2002 Fall Update

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As usual, the ITS team has worked on a variety of new projects this summer. In this update we will introduce some technical enhancements that promise to further enable your work. The changes include the following:

Single sign-on. For years we have dreamed of providing access to all appropriate computing resources via a single login. Thanks to Jeremy Mooney, we have made significant progress in fulfilling this technically challenging vision. A single login will now provide access to most of the resources at Bethel, including email, file servers, Blackboard, remote access to local-only resources, faculty/student printing, and electronic submission of copy center jobs. CARS access and faculty advising will continue to require separate logins. However, we intend to fold these resources into the single sign-on environment as soon as possible. We are pleased that Bethel enjoys a leadership role among Minnesota and CCCU private colleges in single sign-on technology.

Upgrading our email and account environments. We have replaced the computer system that processes all email sent to and from bethel.edu. As a result we are already enjoying greatly improved performance in email handling. In addition we have eliminated the old PH database that for many years has served as the email address directory. The PH database has been replaced by a modern LDAP (lightweight directory access protocol) database. LDAP is the open standards database that will increasingly house directory information on campuses in the future, and will soon house the directory (http://directory.bethel.edu) that has benefited many Bethel users during the past year. Implementation of an LDAP environment is extremely complex and challenging. While it enables our current directory, it is also an essential foundation for single sign-on. Thanks to Brent Nordquist for this extraordinary accomplishment that puts ahead of other Minnesota and CCCU private colleges working with this technology.

Merging our Windows server environments. We have made several significant improvements in this area. First, users can now more easily access folders in a domain outside their home domain (FS for faculty and ARK for staff) into which they initially log in. In general, users always log in to a server in their home domain (Usonia2 for faculty and either Samuel or for staff). After this initial login, increasingly faculty and staff need access to folders that enable collaborative work but are outside their home domain. Windows users can accomplish this simply by navigating via Windows Explorer to the desired folder. A special configuration on one’s Windows system is no longer necessary. Note: We will document the strategy for Mac users to access the ARK domain if the need arises.

Second, the servers in the ARK domain have been upgraded from Windows NT to Windows 2000. Now, all Windows servers run this more robust version of the operating system. Thanks to Mike Spande for his leadership in these accomplishments.

Improved access to academic course folders. First, the Course Folders directory on Avalon has been moved up several levels to \\Avalon\Course Folders. This change improves the accessibility of the directory. Second, we have enabled a logical structure that, with your help, will improve the security of all shared folders, in support of both courses and departments. If you intend for students (including TA’s) to access a folder, it should be created on Avalon under Course Folders. If faculty but not students will access the folder, it should be created on Usonia2. Your adherence to this logical structure will improve security for all.

Bethel community accounts. The Bethel community account (formerly called the academic or academic email account) serves as a portal to the single sign-on resources listed above. All faculty and students and many staff already have this account. Any current employee or student who has a valid Bethel ID number can create a Bethel community account. Simply go to the My Account page (https://directory.bethel.edu/account/), choose Sign Up for New Account, and fill out the form. Also, conference attendees and students in non-degree programs can now create accounts via this web form. The conference organizer or course instructor must provide the necessary information to authorize this access for the attendees/students. Contact the help desk for assistance in this process.

Information systems enhancements. Often working with the CARS experts in various administrative offices, we have successfully completed several projects that improve the operation of the institution.

BSOE access to and use of CARS. Technical problems have been solved, allowing BSOE staff both to access CARS securely and to print CARS reports. The enabling technologies include a dedicated Internet circuit connecting the Dresher facilities to the Internet; a virtual private network (VPN) that enables data to travel between Dresher and St. Paul in a secure, logical tunnel; and a secure connection (SSH) for accessing CARS screens from any location. Thanks to Nick Anderson, Mary Holmes, Dave Holter, and Doug Olson for completing this project.

Web registration for the college. Wayne Anthenat, Chet Duck, and Jay Swisher collaborated to bring web registration on line in April for fall registration. The project proceeded so smoothly that our first web registration event was virtually a non-event. As I write, Wayne, Lori Jass, and Jay are working toward the implementation of this enabling resource for the seminary.

New HR/payroll module. We are required to move to this module by no later than Dec. 31, 2002. Thus, we set a goal of conversion by July 31, 2002. Thanks to Mary Holmes, Gregg Owens, Kathy Rainey, and Bruce Wheeler, and associates, we have achieved our goal. Providing improved functionality in Human Resource management, applicant tracking, position control features, EEO reporting, leave reporting, and employment event information, we are grateful to have this module in place.

