IT hot topic: When to use Wildcat ID (WID), Student ID (SID) numbers
by E. Unger, Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Services and Technology
published Aug. 29, 2006
Due to a new Kansas law, Social Security numbers were removed from student,
faculty, and staff identification cards this year and replaced with a Wildcat ID
Number (WID). The number was assigned to each K-Stater for identification
purposes. The WID is located in the top left corner of K-State ID cards. All
WIDS begin with the digit "8".
This nine-digit number is permanently assigned by K-State to uniquely identify
each member of the campus community (including students, faculty, staff, and
affiliated individuals) throughout his/her association with K-State.
The SID is a nine-digit student ID number assigned by K-State to each student.
Typically, the SSN is used as the SID number. Two exceptions to this policy are
international students and students who request an alternative number.
We are working on solutions to providing both numbers for faculty and
staff. In
the near future, faculty and staff will be able to sign in to KATS in the
Advising and Section Permission menus, and the DARS menu will accept either the
WID or the SID. K-State Online will have both the SID and WID posted in the roster.
The SID will remain necessary in SIS until the rollout of the new student
information system. Also, the SID will continue to be used for
- Accessing information in SIS
- Completing a Grade Change Report form
- Accessing DARS via the DARwin client
For more information about these numbers, see
Understanding K-State IDs.
Status of K-State's wireless access
by N. Beemer, R. Owens, and R. Gould, IT staff
published Aug. 29, 2006. updated 2:05 p.m. Sept. 26, 2006
K-State's networking team is investigating the use of new
wireless technology that addresses capacity in high-density environments
such as classrooms and the student union. This fall, Meru wireless
equipment is being pilot-tested in the K-State Student Union and
Nichols Hall. It also allows for 802.11b and g clients to coexist on
the same network at their respective native speeds, increasing
overall performance.
How much wireless is available at K-State?
There are more than 600 access points on the Manhattan campus. Currently, 44 buildings on
the Manhattan and Salina campuses have some or complete wireless access.
Sixty-seven percent of the general-use classrooms on the Manhattan campus are covered with
wireless. Other areas where wireless is available include the Alumni Center,
College Court, Dole Hall, Hale Library, the K-State Student Union, Bosco
Commons, and Coffman Commons. On the Salina campus, 100 percent of the academic
areas and residence halls are wireless.
Wireless connectivity is more widespread in the residence halls this fall,
with wireless up and running in Boyd, Ford, Goodnow, Haymaker, Marlatt, Moore, Putnam, Smurthwaite, Van Zile, and West halls.
At one point in the past week, 650 users were
accessing wireless in the residence halls simultaneously.
All K-Staters: Major battery recall by Apple and Dell
by C. Loehr, K-State Student Union Computer Store
published Aug. 29, 2006
Within the past few weeks, both Apple and Dell have announced recalls on laptop batteries.
Apple is recalling 1.8 million batteries, while Dell is recalling 4.1 million. These are
lithium-ion batteries produced by Sony.
Apple and Dell have both set up websites to answer any questions and to set up free exchange:
Consumers need to contact Apple or Dell directly. Do not contact a service center or reseller,
as the exchanges are being handled directly through Apple and Dell.
Faculty/staff: Mercury testing products available
by B. Kuntz, Information Systems Office
published Aug. 29, 2006
Two software applications from the Mercury suite of testing products are now available to faculty/staff. The products
help to assess project health as well as expedite routine and mundane data-loading and application-testing activities.
- Mercury Quick Test Professional provides for functional-test and regression-test
automation for major software applications and environments. It
can be used for both testing and data-loading activities.
The tool essentially works just like human interaction, by creating
a script to perform repetitious testing activities against various
data sets or to load mountains of data into a given application or system.
- Mercury Test Director allows the user or project team to
deploy high-quality applications quickly and effectively. It provides a
consistent, repeatable process for gathering requirements; planning and
scheduling tests; analyzing results; and managing defects and issues. This
is a single, web-based application for use in all essential
aspects of test management -- requirements management, test planning, test
execution, and defects management.
Five concurrent licenses are available for each product and can be
accessed by receiving a local copy or working directly on the
ISO test lab
computers. Resources for each product have been created in K-State Calendar and
can be scheduled prior to use, much like a conference room. For further
documentation, initial training, and general assistance with these tools,
contact Ashley Wondra (amason@k-state.edu) or Brian Kuntz
(kuntz@k-state.edu).
Continuing-education conference Oct. 19-21
by M. Sinn, Division of Continuing Education
published Aug. 29, 2006
K-State faculty and administrators involved in the delivery of
continuing education, both credit and non-credit, will want to
attend the Mid-America and Great Plains Joint Regional
University Continuing Education Association Conference scheduled
Oct. 19-21 in Kansas City. The conference will be
at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center and the Kansas
City Marriott Country Club Plaza Hotel. Conference sessions will
focus on the theme "Continuing Education-Innovative Solutions."
Concurrent session topics include online learning,
non-credit career training, marketing to the adult student,
collaborating with other institutions, and many other topics in
support of lifelong learning. Ron Cervero, professor of adult
education at the University of Georgia, will present the keynote
address Oct. 19 titled "Designing our Destiny." Judith
Cone from the Kauffman Foundation will lead the closing session
on "Reaching out to Make a Difference".
For more information about the conference or to carpool with other
K-Staters, contact Jennifer Sommers, 785-532-2581,
jsommers@k-state.edu.
Security tip: Inform yourself about identity theft
by H. Townsend, interim K-State IT security officer
published Aug. 29, 2006
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that identity fraud in its
various forms affects 10 million people a year at a cost of $50 billion
to businesses, and victims of identity theft have spent $5 billion
trying to undo the harm.
The FTC has produced an excellent
10-minute video
as part of their "Deter-Detect-Defend" campaign to help consumers avoid becoming a victim
of identity theft. They interview actual victims of identity theft and
provide excellent, practical information on prevention, detection, and
what to do if you become a victim. Other useful resources are available
from the FTC at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. We urge you to take time to
educate yourself and follow the recommendations so you do not become one
of the 10 million victims this year.
IT by the numbers: LISTSERV e-mail stats
by L. Albertson, Computing and Network Services
published Aug. 29, 2006
The evening of Wednesday, Aug. 23, K-State's LISTSERV system sent:
- 88,000 e-mails sent in a span of two hours
- 60,000 of the e-mails were sent in a 10-minute time span and were due to three mass e-mailings
- 60 minutes to process the 60,000 e-mails, which is about 17 e-mails delivered per second
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