NUIT 2003 Annual Report - Northwestern University Information ...

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HRIS Upgrades Northwestern has moved towards a more self-service environment with enhancements and upgrades to HRIS (Human Resources Information System) over the past few years. During Fiscal Year 2003, a Web-based version of HRIS was implemented to lay the groundwork for future service enhancements. The move to a Web version eliminates most desktop software installations, reduces the need for technical support and enables implementation of self-service functionality. Work on several of these new features began this year. Self–service functions scheduled to rollout in 2004 are electronic employee directory verification, electronic presentation of paycheck information, and an electronic recruitment process which includes, online job applications and applicant pool mining. Electronic Time Entry System NUIT is partnering with Human Resources for the phased rollout (by department) of the ETES (Electronic Time Entry System). ETES when fully deployed, will be utilized by Northwestern’s 4,000 temporary employees and 2,400 regular bi-weekly employees allowing them to input their hours worked directly into HRIS via the Web or through the use of electronic swipe cards. Advantages include more accurate time reporting, the elimination of significant paperrelated workloads, and the ability of supervisory personnel to view and approve information online. As the University proceeds with this project, NUIT will continue to play a key role in development and testing. 800 600 400 200 0 385 489 722 FY ‘01 FY ‘02 FY ‘03 Growth of E-mail Message Transactions (in millions) Wireless network access The use of laptop computers and handheld devices to access the Northwestern network via wireless connections has continued to grow. Over 200 wireless access points have been installed to date, providing wireless service in most areas where students congregate. NUIT completed testing of VPN clients (Virtual Private Network, used to provide secure, encrypted communication) for handheld devices, enabling users to securely access the Web and e-mail at various wireless access points on both campuses. By continually extending the wired network to wireless networks, NUIT enables the University community to access information from virtually any public space on either campus. As the marketplace of mobile devices matures, NUIT’s focus will continue to be on maintaining a secure network while providing connectivity and core University services. Northwestern’s wireless signage, displayed throughout both University campuses, indicates where wireless access points are available. Enhanced e-mail services In response to increasing user mobility, IMAP (Internet Mail Access Protocol) was implemented on the main mail servers to accommodate frequent travelers and others who might need to access mail from multiple locations. To help assure efficiency on the central servers and quality of service to the University’s 20,000-plus e-mail users, a 50MB electronic inbox quota was set for pending e-mail messages within individual accounts. NUIT also partnered with University Relations on an improved version of its popular Web-based e-mail access site providing a “user-friendly” interface and a number of new features including folder management. 14 Campus Services Initiatives
A comprehensive approach is vital to securing information and technology resources at every level and adhering to compliance issues. Effective computing security is a tradeoff between protective measures and utility. As support professionals, we respect and protect the productivity of our clients. But effective security involves diligent cooperation and communication between the technical staff and every member of the University community. —Ruth Reingold, Assistant Dean of Computing Technology, Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences SECURITY INITIATIVES 15
Page 1 and 2: N O R T H W E S T E R N U N I V E R
Page 3 and 4: We support the Northwestern Univers
Page 5 and 6: The dynamic nature of information t
Page 7 and 8: Smart Classroom Upgrades As faculty
Page 9 and 10: Knowledge management tools and serv
Page 11 and 12: NUIT is committed to providing the
Page 13: Maintaining and enhancing the campu
Page 17 and 18: Partnerships allow the Information
Page 19 and 20: iGRID - An International Grid for g
Page 21 and 22: The International Center for Advanc
Page 23 and 24: COMMITTEES 23
Page 25 and 26: Technology Officer, to address spec
Page 27 and 28: Morteza Rahimi Vice President and C

NUIT 2003 Annual Report - Northwestern University Information ...

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