Message from the CIO

Spring is in full force, complete with more than our usual share of dust! As we do each year, the TTU IT Division has designated a week in the Spring as TTU IT Spring Cleaning Week (April 21-25, 2014). We encourage areas and departments to take the time to clean and tidy your digital workplaces. We also offer tips for reviewing your digital workplace, including Tidying Your Mobile “Clutter” and Email Management. As you are “cleaning” your environment, remember to use Raider PC Mart to recycle any of your unwanted or unneeded computing equipment – your used equipment could help another TTU unit. Thank you for your partnership as we work together to protect and efficiently use information resources at TTU. In this issue, we are also remembering long-time friends and supporters of the TTU IT Division, Larry & Jill Austin.

—Sam Segran Associate Vice President for IT and Chief Information Officer

From Here, It’s PossibleInformation Technology Division|Bulletin

vol.10 no.11 | April 2014

Mobile technology continues to develop rapidly, providing enhanced convenience and connectivity, as well as engendering an explosion of applications that provide a wide range of services. The TTU IT Division reminds you that just as your desktop computer can become cluttered with unneeded programs, documents, and images, so can your mobile devices. In addition to maintaining up-to-date software, installing antivirus software as it becomes available, and enabling the personal identification number (PIN) or password to access the mobile device, if available, we also recommend that you:

• Review apps that you have downloaded, and remove those that you no longer use;

• Examine any content that you keep on your mobile device – and delete what you do not use or store the information on your desktop or on a service (campus or cloud depending on the nature of the information);

• Delete all information stored in a device prior to discarding it; and

• Review text messages, voicemail, and images, and delete those that you no longer need.

If you need assistance or would like more information, please contact IT Help Central at (806) 742-4357 (HELP) or via email at ithelpcentral@ttu.edu.

Tidy Your Mobile “Clutter”

From Here, It’s Possible

The TTU IT Division lost two dear friends and supporters recently. Dr. Larry Morton Austin passed away early Friday, March 28, 2014, at University Medical Center. His wife of 58 years, Jill Callihan Austin, R.N., passed away on Dec. 16, 2012. Larry and Jill were great friends, supporters, and cheerleaders for the TTU IT Division “family” and joined us at our annual “IT Division Year in Review” event in December. They also brought a huge basket of edible

Christmas goodies for the TTU CIO office staff every year!

After retiring as a Lt. Colonel from the United States Air Force, Dr. Austin joined Texas Tech University in 1976 as the Area Coordinator of Information Systems and Quantitative Sciences (ISQS) in the College of Business Administration, and subsequently became an Associate Dean and a full tenured Professor.

Early in my 30-year career at Texas Tech, as one of my mentors, Larry helped to shape my thinking regarding information systems, processes, and people. His favorite mantra was, “Managers make decisions; Models don’t!” Part of his legacy is reflected in the way we manage IT services strategically, with a major emphasis in customer service. A little known fact is that Dr. Larry Austin continued to help us by being our “ghost editor” for the TTU IT Division bulletin that is compiled by my staff and me.

Larry and Jill will be missed but will always be remembered fondly for all the joy, care, and smiles that they brought us!

- Sam Segran, CIO

From Left (rear): Mr. Sam Segran, Associate VP & CIO; Dr. Larry

M. Austin; Mr. Uwe Beltz. From left (front): Dr. Kathy Austin-

Beltz, Assistant VP IT Division; Mrs. Jill Austin

The TTU IT Division Fondly Remembers Larry and Jill Austin

Raider PC Mart allows departments to electronically connect with other departments that may be interested in outgoing equipment. Raider PC Mart is an online equipment transfer application for used computer equipment and peripherals. It is designed to facilitate the transfer of used computing equipment between TTU departments before it is surplused with Property Surplus. These technology exchanges between TTU departments make institutional technology investments last longer, extending the use of computing equipment. Raider PC Mart allows individuals authorized by the department head to post computer equipment no longer needed in their department or to review equipment posted by other departments. While inventory transfer paperwork and procedures are required prior to the exchange, Raider PC Mart allows interested parties to discuss and negotiate equipment trades. As with any equipment transfer, all TTU Operating Policies and Procedures apply. Visit www.raiderpcmart.ttu.edu to view the relevant policies.

Please note that Raider PC Mart is a voluntary utility designed to foster communication and extend the life of TTU’s IT capital investment. The departments involved are responsible for the terms of the exchange. The system is designed only for the purposes of computing equipment exchange. We encourage you to dust off that unneeded computer or printer and list it on Raider PC Mart – recycle, help a needy department and save university funds!

Contributions by: Katherine Austin Beltz , Ph.D., Jeff Barrington, Calley Brake, Shannon Cepica, Scott Hall, Yung Ng, Amanda Salazar, Mary Scott, Sam Segran, Britta Tye, and Allen Young.Safe Computing Practices Committee: Sam Segran, Katherine Austin Beltz, Ph.D., Jeff Barrington, Darrell Bateman, Shannon Cepica, Scott Hall, Danny Mar, Ron Nail, Yung Ng, Randall Osborne, Mike Simmons, Phil Smith, Ph.D., J Stalcup, Britta Tye, John Vandygriff, Allen Young, and assistance from IT Division staff.

Mail Stop 2008Phone: 742-5151Fax: 742-5155

Copyright 2014 Texas Tech University

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Computer-BasedTraining(CBT):cbt.ttu.edu

Safe Computing Practices:safecomputing.ttu.edu

TTU Technology Equipment Exchange Forum – Raider PC Mart

Regular email account management helps to optimize the use of TTU data storage resources. Taking a few minutes to sort through your email inbox, folders, and archives will help you stay organized and conserve data storage resources. We encourage you to schedule recurring times on your calendar to sort through your files.

We recommend the following practices when sorting and cleaning your email files:

• Establish a system to organize the email you receive;• Delete old/unwanted emails that you are not required to

retain;• Empty the Deleted Items folder regularly;• Empty Sent Items and Junk Email folders regularly; and• Archive old messages that you need to retain.

For detailed instructions on email settings, please contact IT Help Central at (806) 742-4357 (HELP) or ithelpcental@ttu.edu.

Email Management – Be Prudent with University Resources