CIT Notes

Moving 1HOPE Messages

2008-05-13T10:05:00.004-04:00

Instructions for moving saved messages and contacts from your 1HOPE account to a Gmail account can be found here.

Senior email account deletions

2008-04-02T09:46:00.002-04:00

Seniors:

As you work through the many details associated with your final semester, please keep in mind that your Hope College e-mail account will be deleted approximately 5 months after you graduate (roughly October 1). A reminder notice with the exact date will be sent several weeks prior.

Because you may be using your Hope account to correspond with many different groups, now is the time to think about the transition to a different address. This is especially important as you prepare and distribute resumes.

For more details, including links to services offering free e-mail accounts, please see: http://www.hope.edu/cit/tips/grad

Internet upgrade

2008-03-31T09:48:00.002-04:00

The Hope College connection to the Internet is shared among the campus's 4000 users. In an effort to maintain it as a viable and cost-effective resource, CIT is constantly evaluating both its performance and configuration. Due to steadily increasing demand, today the capacity of that connection was increased by 66%, from 18Mbps to 30Mbps. The upgrade will provide a boost in performance and work to ensure its continued value to the campus.

Store more in your 1HOPE account

2007-10-22T15:59:00.001-04:00

Every student and employee can now save over 4GB of messages and attachments in 1HOPE (the previous limit was 2GB). Given that the average email is about 20KB in size, that means you can keep over 200,000 messages!

To see how much space you're using, scroll to the bottom of any 1HOPE screen and look for the line that starts with: You are currently using...

Vacation message problem fixed

2007-10-22T15:58:00.002-04:00

1HOPE vacation messages should now be working correctly. Please contact the CIT Help Desk (x7670 or cit@hope.edu) with questions.

Problems with 1HOPE vacation messages

2007-09-24T11:06:00.000-04:00

We're currently working with Google to resolve a problem with automatic vacation response messages in 1HOPE. In the meantime, the following procedure should be used to enable this functionality:

In 1HOPE, click Settings (in the upper-right corner)
In the Vacation responder: section, enter the desired vacation Subject: and Message:
Click the circle next to Vacation responder off
Click Save Changes at the bottom of the screen.
Click Settings (in the upper-right corner)
Click the circle next to Vacation responder on
Click Save Changes at the bottom of the screen.
You should now see a light orange bar at the top of every 1HOPE screen indicating that a vacation message is active.

Updates on this issue will be posted here as they become available.

Reminder: Webmail turned off on October 15

2007-09-24T11:05:00.000-04:00

Remember, messages and addresses saved in the old Webmail email system will be unavailable after October 14, 2007. Be sure to move any items that you want to keep to your 1HOPE account before then.

Instructions for moving messages and addresses to 1HOPE can be found at: http://www.hope.edu/cit/newmail

Please contact the CIT Help Desk (x7670 or cit@hope.edu) with questions.

Moodle work done, possible quiz problems

2007-09-03T16:30:00.000-04:00

CIT has completed the move of Archived Courses to a new location within Moodle. Initial observations indicate a noticeable improvement in performance. We again thank you for your patience and understanding throughout this process.

Recently we've received reports of problems with some Moodle quizzes. Although we're working to identify the cause of these issues, we recommend that you check your upcoming quizzes and tests using the "Preview" function. If you see warning messages or have missing questions, please contact the CIT Help Desk (x7670 or cit@hope.edu).

Moodle update

2007-08-30T13:55:00.001-04:00

CIT continues to move Archived Courses out of Moodle to a separate area. Because this process involves a substantial amount of work for the system, it's likely that logging in and loading pages will take longer than normal. Once the moving process is completed (hopefully within the next 24 hours), performance should improve.

Update on Moodle performance issues

2007-08-29T16:15:00.000-04:00

In an effort to improve and stabilize Moodle performance, tomorrow (Thursday) morning all courses in the "Archived Courses" section will be moved to a different location. They will no longer appear at the bottom of the main course listing page or on your "My Courses" page. Instead, they will be accessed via a link at the top of that page labeled "Past Courses". All data and settings in these courses will remain unchanged.

