Looking Back on Spring Tech Improvements

Looking Back on Spring Tech Improvements
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The University of Arkansas had an exciting spring semester for technology, including innovations with a new help portal, login system, collaboration services and more.

In this fast-paced environment, it can be easy to overlook some of these improvements. Find IT Service's top technology innovations from the spring semester below (in no particular order).

  • New IT Help Portal
    IT Services released a new IT Help Portal to simplify users' experiences when seeking solutions to tech problems. The improved features make it easier to find setup instructions, create tickets, request services and find software.
  • New Login System for UAConnect, Blackboard and Other Services
    Services like UARK Gmail, Blackboard, UAConnect and more started using a new login system called Azure. This was the first step toward a true single sign-on system.
  • Brown Bag Technology Series
    A new series began to discuss the latest in innovation over brown bag lunches, including topics like collaboration in Microsoft Office 365 and WordPress fundamentals. These discussions created invaluable conversations around a broad range of technologies. 
  • Streamlined Classroom Scheduling
    Student employees cataloged over 430 classroom spaces to develop a simple, streamlined process for faculty and staff to reserve classrooms. These spaces were reclassified based on technological capability, simplifying designations from 42 to three levels, which faculty and staff can now select and reserve in an updated database.
  • Updated Software Distribution Page
    IT Services offers a variety of software for students, faculty and staff. Our new software distribution page makes it easy to find the products you need faster, with filters to sort products by name, availability, licenses type and cost.
  • Cisco Spark and WebEx
    New collaboration tools, Spark and WebEx, allow students, faculty and staff to connect with teams on and off campus. Messaging, digital whiteboarding, screen sharing and more are available to users when hosting and joining online meetings.

Stay updated with technology by subscribing to IT Services News at its.uark.edu/news-events and by following us on Twitter at twitter.com/uaits.

Contacts

Chris Butler, director, communications
University Information Technology Services
479-575-2901, chrisb@uark.edu

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