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Going Greek at Metro is more than a toga party
By Lou Christopher
achris25@mscd.edu

Photo by Amie Cribley • acribley@mscd.edu Leslie Miranda recieves help from Olivia Milner on resetting her computer password at the West Classroom computer lab. Students and faculty were required to change their passwords per Information Technology’s new policies, which went into effect Jan. 3.

Metro’s Department of Information Technology recently implemented several new security measures and a print policy and was the first department to begin the Campus Climate Initiative.

The security measures include stronger password requirements for MetroConnect and the Banner Web registration tool, and limiting access to sensitive data on Banner, according to George Middlemist, interim IT vice president.

“It went better than expected,” Middlemist said about the password changes. “Everyone figured it out.”

Middlemist said there were lessons learned and slight issues, however. MetroConnect and Banner users who changed their passwords did so at first by trial and error, as there were no specific instructions as to what characters the new passwords could contain.

IT is now working with the Office of College Communications to create posters that will outline all the requirements for new passwords.

Another security measure implemented was limiting access to sensitive data such as social security numbers. Middlemist said some departments, such as Financial Aid, must have access to this data, but those who didn’t need access no longer have it.

While still in the works, the IT print policy is also coming to realization. Middlemist said this semester would be the final testing ground of the policy, and it will go into full effect during the summer semester.

The policy places a print limit of 500 pages per semester on each student in Metro computer labs or anywhere else on campus a student must log in. Printing in color will put the limit below 500 pages.

If a student goes over the limit, there will be no charge this semester, Middlemist said. He added that over the summer the charge would likely be 5 cents per black-and-white page over the 500-page limit and 10 cents per color page.

Middlemist said the idea is not to generate income for IT.

“I want students to think about it,” he said, referring to what and how much students print, so as to reduce paper waste and become more environmentally-minded.

Middlemist said that if extra money were generated because of the program, it would be given to the student government to be used for environmental concerns on campus, such as the solar panel project.

He added that the system could be tweaked for different majors and credit hours taken.

Also new to the IT department is the introduction of the Campus Climate Initiative, a schoolwide program intended to be a proactive way to improve the campus climate and diversify the campus community, according to an e-mail sent by Metro President Stephen Jordan.

IT will be the first program to undergo the initiative.

“Maybe I’m just lucky,” Middlemist said about being the first department to be analyzed.

Middlemist said IT had a specific need to be addressed and they were willing to be the first to tackle their issues, including a lack of gender diversity within the department.

Middlemist said there is about a 4 to 1 male-to-female ratio in IT at Metro.

“We want to make women feel like they are as much a part of the staff as anyone,” Middlemist said. He added he doesn’t just want the gender issue to be resolved, but for IT to come out of this with better working relationships and communication skills for everyone.