Information Technology
The mission of the Central Penn I.T. Department is to stay current with technology trends and make utilization of technology easier for students, faculty, and staff through advising, teaching, automation, and troubleshooting.
Resources for Students, Faculty, and Staff
- Central Pennsylvania College Information Technology (I.T.) Policy
- Discounts on Hardware and Software
- Campus Wireless Network
- Questions and Problems
- Support for Personal Hardware and Software
- Notice on Copyrighted Materials
- Frequently Asked Questions
Additional Resources for Faculty and Staff
Additional Resources for Students
For Students, Faculty, and Staff
Central Pennsylvania College Information Technology (I.T.) Policy
Approved by Dean of Students 3/15/2010
The vision of Central Pennsylvania College includes a call to embrace "today’s technology." This policy exists to further that vision and ensure all members of the Central Penn community have the information technology tools, training, and support they need to be successful.
Section 1: The Technology Partnership
The successful implementation and use of information technology requires a partnership and ongoing dialogue between students, faculty, staff, and the I.T. Department. In addition to I.T. topics, all stakeholder groups must communicate major non-I.T. initiatives to the I.T. department so it can adjust policies, procedures, personnel, system capacity, and configuration accordingly.
1.1 Students
Student I.T. needs, challenges, and ideas, and non-I.T. initiatives should be communicated through the Student Government Association. The I.T. Director will attend Student Government Association meetings upon request. Individual problems and questions should be called in to the appropriate help desk as published.
1.2 Faculty
High-impact faculty needs, challenges, ideas, and non-I.T. initiatives should be communicated through the Faculty Senate. The I.T. Director will attend Faculty Senate meetings upon request. Low-impact faculty needs should be communicated directly through meetings with the I.T. Department. Individual problems and questions should be called in to the appropriate help desk as published.
1.3 Staff
High-impact staff needs, challenges, ideas, and non-I.T. initiatives should be communicated through the Strategic Goal Facilitators (S.G.F.s). The I.T. Director will attend S.G.F. meetings upon request. Low-impact staff needs should be communicated directly through meetings with the I.T. Department. Individual problems and questions should be called in to the appropriate help desk as published.
1.4 I.T. Department
The I.T. Department mission is "stay current with technology trends and make utilization of technology easier for students, faculty, and staff through advising, teaching, automating, and troubleshooting." To support that mission, the department shall regularly gather input from stakeholders to develop plans, budgets, policies, procedures, and training. It shall communicate relevant information to the Central Penn community through a variety of media.
1.5 Technology Steering Committee
At least quarterly, the I.T. Director shall convene a task force representing the above groups to approve strategies, policies, and projects. The group shall include an S.G.F., a professor, an academic administrator, a non-academic administrator, a residential student, a non-residential student, and a graduate.
Section 2: Excellence Through Standardization
To maintain a reliable infrastructure serving thousands of stakeholders across multiple campuses, buildings, rooms, and offices requires adherence to standards for hardware, software, networks, installation, configuration, projects, changes, and security.
2.1 Hardware and software standards
With input from stakeholders, the I.T. Department shall set standards for computers, servers, printers, networks, copiers, and similar devices as well as for software to run on those devices.
2.2 Purchasing and installation standards
The I.T. Department shall purchase or otherwise acquire all hardware and software, and work with the Business Office for proper accounting of purchases and tracking of assets. To ensure compatibility, security, and reliability, all installations will be performed by I.T. Department personnel.
2.3 Safety and security standards
To maintain safe, reliable infrastructure, the I.T. Department shall set standards related to device configuration, user access privileges, network usage, virtual security, storage, and physical security of I.T. resources.
2.4 Project management methodology
The I.T. Department shall maintain an effective methodology for managing projects. The department shall use that methodology to manage all I.T. projects. In cases where another party is assigned responsibility for an I.T. project, they may either delegate management of that project to the I.T. department, or manage it using the project methodology.
