Fall 2024 Newsletter

Chatbot 

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Meet Danny! Look for our CSI Chatbot on the Admission, Registrar, Academic and Research and Financial Aid pages. You can directly ask Danny questions or use the convenient buttons, which have been programmed to take you to the associated web pages. Danny is always learning! Please be patient since it is an evolving system. Danny will let you know if an answer cannot be provided to a question and will provide you with an email prompt to assist you.

Thank you to the Academic and Administrative areas who assisted with this project.   

Website 

We are excited to see that the CSI home page received a facelift that aligns with the requests from the community. The new design and navigation structure was a collaborative process, which involved data analytics and surveys providing feedback from faculty, staff, and students. Thank you! 

The new structure is very flexible and will allow for modules to be replaced. It is also mobile friendly.   

Security 

IT continues to be proactive in addressing vulnerabilities and rolling out new technologies that facilitate reporting and automated upgrades. Here’s a snapshot to give you an idea! 

• A new technology called Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Module (MECM) has been implemented, which will allow IT to push out updates across the campus to address vulnerabilities. Trust me – this was not a small task. If you know anything about Microsoft, some of their technologies can be very complicated! 
• Cortex agent – Of course we must mention the firewall agent that has been installed on all machines connected to our network! A special thank you goes out to the community for your patience and compliance! 
• Let’s not forget about MAC’s, which are in a separate ballpark and require different technology to detect and address vulnerabilities. We are good here as well as we rolled out Kandji 
• Ah – MFA! How we all adore this required security protocol. Adhering to CUNY policy, we implemented the Microsoft App for all logins, made sure all computers are using FLAS/SLAS login; required MFA for external and internal VPN; just to name a few. There’s more coming so be sure to check out the coming soon section at the end of this newsletter 

LCR 

Pallets of technology have been delivered and IT has been very busy installing new computers across the campus. A monumental task for sure!
 

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Computer Labs 

• 3N115 
• 5N106 
• 1P101 
• 1P109 
• 1PTesting Room 
• 1N115 
• 1L117 

• 1S103 
• 1S108 
• 2N103 
• 3N102 
• 3N217 
• 1L212/A 
• 4N213 
• replaced the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Library with refurbished machines. 

Charging Stations

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  Charging Stations: Does your mobile device need charging? We got you covered. Look for them in all academic and administrative buildings.  

Classroom upgrades: 

Smart classroom projectors are set to be upgraded throughout the Fall semester. Additionally, connectivity will be enhanced to easily support various devices, including iPads and  MacBooks, in addition to laptops.

Faculty and Staff: 
During Phase I, which occurred over the past two years, IT started LCR with Admin building 1A, 2A, 3A followed by academic buildings. For this go round we reversed the order starting on the north side. This summer, we completed 1N-6N. Throughout the fall semester, we will continue with the South side (1S-6S), followed by 1P, 1C, 1R, 2R, 1M, 2M, 1L; ending with administration (1A, 2A, 3A.) 

AI@CSI 

Welcome to the College of Staten Island’s website on Artificial Intelligence: AI@CSI. This website can be used as a resource for faculty, staff, and students who would like to be more informed about AI. Are you exploring AI in teaching and learning? What about your research? Are you concerned about ethical practices and associated challenges?  Are you knowledgeable about how students use AI? Are there benefits for administration? What kind of AI tools are available? There is so much to cover as the world of AI continues to evolve.  AI@CSI is only the beginning of your adventure! 

A special thanks to the AI@CSI working group for their hard work and input! Fausto Canela, Valerie Forrestal, Doriann Hyland, Roman Lavrov, Dan McCloskey, Tayler Resnick ,and of course our IT Web Team! 

Capital initiatives 

• The underground fiber replacement project continues allowing for 40G of backbone connectivity to switches located in buildings throughout campus. Priority areas around 1S and 2S are underway; Additional areas are waiting on DASNY final approval. 
• Collaborative efforts with CUNY have provided replacements for our end-of-life switches. This should allow for improved connectivity and greater capacity since we are replacing switches that originally could handle 1G through put to now > 10G in some locations. Switches are currently being configured for deployment throughout the Fall semester. 

The IT Server Room
Was reconfigured for greater efficiencies; collaborative efforts with CSI electricians allowed for all systems to be placed on one side of the room. 

New Construction 

IT continues to work closely with various departments around campus to provide technology requirements. Conversations with the vendor and CSI staff and a thorough review of blueprints allow IT staff to provide technology recommendations. Projects IT worked on over the summer include the Lighthouse, Media Culture Screening Room, Career Center, and MakerSpace. 

Academic Support for… 

• Nursing students through the implementation of state-of-the-art simulation technology 
• The Registrar to assist with scheduling efficiencies 

• Take advantage of IT Training that will be customized for your department's needs.  
• Gain insight on tips and tricks that can make your daily work activities easier. Technology Training Center 
• Welcome Back Faculty Webinar – Thursday, September 19th, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
• Welcome Back Staff Webinar – Tuesday, September 24th, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm. 

BrightSpace – before you know it! January 2025 will be here – in case you missed the communication 

• Key Details 
  • New LMS Launch Date: Already available; January 2025 Winter session will be taught in Brightspace 
  • Current LMS Access Ends: Blackboard contract will no longer be available to CUNY - January 2026  
• What to Expect 
  • Improved Interface: The new LMS offers a modern and intuitive design, making it easier to navigate and access course materials 
  • Enhanced Features: You'll find new tools and resources in support of the learning journey 
  • Transition Support: We understand that change can be challenging, so we will be holding Virtual Town Halls and Training Sessions, and will be providing guides and tutorials to help you get accustomed to the new platform. In addition, separate sessions will be held for staff and faculty. 
• Next Steps 
  • Review CUNY training material that will help you navigate the new LMS: Brightspace LMS – The City University of New York (cuny.edu) 
  • Explore on your own: Your courses from Spring 2022 to present are already available in Brightspace. Also, you have access to the Brightspace sandbox. A link to the training schedule will be published in September 2024. 
  • Take a Deep Dive: Attend a Brightspace training session starting in the Fall 2024 semester. These sessions will cover specific topics on how to use Brightspace (link to register coming soon). 
  • Attend a Town Hall: You will have several opportunities to address FAQ’s. These will begin in October in preparation for the Spring 2025 go live date. 
  • Take advantage of "ask me anything/drop in virtual office hours" starting in November 2024. We will be offering a variety of times to accommodate daytime, evening, and weekend schedules.    

MFA student lab login 

MFA will be implemented in October in student labs. Students will need to respond to prompts and security questions on the computer to log in. The Microsoft App will be optional. Instructions are provided on our website 

What is your contingency plan? 

As part of our business continuity initiative, IT will visit departments to assess operations and procedures followed by recommendations to allow for continued operations in a disaster. As part of this initiative, security protocols will be implemented based on findings.