Emergency Notification System – In August 2007, C&C purchased the 3N Emergency Notification System for the UCR campus. Currently, preparations are underway for a Fall/Winter rollout to the campus. In its debut this fall, the system will use SMS and e-mail as a means of communications. To follow, there will be the incorporation of messaging via direct dial (audio message), direct placement of audio messages in voice mail boxes and Instant Messaging (IM). C&C has created web sites for students, staff, and faculty to provide cell phone numbers, alternate e-mail addresses, and other emergency information. C&C will host this data on campus and export it to the vendor for off campus storage and use. C&C is preparing a web page describing this vision, campus efforts, and progress towards deployment.

Classroom Incubator – In the fall of 2007/2008, C&C, in conjunction with the Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education, will open a first of its kind teaching facility at UCR, known as the “Classroom Incubator”. This experimental teaching facility will be a 24 seat, flexible learning space that is an advanced version of UCR’s current “flexible classroom”. The room, with its movable furniture, is designed to support traditional classroom arrangement as well as a myriad of breakout configurations for small group collaboration. This room has 5 distinct video outputs, a 4 plasma panel video wall, a 3M Video Wall (mobile), a BenQ 3D projector and 2 High resolution video projectors. Through the use of Team Spot software, all students will be equipped for any and all displays via the classroom provided tablet PC’s. There is a supporting mini-grant process to encourage faculty participation in this program.

CHASS Interdisciplinary Building – 13 New General Assignment Classrooms – The new College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences building will house 13 new general assignment/smart classrooms ranging in size from 300 to 30 seats. 10 of the classrooms will become “Flex” classrooms with moveable furniture, multiple projectors and other accoutrements for varied instructional working groups and innovative instruction. Floor plans and photographs of these rooms can be viewed at, http://www.cnc.ucr.edu/classrooms/. These classrooms were deployed as a learning tool that would support traditional lecture but also lend itself to any number of creative arrangements and approaches to learning.

Collaboration Tools – The Institutional Technology Group has developed a suite of Collaboration Tools for faculty and staff, within their communities, to be used for communication, research and instruction. The full suite includes: Web 2.0, Wiki’s, Blogs, IM, Discussion Boards, Document Management and Web Space to further facilitate the proliferation of the Blackboard program. Additionally, C&C is seeking funding for a Blackboard Community module which would allow faculty to create Communities as needed with all tools already integrated and available within each community.

RIAA – UCR continues to be vigilant in our campaign to prevent illegal sharing of copyrighted material by students, faculty and staff. In an effort to reduce potential copyright infringements, in April 2007, UCR partnered with Ruckus (2.5 million songs) to provide free and legal music downloads from the Internet. This has been a successful campaign with 1402 users and a total of 348,739 downloads recorded. Additionally, we are continuing to improve our DMCA Notification processes, as well as Preservation and Settlement Letter procedures.

Policy and Security – Given the ever increasing importance of UCR's electronic systems, communications, and infrastructure, C&C has developed a suite of Best Practice tools for the campus regarding electronic communications and data security. In particular, C&C is developing a website for Best Practices for Departments as they relate to the ECP (email access and the use of mail groups, file storage and file sharing recommendations). In addition, UCR recognizes the importance of Security for Research Data and providing a comprehensive resource for faculty. Lastly, C&C is providing Best Practices for Data Sanitization which include: erasing/over-writing, degaussing and the physical destruction of files.

ITFS Frequency Licensing –   C&C has completed negotiations in a landmark agreement between UCR and Sprint/Nextel for the leasing of excess capacity for our Education Broadband Services (EBS) frequencies. The contract between UCR and Sprint/Nextel was fully executed on August 29, 2007. The initial term is 10 years. The agreement will renew for up to two (2) successive terms of ten (10) years for a maximum of thirty (30) years. C&C is currently in the process of submitting the application for FCC approval of the licensing agreement and anticipates completion before the end of the month. Financials exceeds all expectations.

Rates and Approvals – C&C introduced a Communications Worker Fee in 2002 – 2003. Since that time, the rate has remained at $20.75 for full time staff. As voice / data convergence continues (common fiber, copper, etc. carrying both voice, data, and multimedia traffic), the fee-for-service methodology supporting these services must also continue to converge. C&C has thus introduced a combined voice / data rate for pilot users of converged services. Line service fee plus CWF for last year was $44.39 and the combined service costs for this year is $44.57.

RFP/Border Router – Monday, September 24, 2007 an RFP for new Border Routers will be published. The objective of this change is to support Internet growth and make more 10 gigabit interfaces possible. This will also directly support connections to the redesigned CalREN HPR network.

Data Center Update – C&C has added an additional UPS (Uninterrupted Power System) to reduce the load on the primary UPS and upgrade the circuits to account for the current load.

Enterprise Backup – There are short and long term plans to improve back up of enterprise systems. Short term goals involve stabilizing the current system. The long term goal is to continue migrating the back up method from a disc to tape process to a disc to disc process. Additionally, we have deployed a cross training effort to cover backup coverage.

DNS – (Domain Name System) In an effort to increase the safety and security of our networks, C&C is implementing a split DNS. Long term goals for DNS involve a search for open source and commercial solutions to provide a tighter coupling of DNS and DHCP.

Identity Management – This semester, C&C has integrated Extension students and instructors into the IdM. This is the first time ALL UCR students, faculty and staff will share full access to the same programs. Previously, the Extension group was supported under its own umbrella.

Log Management Systems – C&C is enhancing the infrastructure to collect and log information in a central place in order to identify problems and notify appropriate staff in a timely and efficacious manner. In addition, C&C is working with other campuses to identify “Best Practices” for log management.

Web Proxy – The campus web proxy was decommissioned and replaced by the Cisco WebVPN system. C&C will upgrade this service in September, implementing the Cisco ASA5540.

Packeteer Upgrade – C&C has upgraded the Packeteer Traffic Shaper.

• Packetshaper 9500 (in front of dorms) and Packetshaper 8500 (in front of wireless) was replaced by Packetshaper 10,000 and Packetshaper 9500 respectively.
• The Packeteer upgrade increases speed from 200Mbps full-duplex to 620Mbps full- duplex.