Please note that it may be 24 hours or longer before the "Archived Courses" section is removed from the main course listing page. Despite this, please do not make any changes to these courses. If you should need to access a previous semester's course for any reason, be sure to use the "Past Courses" link.

Performance issues with Moodle

2007-08-28T17:23:00.000-04:00

CIT is currently investigating intermittent performance issues with Moodle. Specifically, there are sometimes significant delays when logging in and/or loading pages. We're working to identify the cause as well as possible resolutions, and will follow up with more details on this website as they become available.

Thank you for your patience.

Can I install my own wireless router?

2007-08-25T13:13:00.000-04:00

Students are not allowed to install their own wireless routers. There are a couple reasons for this:

Security

A wireless router transmits a signal to a distance of about 300 feet. That means that any computer within a football field-length of that router can potentially connect to it. At Hope, this could mean 500 or more computers, and could include people not affiliated with the College (like those in nearby houses, businesses, or on the street). Because the router is connected to your port, all the traffic that goes through it is attributed to you. So even if someone else is doing something wrong, because they're using your router, it looks like it's coming from you. There are ways to help prevent others from connecting to your router, but they take some knowledge to setup (and even then can be circumvented!)

Interference

Even if you setup the proper security on your router, there can still be issues with it interfering with other wireless routers. In the residence halls, each student is provided with an Ethernet port to plug in to. These were built into each building several years ago. However, many of the College's cottages and apartments do not have this wiring built in. Often, these are old houses where we either can't get into the walls to install wiring, or it's very expensive to do so. In these locations, wireless is installed, and is the only way for the students living there to connect. Because the College owns over 80 cottages and apartments, we can often have a dozen or more wireless routers installed in the space of one city block. Each must be carefully planned so that it doesn't interfere with the others. By installing a "personal" access point in a residence hall room or other location that's not a part of this plan, service is often interrupted or discontinued for students in these locations. That means that they can't connect to the Internet at all.

Welcome Class of 2011!

2007-08-24T14:18:00.000-04:00

As a new student, you may have some questions about the technology resources that will be available to you at Hope:

How do I connect to the Internet in my room? Where is wireless available?

In the residence halls, you'll use a wired Ethernet connection. Ethernet cables (different from a telephone cable) are available at the Bookstore. Wireless is available in most cottages, apartments, and academic buildings. For more information, please see: http://www.hope.edu/resources/cit/connect/ethmodem.html

How do I get free anti-virus software for my computer?

To download a free copy of Symantec Antivirus, see the following: http://www.hope.edu/resources/cit/connect/anti-virus.html

What can I do to protect my computer from viruses and other threats?

Check out: http://www.hope.edu/resources/cit/tips/securitytips.html

What if I have problems getting wireless setup, installing virus protection, or connecting to the network? Is there someone that can help me?

Yes! For Orientation Weekend and the first week of classes, there are times in the afternoon and evening when you can stop by with your computer and a technician will help you get everything setup. A schedule is at: http://www.hope.edu/resources/cit/connect/troublefair.html

Of course, it's impossible to answer every question here, so you can always contact us (cit@hope.edu or 616-395-7670) for more details.

Recent Internet outages

2007-08-21T13:57:00.000-04:00

Recently, Hope College has experienced two sustained Internet outages:

Last Thursday (August 16) from ~9:00am until ~10:00pm
Today (August 21) from ~8:30am until ~11:55am

For approximately the past 15 years, Hope College has received its Internet service from Merit Network, Inc. They supply connections to many of the colleges and universities in Michigan, as well as other municipal and non-profits organizations. Both outages were the result of equipment failure at their facilities, and were experienced by Merit locations throughout the state. For more details information on these outages and other service issues, please refer to the following page: http://merit.edu/mail.archives/network-alerts/

In a live webcast attended earlier today by CIT Staff, Merit assured its users that they were talking aggressive and appropriate steps to minimize the possibility of future outages.

