1. Complete your paperwork as soon as possible.
If you are a new faculty member at the College of Business, it is very important to get ALL of your paperwork completed and turned in ASAP. Until all paperwork is processed, you will not be paid and you will not be assigned a login ID. Without a login ID you will not be able to do the following:
The College of Business uses state-of-the-art technology. This makes it very important to get your login ID quickly in order to make use of this technology. Password and login ID sharing is strictly forbidden, so if your login ID hasn't been processed you cannot use the login ID of someone else. After your paperwork is processed, your department secretary will receive the information for your login ID and temporary password. The departmental secretary will notify you when your login ID has been created. If you forget your login ID or if you want to check if the login ID has been processed without involving someone else, you can look yourself up in the NIU electronic phone book at http://www.niu.edu/directory.shtml. Just type your name in the "Name" area and press enter. Your login ID will be specified between 'email:' and everything to the left of the @ symbol. Your NIU alias email address is specified on the first line, after your name. If you are in the NIU On-Line Phone Book, your paperwork has been processed and you are in the system. Sometimes you will be asked for your employee ID. This ID is NIU's ID for you so that you don't have to supply your social security number for everything. If you forget your employee ID you can look on your pay stub or look it up online at http://www.hr.niu.edu/peoplesoft/tools/index.cfm. Just type your name in the "Employee Lookup" area.
Once you have your login ID you will be ready to use the computer that has been assigned to you. The first time you use your computer you will be prompted to change your password. The initial password is your birthday in the form of YYYYMMDD (for example, 19730920 for September 20, 1973). It is important that you change your temporary password to a 130-day password as soon as possible. You only have three grace logins after your initial login, which is what's allowed for the temporary password. If you exceed this number, you will be locked out of the system. If you login on a computer other than your own, you may not be prompted to change your password. If this happens, it is recommended that you force your password to be changed by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete and choose "Change password" in the resulting Netware Security dialog box.
Another method for changing your temporary password is to do so online. If you are locked out of the system, Information Technology Services ("ITS") recommends you try to reset your password online before calling ITS for assistance. The COB's Technology Resources Department, at 752-TECH, will be more than happy to help you with this procedure if you so desire. The steps would be to login to a computer as workstation only and then open Internet Explorer to the following ITS password reset page: http://www.password.niu.edu. If you have difficulty in remembering passwords, don't hesitate to use the password hint area of this Web site. If you are unable to get your password changed online, you can call (815) 753-8100 and the ITS Helpdesk will be more than happy to reset the password for you. A temporary password will be given to you. The first time you login with the new temporary password, you will need to change the password to something that you can remember. Hints for passwords are located at http://www.helpdesk.niu.edu/its/accounts/password.shtml. Please be advised that your password must be 8 characters long and contain a mix of letters and numbers. The password you pick cannot start with a number, but must contain at least one number. Passwords expire every 130 days, so if you decide to leave your computer logged in with a screen saver password, don't forget to change your password before the expiration date so that you don't get locked out.
2. Request computer set-ups and specialized software needs as soon as possible.
If there is some software missing from the computer issued to you and you would like to have this software installed, please be aware that some software can be installed at minimal cost to your department through the site licenses NIU has in place. Check out the ITS Web Page at http://www.its.niu.edu/its/asp2/sdlist/ to view a list of software available. Just as an example, Adobe Acrobat (the full version, not just the viewer) is currently available for $62.00 per license. This license would be ordered by your department (at the expense of your department) and then can be installed by Tech Resources by filling out the form at http://www.cob.niu.edu/cobtech/ComputerServices.asp. Simply specify that this is a request to have software installed in the "Other software to be installed" area. Sometimes the requested software is already available in Tech Resources. In that case you can just provide proof of license and we can use our CD to install the software. However, it might be more advantageous for you to go through ITS so that you are assured of getting the most current version of the software.
