OIT News – November 2014

OIT News
Monthly news briefs, information and announcements
Office of Information Technology, NC State University
Issue 85, November 2014

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Follow OIT on Twitter @NCStateOIT
For up-to-the-minute reports on OIT systems, see SysNews
For help with computing problems, contact the NC State Help Desk

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01: Unlimited Drive storage available in Google Apps @ NC State
02: Wolfpack Reporting System enhancements make big impact
03: Life On Campus
04: New iTunes NCSU channel launched on WolfTV
05: Poll your Google+ followers
06: Schedule IT training in your holiday plans!
07: SAR training scheduled for Jan. 14
08: Beware of holiday scam

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01: Unlimited Drive storage available in Google Apps @ NC State
You may not have noticed it yet, but you now have unlimited Drive storage in your Google Apps @ NC State account. Google announced in early October that it would provide unlimited Drive storage for Google Apps for Education customers.

This means you have limitless storage for your:

  • Google Drive (Docs, Sheets, Slides, for any file format)
  • Gmail messages and attachments
  • Google+ photos

Previously, Google Apps @ NC State users had only 30 GB of storage, shared between their Gmail and Drive, for files that were not in the Google docs format (e.g., pdf, jpg, doc, docx, xls). Google provided unlimited quota for docs, spreadsheets, forms, drawings, and presentations in the Google docs format that resided in Google Drive.

To see your current storage space usage, go to Drive storage.

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02: Wolfpack Reporting System enhancements make big impact
OIT, the Office of Finance and Business and campus customers have made changes to the Wolfpack Reporting System (WRS) that are greatly enhancing performance and functionality for users. Available via the MyPack Portal, the Wolfpack Reporting System is a one-stop shop for all frequently used financial reports.

The project to improve the system began this summer with the formation of the WRS Rewrite Committee to address the current performance issues related to running reports and using the drill downs. To capture campus feedback, the committee conducted three town hall meetings and a user survey.

After the improvements were made, the main menu loads significantly faster and stays open in its own tab/window, with each report opening in a separate tab/window. Campus users will save time by not having to reload the main menu for each new report. Multiple reports also can be opened simultaneously with drill-down and rerun functionality.

In addition, the new enhancements allow OIT to capture the type and number of financial reports that are run on campus. This information will be used to determine which reports are most beneficial and to target specific audiences for training and report notifications. From Oct. 30 to Nov. 13, the Wolfpack Reporting System has been used more than 51,000 times by campus customers.

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03: Life On Campus
Hey Wolfpackers, On Campus — your guide to life on campus— has just gotten better! OIT updated the On Campus app to work with the new features of iOS 8 so you can:

  • Check today’s weather and events in On Campus Today and find quick links to the campus map and the Dining feature.
  • Track your meals in the Food Journal of MyMeals, which is integrated with the new Apple Health app that is currently available on the iPhone.

In addition to these new features, you can also use On Campus on your iOS and Android devices to:

  • Access Wolfline schedules and live bus tracking.
  • Search the directory to find people on campus.
  • Check out events on campus calendars.
  • See campus Dining menus.
  • Browse the course catalog.
  • Find buildings with an interactive campus map.
  • Keep up with campus featured stories.
  • Discover other mobile apps that can assist you while on campus.

Download the On Campus app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store on your phone or tablet.

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04: New iTunes NCSU channel launched on WolfTV
Last month, OIT launched its new iTunes NCSU channel on WolfTV, the residential cable system. The first program to air was Claudia Kimbrough’s talk on Second Life, the College of Management’s virtual global community that is used for distance communications, collaboration, education and entertainment in the Department of Accounting.

The iTunes NCSU channel, which airs on 32.1, cross-promotes content from NC State’s iTunesU, which includes campus educational, information and entertainment content from over 140 sources. NC State’s iTunes U site averages almost 2,500 streams a week.

To learn more about the iTunes NCSU Channel, see WolfTV.

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05: Poll your Google+ followers
There’s a new, convenient and interactive way to poll or gather feedback from your Google+ followers! Here’s how:

Screenshot of NCSU Google Service Team in Google

  • Click on the Poll option when you post something new to Google+.
  • Type your question and enter answer options.
  • Add background images to customize your poll.

Once a follower completes your poll, you (and the follower) will see the:

  • voters
  • total number of votes
  • percentage results

Follow the NC State Google Services Team on Google+ to try out the new Poll feature!

 

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06: Schedule IT training in your holiday plans!
To get a jump start on the new year, why not enroll now in our WordPress and Google Apps courses. It’s never too early to learn or develop new skills.

