Academic Computing at Long Island University
The Academic Computing Center of Long Island University consists of three main offices: the Brooklyn Center, the C.W. Post Center in Brookville and the Queen Anne Computer Center at Southampton. We have staff available at each site to support the comp uting environment and connections to our university wide network LIUNET, the library system, and our connection to the INTERNET and the World Wide Web.
Our department is comprised of two overlapping areas of expertise. The first is Academic Computing and the second is Networking and Communications. Although there is no formal division of these services, the staff within the department are assigned th eir duties based on the hardware needs of the campus and the needs of the faculty.
On each main campus you will find a faculty liaison that you can call to help answer your questions and to assist you with software problems you may have. Technical support staff are available who can take care of maintenance needs and repairs as well as the installation of new equipment and connections to LIUNET.
Within this guide you will find some very helpful information about who to contact on your campus for assistance, lab hours, how to go about ordering hardware or software, computer lab locations and equipment, how to log a maintenance call, the facult y loan program and more. There are users guides for sale in the bookstore at a nominal charge and are also made available on-line via the university World Wide Web site www.liunet.edu. These guides cover microcomputing, electronic mail, the INTERNET and use of the VMS and UNIX systems. Please feel free to contact the faculty liaison on your campus if you have any questions.
Academic Computing Mission Statement
The Academic Computing Department provides many services for the students, faculty and staff of the Long Island University Community. Our first and foremost responsibility is to provide a computing environment with the facilities necessary for education and research.
Academic Computing is a key member of the campus community charged with creating a productive environment for making use of electronic communications and technologies in teaching and learning. It is expected to establish an organizational climate and a working environment within the University that encourages creativity, adaptability and cost effectiveness in meeting Long Island University’s manifold needs in the areas of telecommunications and technology. Development and operation of the Univers ity telecommunications infrastructure is a major component of these services.
Academic Computing is more than just the provider of information and applications. It maintains the networks that keep the University running and provides support to administrative users, secretaries and office staff. Academic Computing provides works hops not only for faculty, but also for the clerical and administrative staff in the use of computers.
University Computing Networks- LAN & WAN
Multi-user computers and distributed computers in labs and offices utilizing various operating systems.
INTERNET - WWW, ftp, listserv, DNS, etc
E-Mail services
Library Catalog System Access
CD ROM Research Database system
Faculty, Staff and Administrative Training
Faculty Development Computer Loan Program
Distance Learning - via LIUNET and external connectivity
Software Development, purchase and installation
Hardware purchases and installation
Maintenance Services - Hardware and Software
University One Card - ID/debit card system
Telephone tie line links - via LIUNET communications links
University Data Center Links - via PC and intercampus LAN
University Data Center - 3270 communications to Brooklyn
CATV - distribution
National Public Radio Feed from Southampton to C.W. Post
From the Director - My Vision of Computing in the Future
My vision of the role of computing in the future views the computer as an integral part of our daily lives. It shall become the workhorse, it its present or some alternative form, of an integrated information desktop where video, the Internet, sever based data, e-mail, telephony and shared and personal productivity tools all come together seemlessly through the integration of many disparate applications via a single adaptive user friendly graphical and/or voice responsive interface that makes its us e as intuitive as the telephone.
What this means for the University in the near future is a desktop where access to the Library catalog, CD-Rom Databases, the Internet, student information, scheduling, e-mail and Groupware will all be available via a network browser such as Netscap e or Internet Explorer or via a desktop office suite. We will blur the lines between your desktop computer, the telephone, LIUNET and the Internet to allow you to accomplish your tasks regardless of geographical or physical boundaries to data and informat ion.
The Long Island University NETwork
All six campuses of Long Island University are connected to LIUNET. LIUNET consists of over 60 host computer systems and the INTERNET to accommodate the many needs and goals of the University community. Using Digital Equipment VAX and Alpha computer s ystems, IBM RS 6000 AIX/UNIX systems, and thousands of PC's (IBM compatible & Apple Mac) we provide access to our users in virtually every type of computing environment. Multiple networking topologies such as ETHERNET, using TCP/IP and IPX connects th e computers via network bridges and switches located at each of the campus computer centers. With these systems we are able to connect to any computer from any campus, and students and faculty are provided with the capability to dial up to LIUNET from the Brooklyn (718), C.W. Post (516), Southampton (516) or Rockland Campus (914) 24 hours per day.
Long Island University is connected to the INTERNET through membership in NYSERNet (New York State Education and Research Network) and Panix (Public Access Networks). This network provides access to resources at other universities, non-profit organiz ations, libraries, public bulletin boards, government organizations and commercial enterprises. Our objective is to make resources available to L.I.U. that the university may not have but are available free, or in some cases, at a minimal charge outside t he University, while granting access without leaving the campus.
All of the Local Area Networks on all University locations have been bridged into LIUNET. This is done via fiber optics on the three main campuses and via twisted pair cable and NYNEX and Cablevision Lightpath telephone circuits on the non-residentia l locations.
Telecommunications has become an integral part of LIUNET and the University as a whole. Intercampus links now exist that combine the voice, video, radio, LIUNET and administrative computer services to create a cost effective and unified communications network. Local telephone and administrative data links are still maintained on individual campuses but the ties between them are serviced through Academic Computing. These ties include New York Telephone T1 (1.5 Mbyte) trunks with voice/data multiplexors at each of the 6 campuses. This allows us to "own" our intercampus communications and not have to pay for telephone calls between campuses or the data communications between them, we just pay for the T1 trunk rental. Eventually, we hope to rout e all calls from your office through the PBX located at the appropriate campus nearest the area code you are dialing to reduce all outside exchange phone charges.
The University Library Catalog, periodicals and database searching system is integrated into LIUNET. This means that the CSLI library computer and Silverplatter CD ROM databases are available via computer terminals and PC's located in strategic areas throughout the University. The Library Catalog (LIUCAT) is available via LIUNET and the INTERNET. The Library system is based on a multiple CD ROM disk system and a Sequent minicomputer system. The communications facilities are maintained via the academic computing center but their use and accessibility is determined by the library staff. This system is being upgraded during Spring 1997. Access to the new system, called Horizon by Ameritech, will be via Netscape or MS Explorer. Access to the new CD Rom server, which should be on-line by the end of June will also be via Netscape or MS Explorer.
The University Data Center, located at the University Center in Brookville handles all registration, admissions, billing, payroll, alumni, financial aid and all other related student information. If you should have a problem with an IBM mainframe term inal or accessing student records in one of the above areas you should contact the Data Center directly. If it is a problem that Academic Computing may help to solve the data center will contact us directly. While Academic Computing can help you with some of your problems related to student records, your calls should first be placed to the Data Center at the University Center.
Campus Network Connections in the Dorm Rooms
Students may connect to LIUNET, the university-wide computer network, from their dorm room. This means a student can access their computer account, software, the Internet and electronic mail right from their own computer. The dorm room connect ion provides access to the network at the same speed that is available from the computer labs. There are two computer network connections in each dorm room, one telephone and a cable TV jack.