OIT Technology News: July 2024 Edition

OIT is witnessing an increasing use of personal, non-institutional AI summary technologies. We want to remind our community that it is essential that, while at work, we must all adhere to safe practices that respect all participants’ privacy. Here are some key do’s and don’ts to keep in mind.

This month, the Academic Technology Team will be offering two Ready, Set, Pony Up! Getting Started with Canvasworkshops to help you get ready for the fall term. Let’s make sure your courses (and you!) are ready to start the semester in Canvas.

Whether you’re a faculty member totally new to Canvas or other SMU academic technology, or you want a refresher before the next term, our Faculty Technology Workshops have all you need to hit the ground running and make your courses the best they can be. Let us come together and discover the latest developments and best practices for using the Canvas LMS, A.I. tools, and more in the classroom.

A major part of maintaining SMU’s web presence is ensuring that our website stands out in search engine results. Zach Peterson recently sat down with OIT’s Director for Web Application Services to go over some of the recent progress made in getting our www.smu.edu the attention it deserves in web results.

Web browser extensions have become indispensable tools for enhancing productivity, simplifying tasks, and customizing our online experience. However, these extensions also pose significant safety and security risks, which our staff, faculty, and students should be aware of.

Recently, the SMU_Guest network received an update to improve service and change the look-and-feel of the landing page. Let’s go over what to expect.

Accessibility on the web is not just a desirable feature; it is a necessity. For institutions like SMU, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, can access and navigate their web content is paramount. Behind this crucial endeavor stands Beth Andresen, the Associate Director of Web Development in Web Application Services at SMU.

Our implementation of the new email marketing platform, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, is picking up speed. Currently in phase two, we are introducing additional schools and units to the platform, with new users actively engaging in online training modules and video tutorials.

Behind the scenes, dedicated individuals have been working to establish and fine-tune SMU360, a revolutionary platform aimed at enhancing the connectivity and experience of the SMU community.