Network accounts and passwords control access to online resources, services and email at SPSU. The Human Resources Department generates employee accounts during the hiring process. Student accounts are generated by the Admissions Department.
On the "Accounts" site, faculty and staff can create "alias" email accounts. An email alias appears the same as an email address, but actually represents an alternative name for the original mailbox name.
UITS’s FAQ includes a list of common questions and answers. The Answers section of the Help Desk is a good place to initially search for technical support solutions.
SPSU’s ShoreTel IP phone system allows one to create workgroups to help manage large volumes of calls. Workgroups can be created for call centers and groups of users who need to have defined ringing order.
UITS provides data backup and recovery services for Zimbra email, Titan and Io file shares. Currently, UITS does not have a desktop or laptop data backup program.
Calendaring is available through the Zimbra collaboration suite. Third party calendar clients are not supported by UITS. Calendars can be digitally shared between University employees and students.
The Classroom Technology Support team manages and troubleshoots all campus physical and virtual classroom technologies. Projectors, Smart Boards, cabling, classroom computers and software represent examples of technologies managed by this team. Requests to have any classroom technology reconfigured in any way should be completed by the Classroom Technology Support team.
The SPSU Campus Online Directory is a web application that allows one to search the SPSU directory of faculty, staff, students and sponsored affiliates at the University. Searches can be made by first name, last name and by department (staff and faculty only).
SPSU uses a variety of Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) software to enable searching and browsing of directory information in central information systems. Apple’s Open Directory and Microsoft’s Active Directory are both utilized to help enforce security policies, manage users, computers and user groups.
UITS offers a web-based email service that can be accessed without the need for separate email client software. SPSU uses the Zimbra Collaboration suite, published by VM Ware for email, calendaring, notes and contact management. Email support can be obtained by contacting the UITS Help Desk at http://helpdesk.spsu.edu/ or 678-915-HELP (4357).
The UITS File Exchange is available via a web site designed to help users share files. Files can be uploaded from any location. Files uploaded via the File Exchange from an on-campus location will be available for download from any location. Files uploaded via the File Exchange from an off-campus location will be only available for download while on-campus or when connected to the VPN.
UITS offers individual network storage allocations for members of the campus community. Personalized online file shares can be created for faculty, staff and students with SPSU network IDs. Data stored on the Titan (Faculty & Staff) and Io (Students) network shares are backed-up regularly to ensure safety of the data.
Some SPSU departments have need for group-accessible file storage. As resources are available, departmental file shares can be created such that entire departments or divisions can securely access files from a common drive.
Collaborate refers to SPSU’s web presence designed for group communication and collaboration. Students, staff and faculty can participate in online discussions, vote in polls and post documents to "spaces" created for specific topics. Group sites can be created for group communication and collaboration.
Dial-in
The UITS dial-in Help Desk is the University's central support service for IT, especially
in the areas of system issues, network connectivity, email, phones, access requests,
office printers and the use of supported desktop applications. The Help Desk team
places a high priority on making sure that University stakeholder technology questions
are answered and quickly resolved. Many IT related questions can be answered over
the phone or by using remote support software.
Walk-up
The UITS walk-up Help Desk is located in the center of campus in Building H. A team
of trained student assistants staff the walk-up Help Desk Monday-Friday from 8:00
am- 8:00 pm. The walk-up Help Desk is primarily purposed for student-to-student help.
SPSU students can seek assistance with their personal computers, virus removal, simple
hardware diagnosis, network account issues, student Vista / D2L issues, password resets
and wireless setups.
Virtual
UITS uses a web-based ticketing system to manage the large volume of support requests
received each day. University stakeholders can visit the Help Desk online to submit
work orders for technical support. If a work order requires an office or classroom
visit, the stakeholder will be notified via an email ticket that help is on the way.
Many support requests can be answered via the ticketing system, without the need for
an on-site visit from a UITS technician.
The UITS web-based Help Desk can be used by other campus departments. Facilities, OFSD, and Marketing all use the Help Desk system to manage support tickets. Custom ticket types and technician permissions can be created for other offices.
UITS provides an Instant Messaging service to faculty and staff to facilitate instant communication between campus employees.
