Open House Reveals ITS Backstage on Nov. 12

The Wesleyan community is invited to go “Backstage at Information Technology Services” during an open house Nov. 12.

Self-guided and guided tours for faculty, staff and students will be ongoing from 1 to 4 p.m. Raffle prizes will be awarded. Also, during this time, ITS will host three “acts.”

“ITS is hosting an open house to provide an opportunity for the community to visit our staff members in their environments, to learn about what they do, and in some cases to put a face with a person to whom they have either spoken on the phone or emailed,” says Ganesan “Ravi” Ravishanker, associate vice president for ITS.  “Whereas most of our users are familiar with some of the ITS staff members, all of our services are delivered by an excellent collaboration between the front line staff and others in various IT disciplines who users may have never heard about or met.”

Act 1 takes place on theExley Science Center’s fifth floor beginning at 1 p.m.

Act 1, Scene 1 is titled “Academic Computing” by Jolee West, director of Academic Computing Services. West will discuss WesFiles, blogs and wikis, clickers, media databases and faculty resources.

Act 1, Scene 2 is titled “Administrative Computing” by Steve Machuga, director of administrative systems. Machuga will discuss portfolios, the Event Management System, the student/faculty information system, teaching evaluations, Human Resources, benefits and payroll and the new Wesleyan financial system.

Act 1, Scene 3 is titled “New Media Lab” by Melissa Datre, director of the New Media Lab. Datre will discuss large-format scanning and printing, scholarly communication, new media research and development, web development and post-production services.

Act 1, Scene 4 is titled “User and Technical Services,” by Karen Warren, director of User and Technical Services. Warren will offer a data center tour and discuss printing and operations, e-mail and spam configurations, network and internet statistics, wireless connections, desktop support tips, Kiosks, reference data storage and student computing labs.

Act II will take place in Usdan University Center, the Public Affairs Center and the Center for the Arts. Tours leave at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Guests should meet on main floor of Usdan in front of Cardinal Technologies.

Act II, Scene 1 is titled “Wesleyan Station,” led by Lisa Davis, manager of Wesleyan Station.

Act II, Scene 2 is titled “Quantitative Analysis Center,” led by Manolis Kaparakis, director of centers for advanced computing.

Act II, Scene 3 is titled “Art Technologies,” led by Phil Dean, desktop support specialist and art workshops technology administrator.

Act II, Scene 4 is titled “Cardinal Technologies,” led by Allen Alonzo, manager of Cardinal Technologies.

Act III will take place on the science center’s first floor. Tours leave at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Guests should meet in front of Pi Cafe.

Act III, Scene 1 is titled “Scientific Computing and Informatics Center,” led by Yun Liu, coordinator of the Scientific Computing and Informatics Center.

Act III, Scene 2 is titled “Instructional Media Services,” discussed by Heric Flores-Rueda, manager of instructional media services.

Act III, Scene 3 is titled “Student Help Desk,” discussed by John Hammond, Help Desk manager.

Act III, Scene 4 is titled “Cardinal Technology Services,” led by Bob Elsinger, computer electronic technician.

Act III, Scene 5 is titled “WesTel – Communications Room,” led by Rose Smith, switchroom technician/service writer.

Act III, Scene 6 is titled “Science Center 150, Projection Room,” led by Heric Flores-Rueda.

Open house stage crew is Phil Dean, Rob Christensen, junior classroom support technician; Annette Howard, analyst programmer and project leader; Mariah Klaneski, graphic designer; Donna Moore, administrative assistant; Bonnie Penders, assistant to the associate vice president of ITS and fiscal manager; and Ken Taillon, network support specialist.

“Please come by and say hello to our talented and dedicated staff members who will be happy to hear that you are satisfied with our services, and will also appreciate hearing how we can improve on our delivery of service,” Ravishanker says.