ITS News

Previews of the new UA website have been unveiled and the community response has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Brad Rice and Eric Kreider of the webteam.

Kreider notes that many features of the new site were based upon the feedback of campus members. (more…)

The ITS homepage is a resource with information about many of the technology departments at the University of Akron.

Archived articles of the ITS Newsletter:

March 2008:

Meeting Honors IT Team of the Year; Reviews Projects

iTunesU Connects Users & Content

February 2008:

New Space for UA Testing Center

December 2007:

Debbie Hill Celebrates 30 Years of UA Accomplishments

Betty Seeley Retiring After 26 Years of Service

November 2007:

LMS Application Springboard! Ready to Launch

UA Top IT Team in Northeast Ohio

UA Web Upgrade Moving Forward

ITS Division Meeting

Accolades for a job well done along with project updates and a web domo were all part of the Information Technology Services’ quarterly meeting held February 14, 2008.

Jim Sage, Vice President and CIO, opened the meeting by thanking ITS for its hard work over the past year. He told the group that it was named the IT Division of the Year by the Northeast Ohio Software Association (NEOSA). In recognition of that accomplishment, he presented each member of the division with a dress shirt bearing the UA logo along the inscription “IT Team of the Year”. (more…)

One of the newest technologies available to UA faculty and students is The University of Akron on iTunes U. This service allows users to download audio and video podcasts as well as other file types through iTunes easily and free of charge. The University and Apple Inc. finalized an agreement last April that makes UA an iTunes University.

According to Chris Collins, Multi Media Producer, faculty and departments at UA are able to upload content that can be used to reach current and prospective students. (more…)

Schrank Hall is the new home of the Office of Computer Based Assessment & Evaluation. The testing center, formerly located in Carroll Hall, allows UA students to complete online exams by appointment six days a week.

Rose Marie Konet, Manager of Computer Based Assessment & Evaluation, explains that the decision to move the lab was based on a few important issues, aside from the scheduled demolition of the building. (more…)

Tuesday, Dec. 11 will be Debbie Hill’s last day as Manager of Enterprise Operations at the University of Akron Computer Center. Her career with the University began in 1978, and since then she has contributed to many important and successful projects of the ITS division. (more…)

Betty J. Seeley is finishing her final year at the University of Akron. During her time as a Programmer Analyst, she says she has “seen everything from punched cards and optical scanners to PC’s and laser printers.” (more…)

UA students and faculty can look forward to a kick-off event for Springboard! in the next few days. Dr. John Savery, Director of Learning Technology and Scholar Learning Services, said the the system was in place by Monday, December 3, which marks the end of the learning management system search.

The next few weeks will involve “answering student and faculty questions, getting the word out and making announcements about training programs,” said Savery. (more…)

Information Technology Services at The University of Akron was named the IT Team of the Year for 2007 by the Northeast Ohio Software Association (NEOSA). UA is the first university to receive the honor.

The award acknowledges ITS’s commitment to student success along with a dedication to outreach activities that enhance the well being and economic development of Northeast Ohio and the state.

In selecting UA as the non-profit organization of the year, NEOSA recognized the ITS division’s strategic objectives of engaged leadership, enabling infrastructure, and seamless and secure access that empowers the university community, creates a collaborative environment, and fosters engaged outreach. (more…)

Progress towards unveiling a new UA website is moving into a new phase. Since the completion of the first segment of this project, which included research to determine how the site could be improved, the webteam has started to work with some of the updated features. This second stage in the plan involves designing a website that successfully meets the needs of unique guests and functions in an efficient manner. Over the next several weeks, training will occur, leading to the implementation of the components.

According to Brad Rice, Web Graphics Designer, the fresh look of the website is just one component of the web upgrade. DotCMS will function as the new content management system (CMS), replacing Editor2. (more…)