UITS provides email distribution services that allow one to create a mailing list addressed as listname@lists.spsu.edu. List owners can manage lists via a web-based tool that allows one to view customized lists, and add and remove members. List requests can be submitted to the UITS Help Desk. Moderators can be appointed to mailing lists so messages require approval before being sent. Lists can be set such that replies are sent to the original sender, or to the entire list of recipients.
Managed Virtual Servers are available to SPSU departments as an alternative to hosting and managing dedicated, physical server equipment. Virtualization technology allows multiple virtual servers (also known as virtual machines or VMs) to be hosted as a service.
The UITS production network consists of local building networks and a backbone network that connects the localized networks together and to networks off-campus. UITS provides network infrastructure to approximately thirty buildings on campus. Moreover, a wireless local area network (WLAN) is constructed as an overlay to the UITS production network and provides coverage and capacity for mobile computing.
UITS provides many standard network services for the campus community.
The UITS Help Desk utilizes remote desktop software for over-the-phone support calls. UITS uses a product combination of LAN Desk and Bomgar to enable remote screen sharing. Bomgar works on-campus and off-campus, and allows for remote screen sharing, file sharing, chat, and presentations. LAN Desk is primarily used for laboratory computer support.
The UITS Web Reports Service is available to authorized University stakeholders who seek to extract data from the Banner system. Other Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) reporting services will be available soon to faculty and staff.
Some larger deployments of certain types of software require a central license server. As a service to the different departments on campus, UITS hosts software license servers as virtual machines.
The UITS Information Systems group uses the Banner system for student records and classroom scheduling. Students use the Banner system to check grades, register for classes, pay tuition, and view an academic transcript. Faculty members and Academic Affairs staff use the Banner system to generate lists of students enrolled in a course, enter grades, make room reservations, and to generate the course bulletin for each semester.
Several other databases exist and are used for a variety of purposes, but the Banner system is the main student information system (SIS) and campus information repository.
UITS is now offering Qualtrics to all authorized University faculty and staff members. Qualtrics, is an Enterprise-Class On-Line Survey system which allows the owner to perform a host of actions, such as; performing course evaluations, administering on-line tests and quizzes, gathering student feedback, aiding in classroom research, and in data analysis.
If you have occasional survey and polling needs, a UITS staff member will be happy to work with you to create and deploy your survey. For those who are consistently creating unique surveys or conducting regular research, UITS can assist you in creating a personal account on the system. Upon your request, a UITS staff member will provide the necessary training needed to utilize Qualtrics and will oversee your survey creation from start to finish.
UITS has selected ShoreTel as the University’s IP-based phone system. Desktop communication applications, like ShoreTel Communicator, are available for faculty and staff use. A University stakeholder can manage voicemail by using his or her office phone to dial into the ShoreTel system, or by using the Communicator software if they prefer visual voicemail.
UITS' VPN service allows any University stakeholder to connect to "Hornet Connect" remotely from any available network connection anywhere in the world: including from home, most hotels, and even within some company networks. The Hornet Connect Web site also allows University stakeholders to access pre-populated quick links to in-network only sites such as library resources and the Banner system. Personal file storage is also accessible via the VPN. With the Juniper Networks' Junos Pulse app, Android and iOS University stakeholders also can access the VPN on mobile devices.
The Strategic Marketing Department maintains the University’s public web presence. A dedicated section of the web site exists for faculty pages and is accessible by visiting http://educate.spsu.edu.
Wireless networking allows SPSU faculty, staff, students, and sponsored visitors to access SPSU production network and cloud resources securely from locations where wiring is not available. A separate guest network is available for official guests of University employees. Wireless service is not currently available in most student residences.
Guest wireless accounts are generated on a weekly basis. Guest wireless access is provided for short-term visiting faculty, University affiliates, visiting staff or contractors. Sponsors can contact the UITS Help Desk at http://helpdesk.spsu.edu/ or 678-915-HELP (4357) for more information.
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1100 S. Marietta Pkwy.
Marietta, GA 30060
| Phone: | (678) 915-HELP (678) 915-4357 |
