Distributed Technology Support
Distributed Technology Support
Distributed Technology Support is an informal designation created by University Technology Services to create a community of practice for information technology professionals employed in various campus roles outside the central information technology organization. The Distributed Technology Support (DTS) role is not formal and is not maintained by University Human Resources. Positions in the DTS role are self-identified, identified by a supervisor, or identified through historical transitions. The CIO has maintained the DTS employee list for a variety of purposes, including answering higher education surveys about staff support.
Purpose
The purpose of this document is to provide documentation about the Distributed Technology Services role and support model.
Members of the Distributed Technology Support Staff
Members of the informal Distributed Technology Support group are best identified by reviewing the DTS Google Group. We have found over time that the best place to keep a single maintained definitive list is through the email group contact list.
DTS Roles and Responsibilities
Job roles and responsibilities for DTS members vary. There is no standard role or position description. In fact, there are as many position descriptions as staff members, as Oakland University practices a position description environment that supports individual input and local design. In general, there are some common groups, although there are variations and blendings in each group:
- General desktop support
- Deployed fleet desktop support, such as a computer lab or public group
- Helpdesk services, which involves taking questions and providing information services and support
- Local reporting including design and development of reports
- Data scripting for file feed export/transfer/load projects
- Development and support of e-learning systems and solutions
- Development and support of classroom or other presentation system
- Support for local applications, sometimes including being a specialist on a local application
- Providing expert support on systems and data for a specific unit
Helpdesk Teams
A helpdesk is generally a team that provides answers, services, and support to a contact group. Many of our contact groups involve students as clients. Some involve providing a base level of services to faculty as clients. Note that all DTS members do not work on helpdesk teams. All helpdesk team members may not have been disclosed or may not have elected to participate in DTS activities. We have several helpdesks at Oakland University, with public contact information posted as follows:
Admissions - Graduate, Graduate Study, [email protected] , 520 O'Dowd Hall, x2700.
Admissions - Undergraduate, Undergraduate Admissions, [email protected] , 101 North Foundation Hall, x3360.
Alumni Engagement, University Advancement, x6136.
Classroom and Instructional Technical Services, [email protected] , 116 Varner Hall, x2461.
Billing, eBill, and Payment, Cashier's Office, [email protected] , 120Q North Foundation Hall, x4396.
Career Services, [email protected], 154 North Foundation Hall, x3250.
College of Arts and Sciencs, [email protected] , 217 Varner Hall, x3163.
E-Learning and Instructional Support, no department email contact, 430 Kresge Library, x4426.
General Campus OU Helpdesk, [email protected] , 202 Kresge Library, x4357.
ID Card Operations, 129 Oakland Center, x2291.
Kresge Library Helpdesk, no department email contact, Reference and Technology Desk on the second floor Kresge Library, x4426.
OUWB School of Medicine Technology Helpdesk, [email protected] , 216 O'Dowd Hall, x3097.
Professional and Continuing Education, [email protected] , 440G Pawley Hall, x3177.
Registrar Services, [email protected] , 160 North Foundation Hall, x3450.
School of Business Administration Helpdesk, [email protected] , 427 Elliott Hall, x4411.
School of Education and Human Services Faculty & Staff Resources, [email protected] , 410B Pawley Hall, x3047.
School of Engineering and Computer Science, [email protected] , 354 Engineering Center, x2216.
- School of Nursing, 3025 Human Health Buidling, x8777.
Student Financial Services (Including Financial Aid), [email protected] , 120 North Foundation Hall, x2550.
Student Technology Center, [email protected] , 44 Oakland Center, x4832.
University Housing Technology Help Desk, [email protected] , 423 Hamlin Hall, x2534.
Which DTS Member represents each Helpdesk?
The best way to determine the helpdesk and the associated DTS member is by looking at the Google Group and the home department of the DTS member.
Data Approvals
Approvals for data usually do not overlap with technology support. Approvals for data follow a data maintenance and control method defined by a Data Steward. Data Stewards and their roles are described in Policy #860 Information Security. Data Stewards are named in the policy attachment. Additionally, some areas have data analysts that also serve as systems analysts and may be primary contacts for advanced issues involving data. There are data analysts in Finance and Administration, the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost, Institutional Research, Academic Advising (a disbursed unit), Facilities Management, University Human Resources, and University Advancement.
Referrals
The mapping of incoming requests to helpdesk referral is challenging. If a request comes from a Helpdesk, we should assume that the unit is the Tier 1 helpdesk and a ticket is referred to UTS as Tier 2. If a general public request comes to us as Tier 1, we should attempt to first refer the request to the local Tier 1 helpdesk for the best and most qualified response to the client. It may feel like a shuffle, but this is really about getting the best answer from the person most qualified to answer as fast as possible. If it makes sense, add the assigned area as a CC: on the ticket.
Systems by Area
Individual departments usually have subject matter experts with significant knowledge of applications used in that department. Please contact these office for subject matter experts.
Admissions - Graduate and Undergraduate (Undergraduate - Steve Szalay, Graduate Claire Rammel)
Recruit - Hosted solution, anything to do with an admissions application
University Advancement (includes Alumni Engagement and Decision Support areas) (Lauren Jeske, Christopher Bowles)
iModules, Reeher, Wealth Engine
Classroom and Instructional Support
Classroom technology, public presentation technology at events, group WebEx
Student Business Services (Linda Switzer, Robert Bonam)
eBill, TouchNet, Banner Billing and Financial Aid questions
Career Services (Noah Pollack)
Handshake
E-learning and Instructional Support ELIS
Moodle, eSpace, ePortfolio, Panopto, instructional WebEx, Second Life, i-clicker, Scantron, Akindi
Facilities Management (Sean Dillon)
eMaint, eBuilder, Key Management, Honeywell
General OU Helpdesk (Susan Hartman)
Desktop support for areas not covered by local desktop support, general student questions
ID Card Operations and Student Technology Center (Leo Debiaggi, ID Card - Don Ritenburgh)
Blackboard Transact
Student Success and EAB
EAB Global - Student Success Campus (Krista Malley)
Academic Performance Solutions (Peggy Cooke)
Student Technology Center (Leo Debiaggi)
Student Affairs office desktops and laptops, student computer assistance, OrgSync, Vermont Systems
Kresge Library (Rob Burns, Sarah Butash)
Ex Libris Alma Library Management, DSpace, Voyager, deployed desktops in the commons, office desktops, laptop check outs
Registrar (Jon Davidson)
Registration issues, grade issues, National Student Clearinghouse
University Housing (Adam Sternburgh)
Adirondack
University Human Resources (Chitra Krishnan)
PeopleAdmin (TEAMS), Skillsoft
College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business Administration, School of Education and Human Services, School of Engineering and Computer Science, School of Nursing
Faculty desktops, computer labs, for each area
School of Medicine (Robert McAuley, Tim French)
AMP, Empower, SolarWinds Web Helpdesk
October 2018