2.5 Reporting standards
The I.T. Department will produce accurate, useful reports for the organization, and provide tools and training so end users can create their own reports.
2.6 Moves, add, and change process
To ensure all hardware and software is configured to the required specifications, the I.T. Department will receive, document, acquire approvals for, and administer all technology-related moves, adds, and changes.
2.7 Technical support
To maintain a consistent level of support, the I.T. Department will publish support procedures for all systems that may involve in-house and outsourced components. Both internal and external support providers will use industry best practices and document and track all requests received through the proper channels.
Section 3: Community Rights and Responsibilities
3.1 Everyone has a right to reliable systems and support.
3.2 Everyone is responsible for respecting and protecting the privacy of others, and must...
- Use only assigned accounts;
- Not view, use, or copy passwords, data, or networks to which they are not authorized;
- Not distribute passwords or similar private information about others or themselves.
3.3 Everyone is responsible for respecting and protecting the integrity, availability, and security of resources, and must...
- Observe all network security practices;
- Report security risks violations;
- Not destroy or damage data, networks, or other resources that do not belong to them;
- Conserve, protect, and share I.T. resources with others;
- Report any problems discovered as soon as possible.
3.4 Everyone is responsible for respecting and protecting the intellectual property of others, and must...
- Not infringe copyrights (no making illegal copies of music, games, or movies);
- Not plagiarize.
3.5 Everyone is responsible for respecting and practicing the principles of community, and must...
- Communicate only in ways that are kind and respectful;
- Report threatening or discomforting materials;
- Not intentionally access, transmit, copy, or create material that violates school policies (such as messages that are pornographic, threatening, rude, discriminatory, or meant to harass);
- Not intentionally access, transmit, copy, or create material that is illegal (such as obscenity, stolen materials, or illegal copies of copyrighted works);
- Not use the resources to further other acts that are criminal or violate the school's code of conduct;
- Not send spam, chain letters, or other mass unsolicited mailings;
- Not buy, sell, advertise, or otherwise conduct business, unless approved as a school project.
3.6 The I.T. Department and vendors have the right to advanced notice for move, add, and change requests.
3.7 Management has the right to view emails and other normally-private documents stored on school systems. They shall exercise this right infrequently and judiciously.
Discounts on Hardware and Software
Many online retailers offer deep discounts on hardware and software for students, faculty, and staff. Do an online search for "student discount software" or "student discount hardware."
Campus Wireless Network
The school maintains wireless connectivity to Internet for students, faculty, staff, and guests in all buildings and in many outdoor spaces. No password is required. The network name is "Central Penn."
Questions and Problems
The Central Pennsylvania College Information Technology Department and its vendors are ready to help solve any technology problems you encounter and answer any questions you might have related to school hardware, software, and systems. To take advantage of that help:
- If you encounter a problem, turn off the device, then turn it back on.
- If step one doesn’t correct the problem, please take a moment to gather some basic information:
- Exactly what you are pressing, clicking, or typing, including program names, file names, and web addresses
- Precisely how the device reacts, including the exact wording of any error messages
- When the problem first started
- Your first and last name, location you’re calling from, and a phone number or email where you can be reached.
- Call the appropriate group from the following list.
| For questions or problems related to... | Call |
|---|---|
| Microsoft programs (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Internet Explorer) | PCHelps (866) 279-2172 Open 24 hours, 7 days |
| Course websites (CentralPenn. Blackboard.com) or School email (mail.live.com) |
Presidium (866) 425-8451 Open 24 hours, 7 days |
| School copiers and printers (including toner) and projectors | PennLantic (800) 488-3545 Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm (Leave a voicemail outside those hours) |
| All other topics | Central Pennsylvania College I.T. Help Desk (866) 291-HELP (or x4357 from any campus phone) Monday-Thursday 8am-7pm, Friday 8am-5pm (Leave a voicemail outside those hours) |
- If your problem or question cannot be handled right away, ask the person logging the call for a ticket number that you can refer to on any future calls.
