The Daily Bulletin Archive

Judith Basinski, associate vice president for computing and technology services, remembers a time when there were no personal computers on campus. But with nearly 4,000 machines that she manages with the help of more than 60 staff members, those days are now a distant memory.

Computing and Technology Services (CTS) is composed of five divisions, yet all staff members work together fluidly on projects. Nevertheless, each area has distinct responsibilities.

Academic Computing and Technical Services negotiates and secures product license contracts on machines throughout campus. The staff members also manage computer repairs and installations, monitor inventory, and synchronize computers with other equipment. In addition, they run most of CTS’s training sessions for faculty, staff, and students.

Administrative Computing provides programming and database support for all enterprise information systems, such as the student information and Human Resource Management systems. Their primary focus for the past two years has been to implement Banner to replace STARS as the student information system.

Web Technologies provides programming support for Web-based applications, developing database-driven Web pages and supporting other technologies such as video streaming. Staff members often collaborate with the College Relations Office Web team to offer database support for programs and campus Web pages.

Networking and Operational Services is what Basinski calls the “heart of operations” for CTS. Staff members manage Buffalo State’s data network and telecom structure, including all phone lines and switchboard operations. Three shifts of workers continuously monitor Buffalo State’s networks, process production jobs, and run backups of campus data.

Systems Administration installs, configures, and maintains security updates on more than 100 servers located in the campus data center. The data center is shared with the SUNY Information Technology Exchange Center (ITEC). ITEC is housed in Twin Rise but supports a number of SUNY institutions to create cost-sharing across campuses.

CTS is always busy. The staff installed 411 new machines on campus over the summer. And on July 3, while most of the campus was preparing for the Independence Day holiday, CTS members worked well into the evening hours to isolate and eradicate malicious code that threatened the campus network.

Basinski said her staff is busiest at the beginning of each semester, particularly when faculty members need software installed for classes. In addition, she said that faculty and staff typically call on CTS for help with passwords, computer programs, and e-mail.

Many faculty and staff members take advantage of CTS’s training sessions to learn how to navigate programs. Melissa Miszkiewicz, director of academic computing, said that although a number of classes are available, some training topics are better suited to a one-on-one format. Training topics include Banner, Remote Desktop, Office, Ingeniux, Garage Band, and iMovie.

CTS staff recently upgraded all campus computers to Office 2007, and they continue to play a key role inBanner migration. They also run the Computing Help Desk in E. H. Butler Library.

The support desk is symbolic of CTS’s drive to be more visible on campus as well as its core belief that communication is key to success. CTS staff members communicate using Microsoft Sharepoint, which helps the team prioritize projects and allocate assignments. The site also allows members to keep open journals of their work experiences, helping everyone improve performance.

“Beyond technical knowledge, our frontline staff members have to be good communicators who like people and work well with those of all skill levels,” Miszkiewicz said.

Basinski and Miszkiewicz would like more faculty and staff members to think of CTS before undertaking projects involving computers. “We can help you consider support you didn’t know you needed,” Miszkiewicz said.

CTS reminds faculty and staff of the following:

• Do not keep private data on mobile devices such as laptops or flash drives. Use network drives to store information.
• Store work on network drives, which are routinely backed up. Files on a local drive or desktop are at risk for loss.
• Log off your machine each night but do not shut it down. CTS is able to make network and software updates to workstations as long as they are powered up. But if your computer is turned off, updates may “clog” your machine on the next startup.
• Don’t panic if you see “cs-username” the next time you sign on to your computer. It simply indicates that a CTS staff member logged in to make a needed update.

Miszkiewicz also reminds faculty and staff that the Guide to Campus Technology offers additional support, and that CTS works with UB Micro to provide discounts for computer equipment.

“I’m really proud of the (CTS) staff,” she said. “They go to great lengths to adapt quickly to new technology, save money for the college, and help others.”