INTRODUCED SYSTEM-WIDE VIDEO ASSET MANAGEMENT TOOL
In partnership with IT leaders representing administrative and academic units from the Columbia campus, the Division of Information Technology facilitated the implementation of a video asset management software that is used by all university campuses in the system. After reviewing several systems, the TLT Advisory Committee voted unanimously to recommend Panopto. Panopto offers instructors a secure way to share video content, allows users to capture and edit videos, add caption, insert interactive video quizzes, and create video assignments. Instructors can record online meeting sessions for reuse. This addition aligns with the university’s strategic priority 4, to cultivate a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus culture. and commitment to an inclusive digital campus and improved student digital experience.
ABILITY TO JOIN EVENTS VIRTUALLY
The Media Services continued support for more than 120 onsite, virtual, and hybrid live events for the Board of Trustees, Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, commencement, divisional meetings, grievance hearings, administrative and academic meetings, retreats, special sessions, and events for executive searches and special events. The team worked diligently to ensure individuals had opportunities to participate in events, despite the restrictions of COVID-19.
The Media Services team can be seen across campus as they assist in providing virtual access to important events. The team helps broadcast awards ceremonies, meetings, commencement, and interviews.
SUPPORT OF DISTRIBUTED LEARNING COURSES
The division’s Media Services team provided continuous support of Distributed Learning program. The Distributed Learning program makes higher education more accessible and convenient for students by providing blended and online courses and programs.
The Media Service staff provided expertise and advisement for the application and technologies to enhance instruction and meet desired academic outcomes. They also provided support to hundreds of courses from initial set-up, faculty training in the use of online tools, online class monitoring, and virtual course delivery.
DECREASED IT SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS
The Infrastructure Services team worked directly with SEGRA to increase the Network Resiliency of regional campus connections. This work resulted in a significantly reduced number of service interruptions across the system. In the 2021 calendar year, 13 outages occurred; In 2022, only four have been reported. Fewer interruptions in service allow for continuous teaching and learning.
GAMECOCK iHUB OPENED
In partnership with the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, the Gamecock iHub opened in August 2021. The University of South Carolina’s Apple Authorized Campus Store is only the second in the nation to incorporate experiential learning into its business model.
Student employees from the Division of Information Technology, who underwent Apple-authorized service training, provide in-house product repair and services of personal Apple computers for USC students, alumni, and employees. The Gamecock iHub is located at 901 Sumter Street, Suite 123, on the first floor of the Byrnes Building. The hours of operation re 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
LAPTOPS MADE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS TO BORROW
When the university was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the division, in partnership with the Provost Office, began the Student Laptop Loaner Program. It is designed to assist students who are unable to purchase a laptop of their own. Students may borrow a laptop for academic purposes for an entire semester. The check-out, renewal, and support processes associated with the program were moved to the Carolina Tech Zone this fiscal year.
PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE WORKFORCE
The Division of Information Technology is proud to offer a variety of jobs to help students prepare for future careers in IT. Each year, we hire students who want to earn invaluable work experience while still in college. The division employed 67 students during this fiscal year.
Student employees from the division who work in the Carolina Tech Zone received experience Apple-authorized training to troubleshoot and repair Apple products. They assist in the Gamecock iHub — the University of South Carolina’s Apple Authorized Campus Store. They also help a variety of students, traditional and non-traditional, as show in the third photo, with computer repair. Student technicians on the IT Service Desk, shown right, receive experience in troubleshooting, customer service, and more.
Here is a sampling of the experience student employees received.
- Research Computing has six paid student interns. In addition, three high school students completed unpaid summer internships with Research Computing. The students were given significant hands-on experience in high-performance computing concepts, practices, and ideations.
- The Analytics and Data Governance Team had two interns who became known as the Tableau Tag Team. The students had very little knowledge of Tableau when they began working with the division but embarked on a journey to learn the tool and document their experience for others. Here’s a recording of them recapping their experience.
- The HCM Support Team employed one intern who was exposed to both the enhancement of and maintenance of our HCM ERP, under the mentorship of multiple HCM Senior Systems Analysts. His supervisor said, "Ian has already learned so much during his internship and is a contributing, valuable member of the team!"
- The IT Security Office employed six students whose responsibilities ranged from security monitoring, alert triage, analyzing threats, support of enterprise security solutions (example: DUO, ForeScout, and Security Awareness Training), automation development work, security policy development, and risk management.
- The Desktop Support area provided hands-on experience with troubleshooting computers issues and setting up enterprise connections to two students.
- The IT Service Desk at Carolina Tech Zone employed a number of students, who provided computer support in-person, online, and over the phone.