FAST FIVE for the week of October 27, 2013

News:

IT's boss comes for a visit:

Carleton University's Computing and Communications Services (CCS) department invited their boss to come to work with them. Duncan Watt, VP Finance and Administration at the University, joined CCS's Voice Services department to see what they do on a day-to-day basis. "Take Duncan to Work"

Changing campus-wide login policy:

The University of British Columbia updated its campus-wide login password policy. The new policy requires users to change their password at least once a year. The new policy is designed to follow industry best practices while recognizing the unique circumstances of higher ed. New password rules

Recycling IT:

Seneca College held an electronic recycling initiative designed to encourage staff and students to bring in old electronics to be recycled. Equipment such as laptops, desktops, phones, monitors, and printers were dropped off at their campus bookstore. Green IT at Seneca

Behind the scenes:

The Faculty of Medicine MedIT department at UBC updated video-conferencing equipment in three of its busiest teaching locations in the past year. With no interruption to service, they enhanced collaborative learning, engagement, and presenter capabilities. MedIT upgrade

Response to hacking:

The President of Brandon University took the unusual step of responding with an open letter to a recent hacking attack. The letter reframes the issue quite effectively and is an interesting way to close security and awareness month. Presidential hacking response

Responses to last week's question:

Last week the following question was posed: "Whether MOOCs are successful or not, do you feel they are shifting the conversations and the emphasis in higher ed IT away from administration & research to teaching & learning? Is this a change for the better?"

To answer your question, at UOIT it has always been about teaching and learning.  

A more interesting question though might be with the across the board reduction in funding, where in the future does IT spend its capital (and operating monies for that matter).  

Students are demanding more technology now so that they don't have to "dumb down" when coming to campus;  how is that going to be addressed in a time of declining budgets?  Further, most SIS implementations are ageing and the barnacles are showing; a new implementation will be needed soon and where is that money to be sourced?

Budget time in the future is going to require some very hard decisions.  

Mark D. Naylor, Ph.D., President, Union Hills Enterprises Inc.

I am not a fan of the MOOC hype - there is a place for it, but I have told senior executives that we have other things to focus our limited resources on first. A statement like this makes me rethink that position.   

CIO from a large research university