bottleneck. Specifically, we all need to treat the computer network as an academic and business resource exclusively, and refrain from using the Internet for recreational and otherwise personal use.

Uses such as downloads of videos and music place extremely heavy demands on our already-taxed resource and make it difficult to perform legitimate classroom or business tasks. While CIS works on a remedy, we appeal to the students, faculty and staff of SPU to voluntarily restrict Internet usage to legitimate academic needs. With your assistance we can effectively steward the use of this limited resource.

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Microsoft Campus License Agreement
As many of you have found, the CDs are in! SPU has signed an agreement with Microsoft that grants SPU students, faculty and staff software licensing rights for a number of Microsoft products. CDs for Microsoft Office XP Professional (a suite which includes Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Access), Microsoft FrontPage 2002, and Office 2001 for Macintosh are available for purchase at the CIS Help Desk (lower Marston) for $10 each - limit one copy per person, valid SPU ID required.

Additionally, Windows operating system upgrade CDs (currently Windows 2000 professional and Windows ME), and Microsoft Visual Studio are available for checkout in the Library.

Looking ahead to Windows XP? We anticipate that Windows XP will be available for check-out/upgrade from the Library a few weeks after its scheduled release in late October. If you are a current user of Microsoft Windows '95, '98 or ME -- Windows XP may be an ideal upgrade to your system. For details on the MCLA program, please check out our Help Pages at www.spu.edu/help.

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Voice Mail System - Help is a # Away!
In June 2001, a new voice mail system was installed on campus. The new system replaced a 10 year old one that was no longer supported by the vendor. Many of the features and operations between the two systems are similar, but there are some differences in the user menus that have presented some problems. One complaint about the new system is that some menu options are not presented to the user while connected to their mail box. Because there are so many options available at nearly every level of the system, listing every feature available at every prompt, would be too cumbersome.

Here's the trick --- USE THE # KEY (the "pound" key) on your telephone to get the full list of every option at any time. Want to change your "security code" (your voice mail password) - use the # key at the main menu ( or enter 3,1,4); want to change your "personal greeting" - use the # key at the main menu (or enter 3,1,3); want to hear the time and date that a message was sent? - use the # key while listening to a message (or enter 0,0). You get the idea! If you want more information about the voice mail system, you might also want to review or print the full Instruction Guide or the Quick Reference Sheet. Both of these are available on the Computer Help web pages at: http://www.spu.edu/help/phonecable/trifold.html.

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MARS (Management of Accounts, Resources and Shares) Summary
This past week has put the new MARS system to the test and by all accounts, the system has performed magnificently! Here's a quick summary of MARS and what it means to you:

The Banner Information System (go the the main SPU web page at http://www.spu.edu/ and follow the link under Virtual Campus to the Banner System http://www.spu.edu/banweb/interim.asp) is the central location for all of your computer account resource information. Here you'll find your email account username and password, your NetStore (a network-based, personal file storage resource) directory name, and for on-campus students you'll also find your voice mailbox information.

Two additional features may also be of interest to you. Everyone who is a faculty, staff or student at SPU now has a university email account and a means to take advantage of this effective communication medium. While we recommend that you use Outlook or SPU WebMail to read your SPU email, you can also use the MARS system to forward your SPU email to another Internet email address.

Do you want to host a personal web page on the SPU web server? Go to MARS and create a WebSpace on http://myhome.spu.edu/ and you'll be able to create and maintain your own personal web site.

For additional information about MARS or about any of your computer resources, please check out the Computer Help pages at http://www.spu.edu/help/index.html.

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SPU White Pages, Directory and Global Address (Email) Information
The latest innovation in our quest to streamline the management of accounts and information comes in the way of a new Banner "Directory Preferences Menu." Through this resource you have greater control about what information is - and is not - made available in SPU's on-line and printed directories.

Directories are a very important and beneficial resource in a professional community. By the same token, the 'anonymous' nature of the Internet poses new challenges in protecting confidentiality. Through Directory Preferences, you have greater flexibility and control in determining a comfortable balance between letting people know how to reach you, while restricting which contact information is publicly available. For more details and to see what the world can see about you, log in to your Banner Information System account and choose the "Directory Preferences Menu."

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Computer Viruses
Computer email viruses continue to hit the campus. Our Exchange servers are effectively removing the virus 'payloads,' but annoying messages are still being delivered. Here are some suggestions to deal with viruses:

• Do not open any files attached to an email from an unknown, suspicious or untrustworthy source.
• Do not open any files attached to an email unless you know what it is, even if it appears to come from a dear friend or someone you know. Some viruses can replicate themselves and spread through email. Better be safe than sorry and confirm that they really sent it.
• Update your anti-virus software regularly. Over 500 viruses are discovered each month, so you'll want to be protected. These updates should be - at the least - the products' virus signature files. You may also need to update the software's scanning engine as well. Check with the anti-virus program's manufacturer to determine their currently recommended course of action.

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Need virus protection software?
While SPU-owned computers have virus protection software installed, many personally owned computers do not. Unfortunately, virus protection software is not included in our campus software license agreement, so each individual is responsible to provide for and ensure that they are protected from malicious viruses. Here are a couple of suggestions if you do not currently have virus protection on your personal system:

• Keep multiple backups of important files; and
• GET AN ANTI-VIRUS PROGRAM INSTALLED!

There are a number of reputable virus protection packages available for retail; most cost under $50. For more information check out the Bookstore or a local computer retailer, an on-line .com retailer, or go to:

• McAfee's VirusScan web site: http://software.mcafee.com/products/default.asp.
• Symantec's Norton Anti-virus: http://www.symantec.com/nav/nav_9xnt/ for information on two of the most popular virus protection products.
  

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Technology Support and the CIS Help Desk
Last Wednesday evening marked the conclusion of this year's "Get Connected" program where CIS students and staff provided in-room assistance to students connecting their systems to the network. Judging from our current network/speed problem, one could say the program achieved marked success! Virtually every building and residence was checked during the Get Connected effort.

Also during these past few weeks, CIS has been aggressively assisting in faculty/staff moves and upgrading a number of high tech classrooms. Despite best efforts, however, we understand that a number of computer problems remain. For those of you who have technology issues: The Help Desk is here to HELP!

Please contact the CIS Computer Help Desk via phone (206-281-2982), by email (help@spu.edu) or drop into our offices in Lower Marston during business hours (Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) for any Banner or email (NT) account or connectivity problems.

Problems concerning on-line course material (BlackBoard) should be directed to the Instructional Technology Services office located in the Library's lower level; (206-281-2170) or (WebCourseHelp@spu.edu.)

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Sprint Phone Calling Cards Available
Pre-paid, 120-minute, long distance calling cards are available for purchase in CIS at the low rate of $10. That's right, just $10 for 120 minutes - anywhere in the US. Cards are good for two years and may be 'recharged' over the phone at the even-lower rate of just 4.3 cents per minute! And better still, there are NO per-call "fine print" surcharges - you're buying pure talk-time minutes.

Sprint cards are available for purchase by students, faculty or staff. To pick up your great-rate phone card, please stop by the Help Desk (Lower Marston) during our normal office hours. They're an economical and convenient way to keep in touch… and make a super gift!

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