| Event or Service | Improvements possible next year |
| Early computer distribution | |
| Preconfigured new computers | |
Set-up documentation:
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| Creating Zoo accounts at Orientation | |
| Help Fairs during first week | |
| Help available at distribution sites | student with non-UVM computers may not have known |
| Digital Junction present to install adapters |
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| Expanded Help Line hours | |
| Zoo password changes in 113 Waterman lab | bar code feed |
| Zoo account creation Web pages | - YYMMDD birthdate format tripped up many;
- International students data not in system or not correct |
| Close collaboration between Residential Life and CIT | |
| Early presence of Satellite consultants | |
| Greater student computing ability | those with little ability that fall through the cracks? |
| PTS | |
| DHCP | |
| Pat Brown's move-in volunteers helping with computer distribution | |
| uvm welcome t-shirts | Need some 3X size |
| lots more went well ... |
| What we wanted students to know or do | What students heard and did | What we can do next time |
| Preinstall and test Ethernet adapter | Get an Ethernet adapter when you get to campus; I can use my modem; bought adapters (sometimes incorrect ones) at University Store and didn't know how to install; Help Line talked through installations by phone (~30 minutes each), students needed help with drivers | |
| Get setup instructions from main desk | What setup instructions? | Hand out at checkin? |
| Follow one-sheet instructions for setting up UVM computer | Ignored | |
| Set up your own computer | Unable to follow pictorial documentation from manufacturer |
| What we said to do | What students actually did | What we can do next time |
| - | Brought too-short network cables, or modem cables | University Store carry plent of 40-50' cables |
| Don't get a printer | Bought 260+ printers; USB problems with Windows | buy and test the printer we're selling; no Thinkpads? |
| Don't bring no-name computers | My dad has a friend in the business who built this great computer for me. But it doesn't work. | ? |
| Lengthy and difficult (for some) setup procedures for non-UVM-purchased computers; buy computer from UVM | Brought brand-new non-UVM computers and printers, having no experience (or confidence) even with physical set-up | ? |
| Students need to set up their computers themselves (to learn how and be independent) | Parental take-over; often accompanied by bypassing setup guides | ? |
| Call the Help Line |
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Telephone system will be fixed; more staff via ACD?; continue with voicemail and email greetings setting expectations; emphasize at Orientation (or when?) that response will take time with 10,000 students suddenly here |
| What | How it worked | Improvements |
| UVM is Wired | ||
Orientation invitations
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Orientation
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| Web FAQ and planning guide on CIT Web pages and in print |
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| Info to students at move-in | ||
| Proponent or suggester | Idea | How it differs from Opening 1999 |
| RAL | Friday (move-in day) distribution start later and end later | Peak hours started at 9; some people came to pick up computers as we were reloading trucks |
| DJW | Help fairs M-T-W instead of T-W-Th | Thu attendance was low |
| DJW | Simplify messages; find right time for each piece of advice or requirement; make ir memorable; focus on things with greatest impact (a splashy "top five?") | Although we limited our messages to what seems really essential, conversations with students show that some were unprepared because they had missed much of our valuable advice |
| DJW | Computing ability requirement | We said students were responsible to know how to use their computers; many arrived with very low proficiency and were unable to follow setup guides |
| DJW/EM | Jack testing; spare minihubs for temporary use in doubles where a bad jack is found | Some (few) dead jacks found, causing student confusion in setup and problem diagnosis |
| NC | Include Business Administration in Help Fairs | Business students had to be referred to BSAD, the next day |
| NC | Computer distribution after parents leave | Presence of parents on move-in day had positive and negative effects |
| NC | Business computer distribution totally from Kalkin | Business comptuers distributed with everyone else over two days |
| DJW | Returning students | |
| DLRH | Avoid conflict with summer jobs by starting later; extra day to settle
in on campus. Keep them occupied with Computer Distribution, Computer
support seminars, Getting Started seminars, Getting a job, Training sessions for existing hires, A Job Fair. |
Students had trouble finishing summer jobs and getting to campus, especially those we need to hire to work essential jobs the first weekend. |
| ARG | video or training session prior to the students picking up their new computer | some students confused about set-up |
| SJC | work on SATURDAY and SUNDAY
if that would - disarm the confused and confusing parents (too much separation anxiety) - denoise the air, allowing people to READ the instructions (reading is a skill they will need very shortly!) - coincide with a "plug in day" - with the vendor having the additional cables ? - putting cables in every room BEFORE the students
- allow organizing the satellites for installation help (propellor beanies) |
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| SJC | redesigning the computing Orientation:
- less "overview" - more "nitty gritty" - This ain't your fathers (mothers) internet - This ain't your fathers (mothers) friends internet - a "modem free campus" - advertise "virtual printing" - emphasize "notebook" computers - the packing case model - 4 students + 4 notebooks in 1 honda civic - 1 student + 1/2 desktop in 1 honda civic |
Last revised: 30 September, 1999
Questions? Send e-mail to the author.
Author: Dean Williams
Computing and Information Technology, http://www.uvm.edu/cit/
Copyright 1999 The University of Vermont