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University website halfway through software upgrade
Jan 30th, 2018
computer screen displaying UWindsor Drupal website

The UWindsor web presence has reached a milestone, reports Information Technology Services, with more than half its sites now present in version 7 of the content management system Drupal.

“For the first time, we officially flipped the balance and have more sites in Drupal 7 than in Drupal 6,” says Marcin Pulcer, assistant director of IT Services. “While we still have some key academic and student services sites remaining to be migrated, we have made progress.”

He notes that more than 2.3 million visits to the site in 2017 represents an increase of 16 per cent over 2016.

“Our website is now the main tool for student recruitment,” Pulcer says. “Greater numbers of eyes on our site, increasingly stringent accessibility requirements and growing internal expectations for the quality of our presentation all demand that we get everyone over to Drupal 7.”

He says that support from Public Affairs and Communications helped to speed along the conversion process.

“We had been on track to take eight years to finish migrating to version 7, but the addition of a part-time staffer dedicated just to helping departments lowered that to 18 months,” says Pulcer.

He suggests that campus departments wishing to take advantage of this opportunity contact web development team lead Rob Aitkens at 519-253-3000, ext. 3267, email rob.aitkens@uwindsor.ca.

Newest version of statistics software available for download
Jan 30th, 2018
SPSS box

The newest version SPSS, v25, is now available on the UWindsor Software Depot.

The license servers for SPSS have also been updated, so no one running the network version should see the license expiry warning any more, advises computing consultant Mathew Chandler. He invites anyone running SPSS 23 network version and still seeing the expiry message to contact him at mchandle@uwindsor.ca for assistance.

Those running the single user license will have to repurchase SPSS on the Software Depot to continue using the program in that way and will continue to see the expiry message until they purchase a new license.

SPSS is the world’s leading statistical software, used to solve research problems by means of ad-hoc analysis, hypothesis testing, and predictive analytics.

It’s time to change your password: IT Services
Jan 25th, 2018
screen showing sign-in

The University has recently adopted the Digital Password Management Policy to go into effect in February 2018, coinciding with the launch of UWinsite Finance.

Upon first accessing UWinsite Finance, users who haven’t changed their UWin password in the last four months (120 days) will be required to do so before they can sign into the new system.

To find out when you last changed your password, go to the My UWin Account page. Information Technology Services recommends that you change all passwords every few months to be on the safe side.

Since the requirement to change your password regularly increases the likelihood that you may forget it, IT Services strongly recommends that you configure Security Questions. Once your Security Questions are created, you can reset your forgotten password anytime using the online self-service option.

For more information or to request assistance, visit the UWin Self-Service Portal at uwindsor.ca/help.

Powering up passwords provides privacy protection
Dec 21st, 2017
sign-in screen

Compromised accounts and unauthorized access is a major issue for institutions and individuals who use computers or high-tech devices such as smartphones or tablets. The consequences can include the loss of valuable data, identity theft, and privacy breaches.

“One of the ways hackers break into IT systems and devices is by cracking passwords,” says Kevin Macnaughton, acting manager of Client Services and Technology in IT Services. “Weak and commonly-used passwords enable people with malicious intent to gain easy access.”

A password that is difficult to guess, however, makes it more difficult for hackers to break in and often deters them enough to look for another target.

“The more difficult the password, the lower the likelihood that one’s account will become compromised,” says Macnaughton.

To help address this issue, changes have recently been implemented to strengthen UWin account passwords.

Starting December 1, anyone who changes their UWin account password will be required to pick a new password with a minimum length of 10 characters (up from eight) that contains at least one of each of the following:

  • special character (new requirement);
  • uppercase letter (no change);
  • lowercase letter (no change); and
  • numerical digit (no change).

Special characters can include spaces and any other non-alphanumeric characters, such as a dollar sign ($), ampersand (&), or at sign (@).

To learn more about your UWin account or to change your password, visit uwindsor.ca/myuwinaccount.

Ericka Greenham

Reminder: campus phones to go dead Friday night
Dec 21st, 2017
telephone handset

Maintenance work to the campus telephone system will take it offline overnight after the University closes Friday, December 22.

The entire telephone system will go silent sometime between 7 and 8 p.m. Friday evening. Work will proceed over the next seven hours and the system is projected to be back online by 3 a.m. Saturday.

While the telephone system is down, there will be no dial tone on any phones on campus. Traditional phones will be without power. VoIP phones will appear operational, but will be unable to connect. There will be no answer if someone dials the University and voicemail will be unavailable. Emergency phones also will not work.

In case of emergency on campus during this period, use a mobile phone to call 911. Windsor Police Services will relay the call to Campus Police. Direct any questions or concerns to IT Services at 519-253-3000, ext. 4440.