2008 IT Highlights
From Extension Collaborative Wiki
3. Briefly describe your program highlights for 2008
Editing tip: Write complete URLs, e.g., http://collaborate.org, and the wiki will automatically make them live links
Arkansas Extension has accomplished the following in the last year:
- Migrate most production web applications to Oracle
- Upgraded Banner server to Oracle 10g
- Installed a 10G version of our standby Banner database in Fort Smith
- Installed Luminis portal software; testing started in July
- Installed Barracuda spam filter
- Transferred cell phone management to individual departments
- Successfully completed a full load test on our generator
Texas AgriLife IT has accomplished the following in the last year:
- Initial implementation and testing of the Rhythmx Content Management System
- Released version 2 of the TExAS online accountability system
- Converted the Centra Webconferencing system to a Texas A&M System maintained service increasing the capacity and reliability in the process.
- Increased capacity and installed a redundant Barracuda email spam/virus filter
- Obtained space and built out a new server room facility (still in progress)
- Installed and implemented Conference Services and registration software
- Developed a statewide coordinated plan for IT training
- Upgraded Electronic Bookstore to version 3
- Facilitated the development of 41 courses in Moodle
Oklahoma State University Extension IT accomplished the following in the past year:
- Put into production a content management system (Plone) and provided orientation and training sessions in both large and small group settings.
- Updated the program activity reporting system
- Updated program and staff development (in-service) site
- Expanded the use of Centra as a source for web conferencing
NC State Extension IT accomplished the following in the past year:
- Developed and rolled out the "One-Stop Shop" application suite including an Extension Performance Appraisal Tool, a Goals and Objectives module, a County Plan of Work module, an Individual Plan of Action module, and a portal
- Completed the rewrite of the plant disease and insect clinic software
- Added some components to goCybercamp
- Rewriting CYFERNet database
- Implemented a low-cost, "authenticated" wireless network system for the county centers.
- Offered training in new technologies and services including Elluminate Live! web conferencing, NCCE Intranet Wiki, and various Web 2.0 applications to county and campus employees
- Hosted the National Extension Technology Conference
University of Kentucky
- Purchased a Bomgar remote support appliance in January 2008, this allowed us to standardize on one product for remote support. In the first six months of 2008 we have rendered 936 remote support sessions.
- Over 570 tickets input into PMOS helpdesk tracking system in the first seven months of 2008. This system is allowing us to monitor customer satisfaction, technician workload, and other important metrics.
- Implementing migration of CES websites to a Drupal content management system. This will be replacing a legacy MS FrontPage server.
- Increased the number of College video conferencing sites through the use of the DLT-USDA Grant we received last year to 17 total sites in the College.
- Migrated College file/print services from Novell eDirectory to Microsoft Active Directory. Now have over 20 Terabytes of storage available to College personnel.
- Setup new college website for digital media library using Extensis Portfolio and NetPublish
Alabama Cooperative Extension System
- Increased from 33 to 43 the number of off-campus offices with T-1 circuits and videoconference equipment.
- Increasingly using video conferencing for internal and external programs.
- Deployed ScopiaDesktop, a web-based desktop videoconference client that can be integrated with Polycom video conferencing for those offices that do not have Polycom equipment and T-1 connections.
- Deployed MS SharePoint 2007 (MOSS) in partnership with Auburn University Office of Information Technology and School of Forestry. We are initially using it for collaboration, blogs, and wikis. Future plans include hosting web content.
- Began training and support for MS Office 2007. However, we have followed Auburn University's lead in staying with Windows XP rather than migrating to Windows Vista.
- Continue to promote the use of social media tools. Conducted numerous training sessions for agents and specialists. Making plans to pilot blogs on county web sites and on programmatic web sites.
- Conducted a series of Internet security and safety training sessions.
- Began promoting podcasting by agents and specialists. They can post directly to their web pages, but we are also promoting the use of iTunes-U which is available to us through Auburn University.
- Replaced desktop and laptop computers for the majority of agents throughout the state (in preparation for several lean years of funding).
- Purchased web cams to use with DesktopScopia and other media at the county level.
- In the process of purchasing Kodak Pocket HD Video camera for various field staff.
- Purchased and installed a 16 TB (12.5 TB formatted) EqualLogic SAN to add to our existing 10 TB (7.5 TB formatted) SAN.
- Have continued to phase out old Solaris servers and consolidate services on virtual Windows and Linux servers running on Windows-2003/Intel/VM-Ware servers.
- Installed wireless access at the Alabama 4-H Center for use by guests (available in main admin and education buildings and in guest rooms).
- Have begun working with Agronomy Department on developing a Distance Education program for Masters in Soil Science.
LSU AgCenter IT accomplished the following in the past year:
- Restructured statewide broadband service to field locations to eliminate bottlenecks and to increase QoS, especially for compressed video sites.
- Added more remote locations to the Louisiana Lambda Rail initiative
- Implemented new Dell Blade server system to eventually replace most other servers
- Upgraded to newest versions of Microsoft Enterprise Applications where possible: MS-SQL, Exchange, SharePoint, Office Communications Server 2007
- Streamed an entire Research Station Field Day live over the Web using an array of technologies and satellite internet connectivity
- Increased podcasting initiatives
- Implemented wireless access points in most meeting rooms, conference centers and compressed video locations
- Implemented statewide IT training to be conducted in each region of the state
- Increased licensing for Bomgar to provide more simultaneous remote help sessions
- Implementation of MS SQL Reporting Services for all Accounting / GLS budget reporting systems
- Further implemented SharePoint for group collaboration and social media applications throughout the organization
- Integrated SharePoint with OpenID for multistate / multi institutional collaboration
- Formed a national MOSS collaborationsite with OpenID authentication: http://snipurl.com/3jzq2
University of Tennessee Extension accomplished the following the past year:
- Regional training by area specialists has been conducted on various software programs such as MS Office, MS Vista and our custom built planning, evaluation and reporting system – SUPER.
- Completed deployment of all modules for SUPER (System for University Planning, Evaluation and Reporting). To date over 260,000 enrollees have been entered in the Enrollment module.
- Over 100 new computers have been purchased in a 50% cost share program for county staff.
- Installed network attached backup storage drives for each county and regional office.
- Updated all users to Lotus Note s 7.0.3
- Installed new mail server and web server for UTIA campus (statewide use) and file/print server for UTIA campus.
- Moving UTIA campus staff to new Active Directory
University of Georgia CAES OIT accomplished the following the past year:
- Implemented Remedy ticket system for support call tracking
- Created Walk Georgia web app http://www.walkgeorgia.org
- Testing in-house Adobe Connect web meeting software
- Establishing disaster recovery plan for Athens data center backup to Griffin, GA Campus and vice-versa
- Provided Excel training via in-person on-site delivery to all Extension county office secretaries across GA (via clustered training)
- Continued hardware standardization/procurement program for county desktop/notebook users
- Continue to expand Adobe Contribute program for County Extension Office web site development
- Implementing web-based hardware/software inventory system for all supported county office systems
- Conducted Technology Fair as part of Urban Ag Initiative (agent training& technology orientations
- Testing Go To Meeting for remote desktop control user support and web meeting option