  • Create and Collaborate with Google Drive will be offered on Friday, Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon in Room 110 of the Avent Ferry Technology Center. In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to use Drive in a collaborative environment, including editing a file simultaneously with other people, securing a document through file-sharing permissions, and creating files for use by a group of colleagues or friends. For this workshop, you will need to have an active NC State Unity account with access to Google Apps at NC State. If you would prefer using your own laptop or other mobile device, feel free to bring it. To register, visit Classmate
  • Gmail Top 10 will be offered on Thursday, Dec. 4 from noon to 1 p.m. in 216 Scott Hall. Learn OIT trainers’ favorite Gmail tips, features and best practices. If you don’t have time to attend a full-length training session, or you’re just interested in learning new ways to utilize Gmail, then register for this action-packed workshop via Classmate.
  • Gmail: Beyond the Basics will be offered on Wednesday, Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to noon in Room 110 of the Avent Ferry Technology Center. This workshop will provide an in-depth overview of Gmail features, including Labels, Search tools, Contacts management, Chat, Tasks, Settings, Labs, and new features. If time permits, a brief introduction to Google Hangouts will be provided. To register, visit Classmate.
  • Introduction to Google Hangouts – Laptop/Desktop Application will be offered on Tuesday, Dec. 16 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Room 110 of the Avent Ferry Technology Complex. Come to this fun and interactive workshop to learn about Google Hangouts, Google’s free Web conferencing tool that allows you to communicate with others on campus or around the globe via video, audio and text messaging. Learn how to use the Hangouts platform to share your screen and documents, add a personalized banner, and download apps that offer additional helpful features. This session will cover using Hangouts on your laptop or desktop only. You are encouraged to bring a laptop to the session or feel free to just observe. To register, visit Classmate.
  • Google Calendar will be offered on Wednesday, Dec. 17 from 9 a.m. to noon in Room 110 of the Avent Ferry Technology Center. If you’re comfortable with the basics of Google Calendar and are ready to use some more of its features, this hands-on workshop is for you. This workshop will focus on features such as appointment slots, event attachments, maps and directions, sharing and embedding calendars, labs, quick add, search options, mobile notifications, scheduling online meetings, and more. For prerequisite information and to register for this event, visit Classmate.

For other available training sessions, see Classmate Scheduled Workshops form. If you have any questions about OIT training, contact Katie McInerney, OIT training coordinator, at 919.513.4091 or via email at classreg@ncsu.edu.

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07: SAR training scheduled for Jan. 14
Security Access Request (SAR) training for campus requestors and approvers of access to secured university data will be held Wednesday, Jan. 14 from 9:30 a.m. to noon in Room 108 of the Avent Ferry Technology Center. There will be no SAR training in December. Visit Classmate to sign up for training.

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08: Beware of holiday scams
As the holidays approach, everyone is looking for a good deal. Use these helpful tips to avoid being scammed and to have a safe holiday experience.

  • Fake charities
    Holidays are a time for giving, but before you do, use sites like the Charity Navigator or the Better Business Bureau to check out a charity or business.
  • Trojan holiday screensavers, ringtones, e-cards, and mobile apps
    They may look or sound great, but scan them for viruses and don’t open them if you don’t know who sent them to you.
  • Phishing scams
    If you receive suspicious email that appears to come from your bank or credit card company and indicates that your credit card has been declined, suspended or cancelled, don’t click on any link in it. Instead, call the bank or credit card company directly. The notice could be a fake or have a virus attached.
  • Holiday travel scams
    Scammers send offers of free or discounted airline tickets in hopes of obtaining your frequent flyer username and password. To see the real deal, go to the airline’s website directly. Also, be leery of “I’m destitute and need money” scams.
  • Social media scams
    Be on the lookout for scams via your Skype, Facebook, Google+, or Twitter accounts.
  • SMishing scams
    Do not reply to a SMS message that states you may have won a gift card and you need to send your bank or credit card information.
  • Fake warnings about end-of-year activities
    Be on the lookout for malicious links in email and attachments about fourth quarter taxes or end-of-year business reports. If the email is from someone you don’t know or if you were not expecting it, don’t click on any links or open any attachments.
  • Home security
    As you travel during the holidays, don’t post on Facebook or Twitter that you’re on vacation or away from your home. Thieves can use this information to target and rob you.
  • Fake receipts, shipping notices and orders
    Your purchase will likely be shipped, but beware of fake notices from UPS, FedEx, USPS, and DHL like “track your UPS delivery online” and your “Amazon book order has shipped.” Go to the shipper’s website and don’t open email attachments you aren’t expecting.

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