Changes and Additions

My Millikin (Portal)
Users may now access most of their applications at Millikin through the My Millikin portal. A link to the portal is on the Millikin homepage and allows access through a webpage and a single login to software and functionality that students and employees use on a daily basis, such as web mail, MuOnline, Moodle, MU Account Suite, library databases, and set up of printers in general access areas for students. The home page of My Millikin has a daily haiku provided by Bronze Man Books, a link to Dining Services for daily menus, weather forecasts, Google searching, and a link to Facebook for students. The My Millikin portal will be expanded to become a campus communication hub which will include personalized information delivered to the individual and a reduction in the number of mass emails to the campus. Stay tuned for additions to My Millikin!

New Password Policy
A new password policy was put into effect requiring all users of the Millikin network resources to change their passwords every 180 days and with stronger password requirements. The password policy change was made less painful by implementing Single Sign-On capability through the My Millikin portal and the synchronization of most passwords for the Millikin applications delivered through My Millikin.

Email for Life for Millikin Graduates
Thanks to the sponsorship of the class of 2008, graduates may retain their Millikin email address for life. All graduates of Millikin (including the classes of 2007, 2008, and future) will be able to use their Millikin email for as long as they desire. Plans are being made to offer past graduates the option to sign up for a Millikin email address.

Computer Lab Upgrades
Tabor Lab (3rd floor of Shilling -323) has 35 new PC computers with 22 inch flat panel monitors installed and the lab has been outfitted with a new projector, new stereo speakers, an Extron Control System, and a VCR/DVD Player. Thanks to Physical Plant several new chairs have been placed in the lab.

The 24 computers in the Media Arts Mac Lab (Staley Library basement) have been replaced with new Macs. Thanks to the joint efforts between the VPAA’s office and IT, additional software for teaching was purchased and upgraded in that lab.

Through funding provided by the Music Department, the CAI Lab (Computer Aided Instruction) in PMC received eight new iMacs.

Upgrade of Internet Bandwidth
Millikin’s Internet connection has been increased to 35 megabit capacity, up from 25 megabit. AT&T is the university’s local provider and all traffic is routed through the Illinois Century Network (ICN) in Champaign which gives the campus access to Internet2 routes.

MOODLE Adoption
MOODLE has officially been adopted as the production Course Management System for the university. The Banner System has been synchronized with MOODLE so that each time a course is created and students enroll in Banner, the course container is also created in MOODLE. When students add and/or drop from classes, the enrollment will automatically be reflected in the corresponding MOODLE course.

Live Text integration with Banner
The Banner System has been synchronized with Live Text so that each time an Education course is created and students enroll in Banner, the course container is also created in Live Text. When students add and/or drop from classes, the enrollment will automatically be reflected in the corresponding Live Text course.

VISTA, Windows XP, Office 2007, Office 2003
Millikin campus computers will remain operating on Windows XP and Office 2003 for the academic year. IT will be evaluating the possibility of upgrading to VISTA in the next school year but there are many variables that must be tested and hardware requirements that would have to be met. Please refer to the IT web site at http://it.millikin.edu and click on the Windows Vista and Office 2007 icons to read about any compatibility issues with Vista and our network resources. We will be adding to this information throughout the year for ways to switch back and forth between the newest versions of Windows and Office.

ADM/Scovill Media Added
Rooms 208, 309, 313, and 315 have been updated with document cameras through funding provided by a State Farm Grant. All classrooms in ADM/Scovill are now equipped with document cameras and control devices for media.

New Media Classrooms - Leighty-Tabor Science Center
Through a joint effort between the Biology Department and IT, LTSC 221 and 318 were equipped as multimedia classrooms.

New Media Classrooms - PMC
Through a joint effort between the Music Department and IT, PMC 105 and 110 were equipped as multimedia classrooms.

Weck Hall Media Classroom
In order to provide for a special class that is meeting in Weck Hall this year, multimedia was installed in the lounge area of that residence hall.

New Shilling Hall Media Classroom and Additional Media
Shilling 318 is now a multimedia classroom, Shilling 310 now has access to cable television, and all Shilling Hall multimedia rooms have telephones.

New Sound System in SPEC
A permanent sound system was installed in the SPEC so that when events need amplification for that area, all they need is a microphone. No more having to check out and transport big speakers to that facility!

Laptops in Chemistry
Thanks to a contribution from the Chemistry Department, nine new laptops were purchased for use in their lab.

Crisis Alert Software Send Word Now
A crisis alert software solution was implemented, which interfaces with several systems including land line telephones, cell phone messaging (voice and text), and emails to deliver messages if a crisis occurs on the campus. The security department has full control of the system and can interface with it through web pages, cell phones, or a land line phone to send messages. Testing of the system will take place on a twice yearly basis and students and employees will be asked periodically to update the information in the Send Word Now system and how they would like to be contacted.

Web Time Entry for Employees
Hourly and student employees of the university now use a web page to enter their hours into the administrative system directly. Supervisors then approve the time sheets online. This process used to take one employee two days each week to enter the data from time sheets into the system.

Budget Form Changes
Online budget forms now provide much more detail about departmental expenditures and the process of turning in budget requests has been automated.

Transcripts Requests Online
Online requests for transcripts are now possible along with the ability to pay online for the transcript.

Letter Generation Automated
Many of the manual processes for printing letters for prospective students in Admissions and PACE have been automated. Letters are now generated when pre-determined conditions are fulfilled.

Customer Relationship Management with Hobsons
Millikin has made significant changes in the way it interacts with its student prospects, registered students, and alumni by utilizing Hobson’s Connect2 and Retain. Increased electronic communication and access to data provide Millikin with multiple ways to reach out to our prospective and present students and graduates.

Banner 8 Test Environment
IT has set up a test environment for the next version of Banner. We will be asking Millikin employees to test their processes and investigate the new functionality of the system through the academic year. We have tentatively set the upgrade for either Christmas or Spring break, depending upon testing results.

Sharepoint
A new content management system for the Millikin Website, Sharepoint, is being implemented during this academic year. It has a built-in workflow approval process which will facilitate a more consistent design for the entire website and provide a way to respond rapidly to changes in the market. Stay tuned!

Dining Services Software Upgrade
An upgrade to the dining services software package, CS Gold, was performed. It provides functionality for meal plan accounting and the upgrade provided added security for meal and credit card transactions.

ID Card System Upgraded
The system that prints ID cards was upgraded over the summer. It was used for Freshmen O&R during June to print new cards for incoming students and eliminated the lines that used to exist in waiting for the old system to print. A new card design was implemented at the same time. You will be receiving a notice about the opportunity to have your picture taken and a new card issued.

Dragonfly Storm for Athletics
This system implementation allows the athletics department to share game films and footage with other schools in our conference and download game films from them to our network.

Upgrade Marketing M drive
Network storage capacity for the Alumni and Marketing Department was increased to 1.2TB.

Guest Wireless Network access in Gorin
The wireless network in Gorin Hall was upgraded to allow for secure guest access.

Wireless Network in Health Services and Mills 1st floor
Wireless network coverage was installed in the Health Services center and the first floor of Mills Hall.

Wireless network in Blackburn 1st floor
As a result of moving the Decaturian offices from the Percussion House to Blackburn 1st floor, wireless network coverage was added on the 1st floor of Blackburn.

Internal Network Firewall
A firewall was installed on the internal network to further protect our data center servers and equipment from network-based threats.