If there is software missing from the lab computers, submit a request to COBTech@niu.edu to have it installed. Please keep in mind that this process has a rather large lead time attached to it. Some requests cannot be processed until the following semester. Each request is processed on a case-by-case basis. Every spring semester, current faculty members are asked to review the software currently in the Barsema Hall labs and notify Tech Resources if there are any required changes. Please do not ignore these requests because doing so can result in software being excluded from the computer lab image.
If you would like to introduce new software into the main COB computing labs, your request must be submitted through COBTech@niu.edu. The licensed software that you would like installed must be accompany your request (the software will be returned to you). ITS' Client Development Department will test the software to ensure compatibility. Before rolling it out to the computer BH labs, it must be tested by the faculty member who initiated the request, or his/her designee. That test station is located in Tech Resources, BH 228. You will need to request a Z-ID from ITS, if you don't already have one, in order to login as a student. Though this procedure is, normally, performed during the late spring to early summer period, we will try our best to accommodate those emergency requests.
3. Utilize the streamlined Blackboard course management system.
As mentioned above, NIU uses Blackboard, a Web-based course management system, designed to streamline course delivery. Using Internet Explorer, you can access Blackboard at http://webcourses.niu.edu from anywhere. As an instructor, you decide which Blackboard tools and features you would like to use to make your Blackboard site most useful. Once your login ID and 130-day password are set up, you may access Blackboard. College of Business faculty members need only request Blackboard assistance by emailing COBTech@niu.edu. As a Blackboard service to our faculty, Tech Resources offers “open lab” walk-in hours at the beginning of each semester. Visit http://www.cob.niu.edu/blackboard/ for additional information that may assist you in setting up and maintaining your Blackboard course site.
4. Sign up for training on the classroom podiums.
Technology Resources (“Tech Resources”) also offers training on the podiums in the classrooms. There are three different Barsema classroom technology configurations: Standard/Large, Auditorium and Tiered. Instructions are available on line at:
However, these instructions are not intended to replace the need for training, but for supplementing the training received. If an instructor teaches in multiple classrooms, this may require training on multiple technology configurations. For obvious reasons, the code for opening the cabinet doors and drawers cannot be posted on the Web. This code is part of the training that Tech Resources provides.
Training is necessary to eliminate “guessing” when using the equipment. If individuals are guessing on settings, they may accidentally change settings which could cause certain features to no longer work. If you are sponsoring a student organization and a student organization member needs to use our technology, please ask this person to contact Tech Resources for training.
Returning faculty may attend a training session as well, if so desired. To schedule an appointment for podium training, please send an email to COBTech@niu.edu with the room you would like to be trained in and a preferred time, and we will do our best to accommodate you. Please be sure to schedule your training before your first day of class so that you can feel comfortable with the technology and know how to use it properly. Also, in the near-future, the Tech Resources Department plans on making classroom training videos available, for your convenience.
5. Enter your vita information into Sedona.
The College of Business is AACSB accredited. In order to help the College of Business generate reports needed for accreditation, Sedona software has been purchased. This software is available at https://www.sedona.bz/. You may contact COBTech@niu.edu to find out what your login ID and password are. Once you have accessed the system for the first time, it is recommended to change the password to something that is easy for you to remember. To have a password reminder, don't hesitate to contact COBTech@niu.edu.
Every faculty member's vita information must be entered into Sedona in order to make the AACSB reports complete. Pat Myers, from the Dean's Office, will enter the initial vita information into the Sedona system. After this initial data entry, faculty members are encouraged to make their own updates. To help in the process, there are several ways to learn how to maintain your personal information.
Sedona contains an online tutorial which can be accessed by clicking on the “Tutorial” button on the first page after logging into Sedona. If you don't want to run the entire tutorial, just hold down the Ctrl key and click on a button that you want the tutorial for, and the tutorial for just that section will be activated.
Tech Resources also offers assistance with Sedona. Stop by our suite and ask for Patty or Ilga.