- If you do not receive the service level you expect, please call the Information Technology Director at (717) 728-2367 with the details and a ticket number so the school and its vendors can continually improve their service levels.
Support for Personal Hardware and Software
As a courtesy, the I.T. Department Help Desk will provide up to 15 minutes of free support for your personal computer or wireless device. If we are unable to resolve an issue within the allotted time, we will be happy to provide a referral to paid sources of support who can assist.
Notice on Copyrighted Materials
Section 3.4 of the Central Pennsylvania College Information Technology Policy says "everyone is responsible for respecting and protecting the intellectual property of others, and must not...infringe copyrights (no making illegal copies of music, games, or movies)." Section 3.5 says "everyone is responsible for respecting and practicing the principles of community, and must not intentionally access, transmit, copy, or create material that is illegal (such as obscenity, stolen materials, or illegal copies of copyrighted works)."
Sanctions for violations as outlined in the Central Penn Student Handbook, Chapter 6, may include probation, community service, suspension, or dismissal. Under federal law (17USC504), the infringer of a copyright may also be liable for either the copyright owner's actual damages and any additional profits of the infringer, or statutory damages which may range from $200 to $150,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I email instead of calling?
A: Yes, some of our help desks can be contacted via email, but calling is preferred because it allows a better dialogue between the help desk analyst and the caller. Pennlantic: info@pennlantic.com. Central Penn College I.T. Help Desk: helpdesk@centralpenn.edu.
Q: I can’t find the projector remote for a classroom. How can I get one?
A: If a remote is lost, please call the Central Penn College I.T. Help Desk with the room number and projector model, and they will attempt to order a replacement.
Q: I am a faculty or staff member, and I’d like to download or install software on my computer.
A: This service is provided by the I.T. Department. Please call us at (866) 291-HELP (or x4357 from any campus phone) with the name of the software and how the request will benefit the college.
Q: If I notice a problem with a computer or other technology, what do I do?
A: Please see the section called Questions and Problems.
Q: Where can I borrow a laptop or projector?
A: Faculty and staff can borrow these devices from the Library on the Summerdale campus.
Additional Resources for Faculty and Staff
Technology Training
The Information Technology Department provides instruction for selected technologies for faculty and staff. Watch the Central Station newsletter for upcoming classes or call to arrange individual training for you or your department.
Report, spreadsheet, and database development
The Information Technology Department can develop reports drawing data from various systems, spreadsheets to calculate and automate, and databases to house information. Please contact a representative of the department to discuss.
Automation and consulting
The I.T. Department can help you use existing systems to automate manual processes, choose new systems to meet new needs, or discuss ways to get the most out of technology. Visit any member of the team, or call to schedule an appointment.
Additional Resources for Students
Student Sign-ons
Sign-ons for new students become active within two business days after the Business Office receives a student’s deposit (or the deposit is waived).
| System | Username | Password |
|---|---|---|
| My.centralpenn.edu (grades, etc.) |
Student ID Number | Random password provided in admissions welcome packet |
| mail.live.com (student email) |
Addresses follow the form firstname.lastname@mymail.centralpenn.edu and may include a number, which can be found under ‘personal info’ on my.centralpenn.edu | Student ID Number |
| Campus wireless network "Central Penn" | None required | None required |
Computer Labs
All Central Pennsylvania college students are welcome to use the following computers for class assignments:
| Charles "T." Jones Leadership Library - Summerdale Campus | M-Th 8am-11pm, Fri 8am-6:00pm |
| ATEC - Summerdale Campus Room 300 |
Every day 8am-1am |
| Central Penn Lancaster Room 106 |
M-Th 9am-9:45pm Fri 9am-4pm |
| Central Penn Lehigh Valley Room 113 |
M, T, Th 10am-5pm W 10am-8:45pm F 10am-3pm |