Students: Need help with your computer?

2007-08-20T13:53:00.001-04:00

Students, if you need help getting your computer connected, removing viruses, or using wireless, bring your computer to a ConnectHope Troubleshooting Fair. A technician will sit down with you and work through the problem (free of charge!). All Fairs are held in the CIT Office, located in Durfee Hall near the President's House:

Tuesday 8/21 = 9 am - 11 am & 2 pm - 4 pm
Thursday 8/23 = 9 am - 11 am & 2 pm - 4 pm
Friday, 8/24 = 2 pm - 8 pm
Saturday, 8/25 = 12 pm - 3 pm
Monday, 8/27 = 2 pm - 8 pm
Tuesday, 8/28 = 5 pm - 8 pm
Thursday, 8/30 = 5 pm - 8 pm

If you use a laptop, all you need to bring is the computer and power supply. If you use a desktop, just bring the tower part (CPU). Also, if you want help setting up your wireless connection, be sure to bring a wireless card (the Bookstore sells them).

Outside of the times listed above, if you are a student and need assistance with connecting your computer to the network or removing a virus, call CIT at x7670 to make an appointment. Please note that a limited number of appointments are available, so there may be a wait for this service.

If you need more immediate assistance or help with things like reinstalling Windows or repairing hardware, we've negotiated reduced rates for Hope students/faculty/staff at several local computer repair shops. For more information and examples of the discounts, look here.

AntiVirus for Windows Vista is now available

2007-08-10T16:22:00.001-04:00

Students: AntiVirus software for Windows Vista is now available for download. Please note that you must uninstall any other antivirus programs on your computer, including any trial versions that were pre-installed by the manufacturer. Also, certain security settings in Windows Vista can cause the installation to fail on the first try. In such cases, attempting the install a second time will usually work.

Click the link below to go to the download page:
Hope College Student AntiVirus Software

Why do I get so much spam?

2007-08-08T13:43:00.000-04:00

Thank you to Richard Mezeske (Professor of Education) for sending us this great article from The New Yorker about email spam:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/08/06/070806fa_fact_specter

It includes some history, details on how and why it's done, and a few startling statistics. Perhaps most important, it explains why the problem is so difficult to solve, and how the world is working to combat it. The writing is non-technical, so it's a great read for all of us who continue to be frustrated by all that junk mail.

Moodle upgrades and downtime

2007-08-07T13:47:00.000-04:00

Moodle will be unavailable on Thursday (August 9) from 8:00am -10:00am while updates and a new "Hope College-style" look are installed. All courses and content will be retained. Additional enhancements are coming soon, so stay tuned!

As always, if you'd like a Moodle course set up or other assistance, please contact the CIT Help Desk (x7670 or cit@hope.edu). Be sure to include the course name, CRN, and section number.

Also, remember that Moodle is now accessed using your 1HOPE username and password.

1HOPE Update

2007-08-02T13:23:00.000-04:00

CIT is pleased to announce that the transition to 1HOPE is complete. All Hope College e-mail accounts (including students, faculty, and staff) have been moved to the new system. Thank you to everyone for your cooperation and feedback during this 6-month process.

Messages and addresses still in the old system will be available until Fall Recess. On October 15, 2007, Webmail will be turned off and those saved items will no longer be available. Instructions for moving messages and addresses to 1HOPE can be found at: http://www.hope.edu/cit/newmail

One feature of 1HOPE is its integrated spam detection and management. As of this week, we're no longer using Symantec for this purpose. The new system provides you with a more intuitive way to review and correct (when necessary) the spam detection process. It also results in a financial savings of $16,000 per year. While it promises to be more thorough and accurate, there may be a period of time where 1HOPE needs to "learn" our individual and collective preferences. Please review the contents of your Spam folder regularly and use the "Report Spam" and "Not Spam" buttons to correct any misidentified messages. This will re-file the conversation into the correct location and help to improve the detection process.

