MARS (Management of Accounts and Resources System)
The Banner Information System is the software application that provides many of our campus-wide administrative functions. The web interface to the Banner Information System is referred to as "Banweb." A new feature added to Banweb this summer is called MARS (Management of Accounts and Resources System).

What is MARS? MARS is a central repository of information related to computer and network resources that were previously managed independently. It includes information pertaining to SPU email and Windows accounts, network shares, as well as Grace, James and Banner GUI access. Through MARS, all activities you need to manage your accounts, from password resets to email forwarding, is orchestrated through Banner. The web interface allows all of this to be done from an Internet browser.

Why is MARS such a big deal? A number of processes are automated and otherwise improved: 1) Incoming students automatically receive email accounts as soon as they've attended Premiere or otherwise registered for class, thereby giving an electronic, immediate and efficient means of communicating important advance information. SPU email is now required - and available - for all SPU students: 2) Initial passwords for computer accounts are set by MARS and are communicated with the user via the MARS menu in the Banner Information System: 3) Email forwarding - for those who prefer to have their SPU email directed to another Internet address - can now be done through MARS (more on these below); 4) Network based storage (NetStore) and personal web pages (WebSpace) are listed on the MARS system. Additional features to MARS will be available later in the summer and into the fall.

We are very excited about MARS and hope you are too! As more developments occur we will continue communication through this bulletin and through the SPU Computer Help pages. In the meantime, please take a moment to become familiar with the new "Computer Resources Menu" in your Banner account. From the SPU Main Web Page, follow the links to the Banner Information System, or click here (http://www.spu.edu/banweb/interim.asp).

Computer Viruses
Another wave of email viruses are hitting the campus. Our Exchange servers are effectively removing the virus "payloads", but the "cleaned" messages are still delivered to the recipient, which can cause some confusion. 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 product's scanning engine as well.

Getting Connected in the SPU Residence Halls
Because computers are an invaluable resource to SPU students the University provides Ethernet network connections in each residence hall. Know all about Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP)? Great! If not, look for our "Get Connected" support staff in the evenings during the first week of class. During this time, CIS staff will be available to assist in connecting your computer to the SPU network! Exact details for this fall's Get Connected project will be posted on the "New Users" tab of the CIS Computer HelpDesk pages (www.spu.edu/help/newusers.html) prior to the start of school. Please check the link frequently for more information as well as for other tips and insights into the technology resources at SPU.

Personal Web Page Creation and Migration
Current faculty, staff and students have the ability to create and maintain a personal web page on SPU web servers. We call this your personal WebSpace. Your SPU WebSpace is a resource where you may put files and folders that will be viewable via the web, including HTML files, ASP files, graphics and other files that you wish to be seen via the Internet!

CIS has installed a new web server for staff and student personal web pages. We are ready to begin the migration of web pages from paul.spu.edu to myhome.spu.edu. For people who currently have personal web pages shared out through Paul, now is the time to begin migrating your information to the new server.

CIS will be drawing two lucky names from those who have configured their new WebSpace prior to October 1, 2001. Prize winners will be awarded a personal copy of Dreamweaver! You must have created your new WebSpace (and converted from old Paul pages if applicable) to be eligible for the drawing.

For instructions on how to setup your WebSpace and/or migrate to the new server, please go to http://www.spu.edu/help/web.html

New SPU-Microsoft Campus License Agreement
Wow! Get ready for the news of the summer! Want to upgrade your existing system to the latest version of the Windows operating system? How about a new copy of Office XP?

CIS is pleased to announce that we have signed a Microsoft Campus Agreement for the licensing of certain Microsoft software products across campus. The products covered under this agreement include Microsoft Windows Upgrades, Microsoft Office (Windows and Macintosh editions), Microsoft Visual Studio for Windows and Microsoft FrontPage for Windows. Current SPU faculty, staff and students are now licensed to use the latest versions of these Microsoft products on their office and home computers!

In September 2001, CDs for Microsoft Office XP for Windows, Microsoft Office 2001 for the Mac and Microsoft FrontPage 2002 for Windows will be available for purchase in CIS at a mere $10 per set! This is the full version of these products - you know, the software you've been seeing on the shelves for $395! Our campus-wide license qualifies you to install these products (new install or upgrades) on up to two computers that you personally own and use.

Additionally, Microsoft Windows (ME or 2000) and Microsoft Visual Studio Professional (6.0) are also covered under the license agreement but the CDs will only be available for checkout through the Library for installation on your home computer. Limited copies of Office and FrontPage will also be available for checkout, but CIS strongly recommends that your purchase these products so that you have the CDs available for upgrades and maintenance. The CDs will be available for checkout in the Library by the start of fall quarter.

Student Technology Fee - What's It Being Used For?
A new student technology fee was instituted for Fall Quarter 2001. This fee will be used to support student and learning/instructional objectives. A full report will be issued later in the year, but the funds are already at work with the Microsoft Campus Agreement, upgrades to academic classroom technology and additional support for student computer labs. Look for other improvements later in the school year.

Announcing "NetStore" Personal Network Storage Space
CIS is pleased to announce another new resource for SPU students, faculty and staff. NetStore is a new network-storage area where you can transfer files for back-up and remote access. Details about your personal NetStore are available in the Computer Resources Menu (MARS) of your Banner account. Follow this link to the CIS Help Pages that describe the new NetStore resource.

Storage space is limited on your NetStore, so you'll need to decide how to integrate this disk storage space with your personal computer hard drive or other portable media, such as floppy disks or ZIP drives.

Change in Residence Hall Long Distance Services
For students living in campus residence halls, CIS has previously provided long distance telephone service through our campus telephone system. Beginning in the Fall 2001, CIS will no longer be selling long distance services to on-campus students via Authorization Codes. Demand for this service has dramatically declined over the past two years, in large part because CIS rates of 10 cents per minute are no longer competitive with the more popular options of PrePaid calling cards, personal cell phones and email correspondence.