From the CIO

VCU Technology Services

August 2024 CIO Update

by Alex Henson

As we embark together on another new academic year, VCU Technology Services (VCU TS) continues to collaborate with our partners from around campus to support many facets of campus life. Whether it be a classroom lecture, a nightly study group, a pick up game in the gym, a campus internship, or grabbing a snack before walking across campus with friends and coworkers, our VCU TS teams play a significant role in the design, deployment, and support of the technology that enables all of these activities. For this month, I’d like to highlight just a subset of the services that our community will be using as the new semester kicks off.

Some of the services we offer:

  • Adobe Creative Cloud offers a full range of creative applications for digital imaging, design, web, and video. VCU was the first university in Virginia to earn the designation of “Adobe Creative Campus”, leading to a VCU Enterprise Agreement that provides VCU faculty, employees and students access to the tools. Making digital literacy a priority for all, these apps become an avenue for students to practice digital literacy through critical thinking, problem solving, and creative communication.
  • Generative AI tools offer exciting possibilities for our learning, work and personal lives. VCU has licensed Microsoft Copilot, a generative artificial intelligence chatbot for all faculty, staff, and students to use for free. For more information about using generative AI tools and logging into Copilot, please review our VCU AI Guidelines page: https://go.vcu.edu/ai 
  • Campus Maps is a new 3D interactive map service.
  • Central Classroom Technology Support website equips faculty with information about the technologies available in each of the centrally managed classrooms on both campuses. In-class support and consultations for faculty are available to help get them acclimated with the technologies they will be using in their classrooms.
  • Ellucian Intelligent Learning Platform (ILP) acts as a bridge, synchronizing and streamlining data transfer between Banner and Canvas. Prior to the Spring 2024 semester, Academic Technologies and Administrative Systems partnered to plan and successfully implement Ellucian ILP.  With real-time updates for enrollments and grades, Ellucian ILP introduces a new era of efficiency.
  • eServices provides self-service access to Ellucian Banner Self-Service 9 applications for VCU students, faculty, and staff. It’s worth noting that eServices offers direct access to various related systems such as College Scheduler, Degree Works, Handshake, Make-A-Payment, and the Navigate system. To access eServices, visit: go.vcu.edu/eServices.
  • fixIt Hardware Support at RamTech – Not just for students. Employees can take their Apple and Dell devices to fixIT as well for repairs. 
  • Google Workspace is a set of collaborative tools and productivity apps, including Calendar, Chat, Drive (Docs, Sheets & Slides), Forms, Gmail and Meet. Available to all active students, faculty and staff with some restrictions for School of Medicine and specific health science departments.
  • OnePrint – provides secure, authenticated printing across the campus for faculty, staff, and students. Faculty and staff can use OnePrint Anywhere, with print charges billed to their respective VCU departments. Students and individuals can utilize OnePrint Pay, with charges deducted from their RamBucks accounts. OnePrint Pay devices are conveniently located in VCU Libraries and various spots across both campuses. For specific locations, visit OnePrint Pay Locations. For more details on the OnePrint services and how to get started visit oneprint.vcu.edu. 
  • IT Support Center – Provides comprehensive computing support for students, faculty, and staff. Online and telephone requests are accessible 24 hours a day at (804) 828-2227. 
  • LinkedIn Learning enables members to achieve personal and professional goals, including certificates in business, software, technology, and creative skills. VCU students, faculty, and staff have full access to the course library, each taught by recognized industry experts and professional leaders.
  • Möbius is a recently implemented DigitalEd product, a cloud-based learning platform designed to create and deploy STEM course materials for all modalities. With lessons, assessments, and interactive learning activities, it unfolds the potential for the STEM student to acquire knowledge at a guided yet self-defined pace.
  • TS Status – With just one click, stay updated on the real-time status of campus IT services specific to you. Enroll online today to stay informed on your personalized IT list via email and SMS.
  • VCU Student Technology website provides a one-stop location for students, where they can find information about acquiring a laptop, connecting to SafeNet wireless, software available to them,  security, and support resources. Additionally, the site offers links to other important resources such as financial aid, home internet access, printing services, campus labs and makerspaces, and more.

See more services offered by TS 

And visit the Campus Tech Guide, which lists all of the services available to students and employees that are supported by VCU Technology Services.

Thanks to all for a great start to the Fall 2024!

Leave a Reply