1HOPE has a vast array of documents available to assist you with its various functions and features. Just click the "Help" link in the upper-right corner of any screen. As always, you can contact the CIT Help Desk (x7670 or cit@hope.edu) with questions or problems.

1HOPE transition continues!

2007-06-27T14:29:00.000-04:00

All student e-mail is now being delivered to 1HOPE! This morning, the final 1,032 student accounts were transitioned to the new system, powered by Google. All new email messages are going into their 1HOPE inboxes, though students still have to go back to Webmail to retrieve any saved messages or addresses that they would like to continue to use.

Faculty and staff have until July 25 to voluntarily change their mail delivery to 1HOPE.

Currently, 87% of Hope accounts (approximately 3,812) are receiving mail in 1HOPE. There are still about 550 accounts on Webmail waiting to migrate.

Here is our progress graph to date:

REMINDER: 1HOPE switchover dates

2007-06-21T12:58:00.001-04:00

Over 60% of Hope's users have made the switch to 1HOPE, the College's new e-mail system, powered by Google Apps for Education.

For those returning students that are still using Webmail, remember that on June 27 your account will automatically be moved to 1HOPE. All others accounts (faculty/staff/etc) will be moved on July 25.

Even if you use Outlook, Thunderbird, or another POP client to read your messages, you still need to switch to 1HOPE. You could then re-configure your client program to download messages from the new server, or you could start using all the new and exciting features that the 1HOPE web interface has to offer.

For details on the new system, including how to start using it right now, visit the 1HOPE website.

Moodle changes

2007-06-18T15:34:00.000-04:00

The following was e-mailed to all faculty & staff:
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** Username & Password Changes **
Beginning on Wednesday (June 20), your Moodle username and password will be the same as your 1HOPE username and password. Do NOT include "@hope.edu" in the username. This change affects all faculty, staff, and student accounts. All saved information (including everything from past, current, and future courses) will still be accessible under the new login. On Wednesday morning, each affected person will receive an additional e-mail message notifying that the change has taken place.

** Moodle Downtime **
Moodle will be inaccessible between the hours of 8:00am and 9:00am on Wednesday (June 20) while the above work takes place.

** Archiving Past Courses **
In the near future, Moodle courses from the Spring 2007 semester will be moved from their current position in the Division/Department listings to the "Archive" category. Once you log in to Moodle as a teacher, you will still see the past courses listed in "My Moodle" -- they will appear grayed out, but still accessible by clicking on the link.

If you have questions about these changes, or would like information or assistance with any aspect of Moodle, please contact the CIT Help Desk (x7670 or cit@hope.edu).
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What about Vista?

2007-06-04T12:54:00.000-04:00

We've received several inquiries from current and future students regarding Windows Vista and whether it will work on campus.

Although CIT will not be converting the College's lab and classroom computers to Vista until Summer 2008 at the earliest, students wishing to use Vista on campus should not have a problem. Most student resources are web-based (1Hope, KnowHope Plus, Moodle, etc), so any computer that's able to connect to the Internet will work.

All current Hope College students can install Symantec Antivirus software at no cost. We're currently working to provide a version of this software that's compatible with Windows Vista. Check the CIT website later this summer for more details.

New 1HOPE Training Dates

2007-06-01T09:21:00.000-04:00

CIT will again offer training on the new campus email system, 1HOPE. In order to accomodate our larger group sizes, the sessions will begin with the presentation portion in Martha Miller 239 and then move to the computer lab in 240 for those who want hands-on training. No advance registration is required.

Tuesday, June 5, 9:30 -10:30 a.m.
Thursday, June 7, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 13, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

If you are unable to attend training on these dates please see our online training guidelines and/or call the CIT Help Desk at x7670.

Repairs to Phone System

2007-05-31T15:21:00.001-04:00

CIT has resolved the problem which caused static on phone calls through the college's phone system. If you still have static or have other problems with your phone, please contact CIT. CIT will be troubleshooting the remaining phone system problems after 10pm tonight, May 31st. This may cause some temporary interruptions of service.