Tag Archives: 2011

Out with the Old, in with the New: An Introduction to the Computer Replacement Program

TechNews, , ,

In an ongoing effort to provide the best possible service and support, Technology has undergone significant changes in the last year. Many have been upgrades to existing systems or behind the scenes process improvements, but one of the most visible projects will result in the replacement of every eligible faculty and staff computer.

The Computer Replacement Program was started in January, 2011, with the goals of providing access to hardware and software that support teaching, learning, and administration, and deploying computers through a streamlined process that causes minimal disruption to customers. While new computers are a significant investment, upgrading older computers throughout campus improves performance and security and actually reduces the total cost of ownership over the life of each computer.

To accomplish these goals, Simmons Technology has created a deployment team, headed by Roy Balcom, that handles all aspects of computer replacement. The six-week deployment process starts by determining which computers are eligible for upgrades. The deployment team then works with customers and department technology liaisons to identify each customer’s needs, determine the appropriate model of computer to purchase, and create a data migration plan to move all important information to the new computer. Next, the deployment team works with the customer to schedule a date for the replacement and provides a checklist and support to prepare for data transfer. Finally, the customer’s data is migrated to the new computer and it is deployed. Throughout the process, the deployment team maintains open lines of communication to ensure that the new computer is ready for use immediately and that all previous software and data are available and functioning properly.

The Computer Replacement Program has made great strides in less than a year. As of November 21st, 682 computers have been replaced. By the end of 2011, over 95% of all eligible faculty and staff computers will have been upgraded.

To find out more about the Computer Replacement Program, please visit the CRP website. If you have specific questions about the program, you can email [email protected].

Get Organized with NVivo

TechNews, ,

NVivo logoWhen working on a large project, have you ever wished there was one place where you could organize and analyze all of your documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, and other research materials?

There is such a place, and it’s called NVivo and it will soon be available at Simmons!

NVivo is a powerful qualitative research tool that you can use to organize all of your data when writing a thesis or preparing a research paper for publication. It supports various file types including documents, PDFs, spreadsheets, images, audio, and video. It also works well with other software you might already use, like Excel, Word, SPSS, EndNote, and Evernote.

Keep an eye out for more on NVivo in the next few weeks. We will be sending out information on how to get NVivo and how to get started using it soon.

Searching for a Simmons Email Address? Add the Simmons Directory to Your Email!

TechNews, , ,

At Simmons Technology, we know that our customers access their Simmons email in many different ways: on campus, off campus, via Webmail, Gmail, Outlook, and more. We also know that, until recently, there was no easy way to access the Simmons Directory (the helpful list of all Simmons email addresses) from many of these platforms.

Simmons Technology has now put the directory online in a format that can be accessed by all Simmons students, faculty, and staff. To configure the directory in your favorite email client, check out the step-by-step instructions in this article on the Service Desk website. If you have trouble making it work, you can call the Service Desk at x2222 and a technician will guide you through the process.