Introducing "Inside" as the employee intranet web presence. Accessible by typing in INSIDE as the web address on your brower window when you're on campus or using the full URL https://inside.cgc.maricopa.edu/ address from off campus. The purpose for Inside is to provide a discrete web environment for publishing information that is targeted for employees only. Inside is designed to improve web based group collaboration, document sharing, and establishing a common place to publish information that is easy to find through improved searchability. Look for more information this semester promoting the use of Inside and its proposed benefits.

 
Ironwood Hall is currently on line in a temporary status. 
You can expect to be able project the computer through the projector until the work is complete.
The vendor, AVR, is waiting on wall panels to be delivered and expect to work over nights until the work is complete. We hope to be complete by next week.
Baylor South has new classrooms systems in the remodel, these include Crestron control panels, and a flat screen in the conference room for meetings and presentations.
Contact David Badame at 8-8153 for training or more information.

Please remember to use our online request form to make Media requests.
http://www.cgc.maricopa.edu/academic-affairs/media/Pages/media.aspx

Blackboard Update: CGC Blackboard Support instituted new procedures for Course Creation and Masters/Templates beginning Spring 2010.  Now, all courses will have Blackboard sites automatically created each semester.  Faculty and staff will no longer need to submit Course Creation requests and can begin updating their course sites immediately upon creation.  The Master/Template form was updated and is now part of the Help Desk Requests.  The form allows faculty and staff to easily identify courses they wish to make Masters/Templates and stay updated as their ticket is processed and completed. 

This May, we will update to Blackboard Version 9.  Summer 2010 courses will have the new version of Blackboard.  Version 9 offers significant enhancements to functionality, as well as interface design to faculty, staff and student users.  During the Spring semester there will be several Bb 9 Sneak Peek sessions with the opportunity to “test drive” the new version.  Additionally, a Bb 9 Pilot Group will be formed for faculty and staff who wish to try out the new version and offer comments/suggestions for the transition.  Stay tuned for more information about Bb 9.

For more information on Bb Support options click here

Please communicate to students Google mail is the official email communication tool for all Maricopa students. Google accounts are automatically created upon registration and contain a @Maricopa address extension that is different than a public Gmail account.

New this semester is the ability for students to create nicknames for their email address replacing the default MEID@Maricopa.edu address. Also all students will be added to a distribution list based on course enrollment. This provides faculty with an easy way to send email communication to students enrolled in their class.

Faculty click here to view recommended instructions to forward email from Gmail to your Maricopa provided MEMO account.

Emergency phone towers installed at Williams

Finally emergency phone towers are now available at the Williams campus. These highly visible towers are located adjacent to several buildings and/or parking lots. Besides providing a quick way to contact College Safety personnel, selected units also provide amplified speakers to facilitiate emergency broadcast communications in outdoor areas.

Preparations for Windows 7 deployment will begin this semester with the following activities planned:

1. Identification of early adopter testers to install Windows 7
2. Establish target classroom testing (Sun Lakes, Computer Lab)
3. Training of technical staff to learn Windows 7 features and admin functions
4. Determine minimum hardware specifications to support Windows 7
5. Develop a schedule of locations where Windows 7 will be deployed in classrooms for Summer/Fall
6. Upgrading employee machines to Windows 7 will be a gradual process over time as new PC's replace older legacy units. 

Due to the current build/config requirement for Windows 7 it appears upgrades to Windows 7 will not be possible without a total rebuild. This will increase the amount of time devoted to upgrades and impact planning and scheduling for Windows 7. Look for updated information later this semester that will finalize our Windows 7 approach and clarify how this will impact classrooms and employee computers.

One-stop shopping for all of your technology support needs!

Tech Central is a new customer-centered web site for all CGCC technology needs. Resources on the site will be presented based on the user's role. For instance, faculty members will find information about Blackboard SafeAssign and entering grades via SIS, where staff might see information about approving time and labor and setting up new employees, and students will find resources on setting up personal laptops on CGCC's network and how to register for classes.

The first phase of the site will cover the staff and faculty contexts, but will be extended to include students and community members as a part of phase 2. The site is still under construction, and new content is being generated regularly, but please take a look and let us know what you think: https://inside.cgc.maricopa.edu/techCentral/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/Home.aspx

Welcome back and Happy New Year!
It was brought to our attention that everyone may not recognize the Computer Lab Staff even though they might speak to them on a regular basis. They are in B123 Monday through Friday to serve our students and assist faculty and staff with computer projects and student Blackboard issues. Please note our half time lab techs are on duty Monday through Thursday.

	Heather Frengley and Tom Garnsey are CGC's morning crew in the Computer Lab. They come in at 7:00 am. Tom (a half timer) leaves at 12 noon and Heather leaves at 3:30 pm.
Monica Ulich and Rich Gissel are CGC's night crew. Monica comes in at 1:00 pm and Rich (our other half timer) arrives at 5:00 pm. They both depart at 10:00 pm.
	Mike Shine is CGC's man at Williams. He is in the Williams open lab from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

	Lauren Bennet Lauren Dusek is now Lauren Bennet, TSS/Media Admin Assistant, and daughter of Facilities Director Jim Dusek, who recently joined the ranks of marriagehood. Lauren lives in San Tan Valley where she and her husband bought their first home. Lauren is currently attending Ottawa University seeking a Bachelors in Elementary Education.

Joe Miller & Reid Purinton
	TSS student employees are awesome! Joe and Reid are invaluable employees who balance their daily schedules with class and work duties. They both offer their time, energy, and talents to contribute to the overall success of the department. Joe is assigned to the Williams site and Reid for the Pecos campus.