Downloading and installing software can be a time-intensive and expensive proposition. And finding a computer on campus that has specific technical or creative applications is not much fun either.

What if you could solve this problem by logging into a computer on campus and then choosing the set of tools you need? This is, in essence, what Simmons Technology has worked with the Department of Computer Science to do for their faculty and students.

In room 214 in Palace Road, every computer has been virtualized. Virtualization is a process that shifts all of the software and actual computing power to a centralized computer called a server.

The computers in P214 allow instructors to set up virtual environments and share them with students, who can download and run the environments while in class and access them from any location on their personal computers. Students can then work within the virtual environment to write, install, and test new applications.

Virtualization also provides flexibility in the classroom. When P214 is used for other SLIS classes, students and instructors can log into a separate virtual environment tailored to their needs.

This informal partnership with Computer Science faculty and students provides Simmons Technology with a valuable source of knowledgeable feedback on virtual environments at the College.

As virtualization becomes an increasingly important tool in STEM fields and for students who come to Simmons via online courses, it is vital that we know what is working well and what areas can be improved.

Virtualization is a new and powerful way to help us provide computing resources that meet the needs of the Simmons community, whether you’re on campus, across the country, or halfway around the world.

Single-use plastic water bottles are yesterday’s news. They’re expensive, they produce tons of plastic waste that ends up in landfills, and the manufacture and distribution of all those bottles produces huge carbon emissions. It’s also not really safe to reuse them.

At Simmons, we just made filling up your reusable bottle even easier. Across campus, you’ll find new sensor-activated hydration stations. Just open your bottle, line it up, and fill it with safe, local tap water that’s been named the best tasting in the country.

You’ll find hydration stations in:

• MCB (1st floor, East and West)
• Lefavour (Meyers Café)
• Library (1st and 2nd floors)
• Park Science Center (near S183)
• School of Management (2nd floor)
• Palace Road (2nd floor)
• Sports Center (locker rooms, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors, and pool deck)
• Dix Hall (1st floor)

Not only will the hydration stations reduce waste on campus and save you money, they’ll also allow us to monitor the success of this effort. We’re working on a feature atgreen.simmons.edu that will track how many single-use bottles we’ve saved and our contribution to reducing emissions.

If you have questions or comments about this, or any other sustainability initiative, please contact Sara Smith ([email protected]) in Buildings & Grounds at 617-521-2244.

As a new semester begins, we want to ensure that faculty are aware of the support resources provided by Simmons Technology for teaching and learning.

Classroom Technology

• Service Desk – Technicians are available during normal business hours to answer questions and provide on-site classroom tech support. Call x2222 from on-campus.
• Online – You can access classroom overviews, including equipment lists and photos, for almost every space on campus.
• Training – If you would like to schedule a private tutorial or get help in a particular classroom, please contact Scott Tougas ([email protected], 617-521-2751), Senior AV & Media Services Engineer.

Simmons Moodle

• Training – Schedule a 1:1 training with Drew Mirque, Senior Application Support Specialist.
• Online – You can access Moodle FAQs and how-to articleson the Service Desk site and from within Moodle on the course home page under “Course Set Up Help.”
• Email – For any other Moodle questions or requests, please contact [email protected].

In December, Interim Chief Mel Batten-Mickens and Deputy Chief Vito Scotti attended a Boston Police Foundation event for local businesses and nonprofits.

At the gathering, they met Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans, Superintendent Lisa R. Holmes, and several BPD officials who provided an overview of community policing efforts, including expansion of the bike patrol and K-9 program.

The event presented a fantastic opportunity to share information about the Simmons College Police Department as they continue to build relationships and develop community outreach opportunities.

As of January 11th, managers will complete the process for hiring faculty and staff in Workday through the Recruiting Dashboard worklet.

In tandem with the Workday Recruiting launch, all internal job applicants (other than student workers) will now use Workday to apply for opportunities through the new Simmons College Career Site.

THCS has held Workday Recruiting training sessions throughout the month and it’s not too late to sign-up. The final session will take place on Friday, January 29th, from 1pm-2:30pm.

You can learn more about Workday Recruiting by visiting theTHCS website. For specific questions, please email[email protected], call 617-521-2084, or stop by MCB C-210.

When you’re on campus every day, it can be easy to miss some interesting things that are hiding in plain sight.

For example, did you know that there’s a beehive on campus? On the terrace outside of L-201 in Lefavour Hall, there’s a thriving colony that supports the local bee population as well as ongoing research efforts.

