IAP with IT twist
IS&T is covering new trends and continuing concerns in its IAP 2006 offerings. Sessions include a sneak preview of the Human Resources payroll project; several courses on Linux, math software and geographic information systems; seminars on teaching with technology; a series on usability; and an open house in the Adaptive Technology for Information and Computing lab. For a complete listing of IS&T offerings, visit student.mit.edu/iap/nsis.html.
Web surveys at MIT
Planning a survey? You can get assistance from the MIT Web Survey Service, run jointly by IS&T and Institutional Research in the Office of the Provost. The service helps MIT groups plan, create and host surveys.
In the last two years, the MIT Web Survey Service administered close to 60 surveys for the community, and close to 80 surveys for members of consortiums to which MIT belongs. Recent survey topics included undergraduate satisfaction with campus resources; graduate student assessment of advising; alumni and parent satisfaction; faculty quality of life; commuting habits of students and employees; and feedback to improve publications.
The Office of the Provost maintains a schedule of known MIT surveys in TechTime, to help avoid overlap. To view the calendar, log into TechTime and search for "provost as a resource." You will be able to view the calendar for "Provost's Office: Surveys."
To learn more about the service, e-mail web-surveys@mit.edu or visit web.mit.edu/surveys/.
E-mail transitions
In consultation with its IT colleagues, IS&T is endorsing the move from Eudora to other e-mail applications: Apple Mail for Mac OS X and Outlook Express or Outlook 2003 for Windows and WebMail. All of these programs are offered only as Internet Mail Access Protocol (IMAP) clients at MIT. IMAP, the protocol that IS&T recommends, stores your e-mail on a server so that you can access it from almost any connected computer.
As part of this transition, IS&T will discontinue support for Eudora 5.2.1 (Windows) and Eudora 6.1 (Macintosh) on Jan. 31, 2006. Eudora 5.2.1 has a security vulnerability and Eudora 6.1 is well behind the current Macintosh version, Eudora 6.2.3.
To assist clients in switching to the recommended e-mail applications, IS&T will offer workshops during and after IAP and will also provide documentation and tools. For more information, including class and clinic schedules, visit web.mit.edu/ist/topics/email/migration.html. If you have questions or concerns, e-mail the e-mail migration team at email-migration@mit.edu.
Directory access
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) lets MIT users access the MIT online directory via Outlook Express, Outlook 2003 or Apple Mail. Configuring your e-mail application for LDAP is simple; for instructions, go to web.mit.edu/ist/services/network/ldap/. Staff and students who prefer an integrated e-mail/calendar solution should remain with Oracle Connector for Outlook.
Digitalk is compiled by Information Services and Technology.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on December 21, 2005 (download PDF).
