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Welcome

Computer Services offers resources that benefit everyone at Temple University. Services include a free e-mail account on TUmail, connection to a high-speed on-campus network, and access to a 24-hour computer Help Desk for assistance in resolving technical issues.

In addition, Computer Services offers numerous services and resources targeted to meet the special needs of faculty. Resources include access to Blackboard, a web-based online course management and delivery system with components for creating discussion groups, blogs, and wikis. Computer Services also supports 287 smart classrooms and delivers computer carts and other media equipment to classrooms that are not already equipped with technology. Faculty can also reserve computer laboratories for classroom instruction.

If you need assistance with technology, consultants in one of our three Instructional Support Centers (ISC) are available to assist you with Blackboard, PowerPoint, scanning, or other technology used for instruction or research. Additionally, Computer Services offers free hands-on seminars on a variety of topics geared toward faculty. "Getting Started with Blackboard," "Using a Digital Image Database to Build In-Class Presentations," and "Creating Online Tests and Gradebook items" are just a few of the topics offered.

News Items

What's new for Summer 2008?

TUsecure Initiative in Full Swing

TUsecure is a University-wide initiative requiring stronger passwords and three security questions to safeguard your personal information.

In order to continue using Temple's resources, a deadline of June 2, 2008 was set for changing your password. Over the next several days, Computer Services will begin locking out account holders who have not met this deadline.

If your account has been locked, please change your password now by going to the accounts.temple.edu web site.

Administrative mainframe users are required to change their passwords every 90 days. All other account holders are required to change their passwords every 180 days.

Blackboard Upgraded to Version 8

Blackboard was upgraded from version 7.3 to version 8 on Monday, May 26. The main difference in version 8 is the Gradebook, which is now called the Grade Center. There are several new enhancements including the ability to:

• Add grades directly into the Grade Center page Send e-mail from the Grade Center page
• Add calculated columns within the Grade Center page
• View Grade Center data that matches defined criteria such as group membership or performance

In addition, release 8 provides enhancements to:

• Self and Peer Assessments, which enable students to review and grade their own work by following key criteria set by their teacher
• SafeAssign, a tool to help students learn crucial citation and rules while helping faculty members ensure originality of work
• Blackboard Scholar, which enables faculty to find and share education-related resources with peers

For more information about Blackboard 8, see the Instructional Support Center (ISC) web site.

Progress Continues on Project Enterprise

Work continues on the five-year, universitywide project to upgrade and replace Temple’s aging administrative systems. The next major project to be implemented will be an upgrade to TUportal, scheduled to be in place for the fall semester.

For an overview of the project and to learn the latest developments, see the Project Enterprise web site.

Reminder: Sign Up for Emergency Notifications

Last year, Temple unveiled a new emergency notification system. If you have not already done so, please follow the instructions below to update your emergency notification information. The process takes less than a minute.

Updating Faculty and Staff Emergency Notification Information:

1. Go to the ESS web site and log in.
2. Under the My Profile section on the left, click on Emergency Notification.
3. Follow the instructions to fill in your information in section 1 or section 2.
4. When you have finished, click on Update.
5. Next, enter your AccessNet password and click on Confirm.