Established in the spring of 2013 as a joint effort between the student-run Sustainability Club, Buildings & Grounds, and Boston-based Best Bees, the colony’s original purpose was to combat Colony Collapse Disorder.

The first two years were difficult, and the hive did not make it through the winter. Last winter, a new hive was closely managed and provided with a new organic food source. Defying the odds, the hive survived the winter and increased in size throughout the warm spring months.

This growing hive is providing opportunities for research into why and how bee colonies fail. Bees are a vital part of agriculture throughout the world because they pollinate trees and crops that produce nuts, fruit, and vegetables. Improving our understanding of how hive management affects long-term results might help to stabilize the bee population in Massachusetts and beyond.

In addition to research, the bees on campus also produce honey and beeswax that is used in a variety of products. Honey from the hive has been given to students and auctioned off at the Staff Council Silent Auction, and students have used the beeswax to make lip balm.

If you’re interested in seeing the hive, you can view it from L-201 when the room isn’t booked, or from the hallway between group study rooms L-205 and L-206. If you’d like to learn more about the hive, please contact Steve Gusmini or Sara Smith.

Special thanks to Diane Hammer for providing the photos in this article.

Beginning at 7pm on Monday, December 21st, Buildings & Grounds will lower temperatures and decrease lighting levels in all Academic Campus buildings to reduce our energy usage during the winter break.

These energy conservation efforts will be in effect fromDecember 21st through January 3rd, 2016. When the College reopens on Monday, January 4th at 6am, heating and lighting will be reset to seasonally-appropriate levels.

If you plan to work on campus during the break, please submit a work order by 4pm on Thursday, December 17th. You can make a request online at fixit.simmons.edu or by calling 617-521-1000. Please be ready to provide specific room numbers and the dates and times when you’ll be working on campus so that we can ensure you’re able to work comfortably.

If you have any questions, please contact the Facilities Service Center at 617-521-1000.

As a reminder, you can help conserve energy by turning off computers, printers, and other electronic equipment in your office before you leave for winter break.

The holiday season is a prime time for criminals to target your information. Stay safe by being aware of the most common efforts to steal personal and financial data.

Phishing
These scams attempt to obtain confidential information or hijack your email account to send spam by crafting messages that appear to be from a trusted source. Links in these emails will direct you to websites that look like the sites for services you use and will ask you to enter your username and password or other personal information.

Remember:

• Never click links in emails that appear to be suspicious and never respond to an email requesting sensitive information.
• Simmons College will never ask for your password or ask you to click a link in an email to submit it.
• Secure Simmons website addresses begin with https://and end with the .simmons.edu domain. Additionally, Simmons login pages have green visual identifiers to let you know you’re in the right place.

Social Engineering
These scams manipulate people into performing actions or divulging confidential information and can occur both online and offline. Criminals may pretend to be someone else—either by phone, in-person, or via email—in order to request financial or personal details, or to ask that you take some action, such as completing a financial transaction. Always be wary of these requests, even if they appear to come from someone you know.

Before releasing personal or College information in response to a request, always establish:

• The sensitivity of the information and your authority to release it.
• The real identity of the other party.
• The purpose of the request.

If you suspect that sensitive information at the College has been released inappropriately, please report the incident to Public Safety at 617-521-1112.

Other Information Security Resources

• Stay Safe Online
• Simmons College Information Security
• Install free antivirus software
• Keep your apps and operating system up-to-date
• What to do when you’ve been hacked

Dining Services Has Been Busy
During the first seven weeks of the semester, we’ve served 40,566 meals in Bartol (8,600 more than last year!) and 45,924 meals in The Fens.

Celebrating October Birthdays
Dining Services would like to wish a happy birthday to all students celebrating a birthday in October! Last week, students gathered to enjoy a cake designed by our new baker in Bartol Hall.

Doing Our Best to Wow You
We’re always listening to students’ feedback and using it to improve dining at Simmons. A recent survey of students showed that this year more than 80% have given very positive feedback about on-campus dining. We’ll continue working every day to provide all Simmons students with delicious dining options and great service.

If you’re planning a meeting, event, conference, or holiday celebration, it’s never too early to book space.

Rooms on campus fill up quickly, so submit your request now by contacting [email protected] or online at events.simmons.edu.

The Conferences & Special Events staff is here to assist you. If you have questions, please call 617-521-2158 or stop by our new location in MCB*E106.