Apple released macOS 11, also known as “Big Sur,” on Thursday, November 12. This is a major upgrade to their current operating system.

Information Technology Services (ITS) strongly encourages you NOT to install Big Sur for the following reasons:

1. We need time to test and ensure systems and software used by Denison University are compatible with Big Sur. ITS is already aware of a few applications which may be negatively affected.
2. It is a technologically complex semester, and we’re all approaching the end! Additionally, during the semester is not an ideal time to make a major change to your computer and risk messing something up that is currently working.

ITS will complete further testing and will update this post after the end of the semester.

Please note, if you choose to update your macOS, it is imperative you back-up your system prior to upgrade. If you store important files only on your computer hard drive, your data are at risk for loss or corruption – whether from hardware or software failure, virus infection, or theft. To protect important data, please adopt a recommended file storage location or backup approach.

If you have questions, please contact the ITS Service Desk at servicedesk@denison.edu or 740-587-6395.

Update 11:05 AM:
All maintenance has been successfully completed.

Original Post:

Denison Information Technology Services (ITS) will be applying Banner updates on Saturday, October 31, 2020 from 6:00 AM – 11:00 AM EDT that will impact access to Banner and related systems (all environments). Users will not be able to access these services during this time.

Affected services (all environments) include:

• Banner Admin Pages
• Banner Self-Service
• Xtender
• Jaggaer (e-procurement)
• Cognos
• MyDenison content that relies on Banner data

This post will be updated when the maintenance is complete. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the ITS Service Desk at servicedesk@denison.edu or 740-587-6395.

Information Technology Services (ITS) has discovered an issue in Cognos while using newer versions of Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. The issue is outlined below:

Issue:
Buttons are unresponsive in the User Interface. For example, if you run a report and a prompt is generated and you make a selection then attempt to hit OK or Finish, nothing happens.

Temporary Workaround:
Use Internet Explorer (IE) if your favored browser is rendering this issue. Note: IE is different from Edge. You may need to search your programs to find IE by using your Windows search for Finder on a Mac.

Long Term Fix:
Upgrade Cognos. Next week we will begin the necessary steps to upgrade and patch Cognos and will communicate when those patches will be released.

If you have questions, please contact the ITS Service Desk at 740-587-6395 or servicedesk@denison.edu.

Over the past month, Zoom has added a number of new features.

You must be on the latest Zoom version to take advantage of these features.

To update Zoom, navigate to the Zoom desktop application, select your Profile in the top right corner and select Check for Updates. (For more detailed instructions, see Zoom’s update video and article.)

Denison classrooms and labs will receive a Zoom update the evening of Thursday, October 15, 2020. New features will be available in spaces on Friday, October 16, 2020.

Highlighted Features

• Self-Select Breakout Rooms – Want to allow your participants to pick a breakout room based on a topic of interest to them? Now you can with the self-select breakout rooms feature. If desired, you can pre-assign or manually assign some individuals to breakout rooms so you have discussion leaders in each room and then allow other participants to self-select.
• Multi-Spotlight – Want to focus everyone’s view on meeting participants that are serving as presenters, panelists, etc.? Use the multi-spotlight feature! This will make the thumbnails for the selected individuals large in the main window. You can spotlight up to 9 participants. All other participant videos appear as small thumbnails in the band above. This will be the view for ALL participants that are on a current version of the Zoom desktop app.
• The Multi-Pin feature works the same as Multi-Spotlight but affects only your view.
• The Custom Gallery Organization feature allows you to drag and drop participant thumbnails so they appear in your desired order within the Gallery view. If you want all participants to see the same order, all you need to do is click the View icon and select Follow Host’s Video Order. When you want to return control of the video view to participants, click Follow Host’s Video Order again to remove the check. To return to the default gallery order, select Release Video Order.

For a full feature list, visit the Zoom Release Notes page to learn more. For a curated selection of Zoom resources, please see the Resources section of the MyDenison Zoom page.

If you have Zoom questions, please contact the ITS Service Desk at servicedesk@denison.edu or 740-587-6395.

In partnership with Information Technology Services (ITS) and Risk Management/Environmental Health and Safety, Denison has provided computer cleaning kits to all teaching spaces with technology and to computer labs across campus.  Anyone who uses technology in these spaces is asked to follow the posted computer cleaning instructions.

Microfiber cloths are being distributed weekly to spaces and arranged with the building’s coordinator. If you find a space is low on spray or microfiber cloths, please complete the supply request form and someone will coordinate a replenishment of materials. Please place used cloths in the marked buckets that are provided in each space.

Please keep in mind some best practices:

• Do not spray directly on any item, please only spray onto the cleaning cloth.
• Place used microfiber cloth in the provided used bucket for laundry service pickup.
• Please do not remove bottles from their designated room. If a bottle needs a refill, please fill out the supply request form.
• Do not throw trash or other materials other than used microfiber cloths into the marked used bucket. Please dispose of tissues and paper towels in the garbage can.