E-commerce. We have set up a credit card transaction gateway that enables on-line giving to the institution (see http://www.bethel.edu/development/donate/donate-form.html). In addition, the Campus Store will have an on-line presence in time for the start of classes. We see many additional uses for this capability. Thanks to Dr. Eric Gossett, former webmaster, for his work on this project.

Improved report writing capability. We are implementing Impromptu, a software program that that can provide interactive CARS data reporting for people outside of Bethel’s technical programming staff. Indeed, Impromptu will enable some users to create their own reports via a Windows interface. As select office staff gain a working knowledge of this product, they will be able to be more responsive to the data needs of their office colleagues. Thanks to Mary Holmes for coordinating the project, and for the departmental CARS experts who participated in the first round of training.

Revision of admissions tickler system. Moving to an admissions deadline policy from the previous rolling admissions processing required adjustments to the underlying communications management and status reporting features in the CARS system. Todd Sibert completed this project in time to move applicants through the process for the Fall 2002 admissions deadline.

A full-time webmaster. We are pleased to introduce Andrew Altepeter, Bethel’s new webmaster. A Minnesota native, Andrew completed in May a degree in computer science from the University of North Dakota. He brings much expertise into the position, and we look forward to great things from him. Thanks to both Dr. Eric Gossett and Dr. Brian Turnquist of the computer science department for their generous efforts as webmaster over the years.

Transparent proxy. For the past several years we have had to configure our web browsers for proxy service in order to gain remote access to local-only resources (such as the library’s proprietary databases and the bethelnet). Bethel was the first Minnesota private college to provide this service. However, it has become increasingly problematic. Some users’ systems simply will not support proxy service. Also, those behind church or corporate firewalls and many using cable modems are unable to use proxy service. As a result, Bethel is spearheading the implementation of transparent proxying as a new means to gain access to local-only resources. In this environment, no browser configuration is required. Instead, when you select a local-only resource, a log-in box will pop up, requesting a login based upon the Bethel community account. Hopefully, this new strategy will work for everyone. Thanks to Curt Koehn and Andrew Altepeter for their efforts on this project.

Note: Those who have configured their systems for the old proxy service should disable that service. For instructions, go to the library’s homepage, find and access the Find Articles, Documents, Etc. pull down menu, select the Info about off campus access link from that menu, and finally select the hot link in the second paragraph of the document that is displayed.

Three additional classrooms with LCD projectors. We have added LCD projectors and permanent computers on newly designed multimedia carts to the following classrooms: CC119, CLC117, and RC229. Sporting a smaller footprint and LCD panels, the new carts will be less intrusive of your teaching space. Thanks to Frank Schiffer for his creative work on this project. A list of all classrooms with LCD projectors is available at http://www.bethel.edu/its/Resources/EquipClassrooms.html.

Electronic submission of copy center jobs. The copy center and ITS have implemented a technology enabling the electronic submission of print jobs at http://www.its.bethel.edu/copyctr. Currently, this service supports printing of Microsoft Word and Excel documents created with Arial or Times New Roman fonts. Unfortunately, other fonts do not replicate reliably. Soon we hope to enable printing of pdf documents. Use of pdf files will be preferred since output on paper will always look like the output on a monitor. Thanks to Debbie Buchanan of the copy center and Curt Koehn of ITS for enabling this service.

Upgraded support resources. We offer two improved ways to assist you with computing problems. First, Bob Kistler has greatly improved the ITS website (http://www.bethel.edu/its/). It now provides much of the information that can help you manage your computing needs. Second, Jeremy Mooney has improved the functionality of the database (the Incident Database) that stores and tracks reported computing problems. Via a login using your Bethel Community Account, you can easily track the status of a problem already entered (an incident) or you can directly enter a report for a new problem rather than call the help desk.

Student web consultants. Increasingly, departments depend upon web sites to communicate with constituencies and to conduct business. Some departments have expertise to meet their web-site creation needs and others do not. To help individual faculty and academic departments in appropriate Bethel approved site development, we have identified and trained four students who are skilled web page and web site creators. The employing academic department will be responsible for paying the students’ wages. If you have interest in this service, please contact Mike Johnson at X8639. Non-academic departments should still contact Communications and Marketing, http://bethelnet.bethel.edu/comm-marketing/services/web.htm

Microsoft licensing agreement. We have joined several other Minnesota private colleges in purchasing a site license for Microsoft Office, the Windows client operating system, and licenses required to access Windows 2000 servers. This agreement enables us to install the latest versions of these Microsoft offerings on all institutionally owned computers. This program also authorizes employees to purchase for home use a copy of Office at a price substantially below the regularly discounted education price. We will announce the details of this offer when they are available later in September.

VP for ITS
August 29, 2002