6. Submit a photo (or have one taken) for the online directory and your personnel page.
The College of Business Web Site contains a picture of most faculty and staff at http://www.cob.niu.edu/direct/photogal.asp. This page will help you connect a name with the faces you may see around Barsema Hall. It would be greatly appreciated if all new faculty and staff would provide Tech Resources with a photo which would be scanned and then placed on this Web page. If you don't have a photo that you would like to provide, Tech Resources has a digital camera to create a photo for you. You may call (815)752-TECH or email us at COBTech@niu.edu to set up an appointment.
Along with the photo, each faculty and staff member has information listed on a personnel page. This page is available from a link on the College of Business online directory at http://www.cob.niu.edu/direct/ by clicking on the “more” link. Again, it would be appreciated if new faculty and staff provide Tech Resources with this information. An online form is provided at http://www.cob.niu.edu/cobtech/webpersonnelform.asp, for your convenience. This form can also be used whenever you need to update your information. If you are supplying an update, don't forget to fill in the name information so that we know who is making the request.
7. Refresh your memory of useful programs with new training software and tutorials.
The COB has purchased licenses for Prentice Hall Publishing's Train & Assess IT to help address the college's computer training needs. The Microsoft Office 2003 training kits include a user's guide, two CDs and a Train & Assess IT access code for registration and assessment. The computer-based training software allows you to complete Train & Assess IT from anywhere you have a computer. The training kits are available for checkout in the Tech Resources office, at BH 228. You will need to show your NIU OneCard and provide your Z-ID if you are a student. The software provides training in Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Internet Explorer and fundamental computer concepts.
Tech Resources also has online help at http://www.cob.niu.edu/cobtech/training.asp that covers HTML coding.
8. Make yourself aware of all the resources that are available to you.
The College of Business Web Site contains an A-Z index, which is available at http://www.cob.niu.edu/a-z/. If you would like to add College of Business links to this index, a request can be made online at http://www.cob.niu.edu/a-z/requestform.asp.
There are other resources that our department provides that you may not be aware of. For example, Tech Resources has notebook PCs, a document camera, a projector and several digital cameras that can be checked out for business purposes. If you need batteries, dry erase markers, or other supplies for the classroom, these are also provided by Tech Resources, in BH 228.
In addition, Tech Resources is responsible for making sure your office computer and podium computer run smoothly. If you have any questions or encounter any problems, don't hesitate to contact us. If your request is for setting up a new computer, the form for making this request is located at http://www.cob.niu.edu/cobtech/ComputerServices.asp. A list of our specialized forms is provided in the A-Z index under forms, or also available at the following URL: http://www.cob.niu.edu/a-z/forms.asp.
9. Post your announcements on our electronic announcement system.
Barsema Hall has an electronic announcement system that is available for posting business-related announcements. To see the current announcements, take a look at the monitors that are located around Barsema Hall or visit the Web page at http://www.cob.niu.edu/announcements/. If you have an announcement that you feel should be placed on this system, don't hesitate to request them using the online form at http://www.cob.niu.edu/barsema/announce.asp. Barsema Hall building policy states that paper-based announcements (e.g. flyers, posters, etc.) are NOT to be taped or displayed on walls, posts, tables, desks and other furniture in Barsema Hall.
10. Share and keep up to date with important COB news and events.
If you are aware of news that you feel should be included on the College of Business Web Site, don't hesitate to email the information and/or request to COBTech@niu.edu. We are always looking for information to be put in our “What's New?” area of the College of Business Home Page at http://www.cob.niu.edu/.
11. Drop in and see us with your concerns during our extended hours.
Due to a significant amount of positive feedback, we will, again, offer after-hours support for COB's faculty, staff and students. This fall, our official departmental hours of operation are from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Monday through Thursday and from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Friday.
12. Report any facility management issues to keep Barsema Hall in peak condition.
If there are facility management issues that you need to report, such as a lab or classroom door that won't stay open; a classroom or office temperature setting that needs adjusting; a leaky faucet in your suite; plaques being hung, etc., please don't hesitate to submit the request through COBTech@niu.edu.