Subject: Web CT

Forwarded: Coordinator of Academic Systems

This is the 21st Century. Please review Webct actions. It is not possible to underline, use italics, or symbols within Webct programs such as e-mails, postings to discussion boards, etc. Even if one uses Word.doc, then pastes the document, symbols, underlining, and italics are dropped.

These options are available along with spell check, tables, bullets and other editing features if the "HTML creator" is turned on. To turn it on open the tool you are using, look for "HTML creator" and change the option to "On". This will need to be done each time you want to use this feature. The HTML Creator is available in Mail, Discussions, and Assignments tools. Here is a link to view a tutorial of how to use the HTML Creator. http://www.uhv.edu/iss/students/orientation/tutorials/vista_html.htm

Some formatting will always be changed when going from one file type to another (.doc to .html) this is why many instructors request assignments be submitted as attachments to make sure the formatting is exactly as the student intended. Also, In our face-to-face orientations offered each semester at both the Victoria and Sugar Land campus we show students how to use the HTML creator as well as other tools provided in WebCT. I encourage students to attend these sessions.

Subject: Hours of Operation

Forwarded: Coordinator of Student Recruitment & Relations

wen r ur open days

During the summer we are open from 7:30 am until 5:30 pm Monday through Thursday and from 8 am until noon on Friday. Starting on August 15, we will be open Monday through Friday from 8 am until 5 pm. While classes are in session, the Office of Student Recruitment and Relations is open until 10 pm Monday through Thursday and until 5 pm on Friday.

Subject: Web Site

Forwarded: Network Administrator

Keep the internet access at UH/V maintained better. As a possible future student, it reflects poorly to see it in such disrepair as it is in this time.

Thank you for your suggestion, and you're absolutely right. The status of UHV's Internet and WAN connection has been a thorn in my side for some time. The good news, is that we're making significant progress. First UH, who is currently our ISP, is now monitoring our connection very closely and working hard with us to maintain its integrity. Where it used to be hours before I'd get a notification of something wrong, I now will get notifications within a few minutes. Second, AT&T, the provider of our link is keeping a closer watch on our connections based on our past problems. Third, we've increased our bandwidth by 33% this year and are working on a state wide initiative to expand that even more.

We do still have issues to resolve. I do not list these as excuses, but so that you will understand the obstacles we face and why I haven't been able to quickly eliminate these problems.

First, while we have increased our Internet/WAN bandwidth, I anticipate we'll fill that new bandwidth by the end of this calendar year. As I mentioned above, I'm working with UH now on a long term solution as well as with Joe Ferguson, Director of IT, on various short term solutions.

Second, each day our firewall blocks tens of thousands of bogus Internet traffic hits. These range from Internet users simply pinging randomly to see what computers are present, to all-out assaults on our network. Each and every one of these takes up valuable Internet bandwidth from us. Currently, I'm working on improving our firewall infrastructure, upgrading some components to eliminate bottlenecks on our end, and quickly and efficiently block hostile traffic. UH also assists in this by blocking some hostile traffic both from their network and the Internet.

Third, as much as I appreciate the work UH does for us, I must acknowledge they are a big target as far as Internet sites go. UH's site is regularly hit by Internet hacks and Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. Most, UH is able to easily shut down. Sometimes, these get through and our own Internet traffic is affected. Understand, when this happens, it's not just UHV that's affected. In the case that happened a few weeks ago, UH Clear Lake and UH Downtown were also affected.

As the Network Administrator and IT security officer, I welcome any questions, issues, or complaints you have and would be happy to discuss them with you. The IT office is located in Victoria, University Center 207. Feel free to call or email as well.

Subject: Class Offering

Forwarded: Dean of School of Education and Human Development

The University needs to provide ESE 4357/4358 at the Cinco Ranch campus during the summer semester(hope in Summer 4). Its hard to drive to the University of Houston- Victoria when it is 2 1/2 hours away at 7:30 in the morning. That would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for sharing your concern about course offerings at Cinco Ranch. We recognize that costs, in both time and money, are involved when students in the Cinco Ranch area need to travel to Victoria for a class, and we try to plan class schedules to minimize these costs as much as we can, given the size of our faculty. We do not have the resources to offer ESE 4357/4358 at Cinco Ranch and Victoria every summer, so we have alternated summer offerings at these two sites. As you noted, 4357 was offered at Victoria this summer, and it will be offered at Cinco Ranch next summer. While we realize this is not ideal, from students’ perspective, we are at least able to offer the course each summer. We will also continue to work toward more frequent offerings at the two sites, including ITV sections when ITV facilities are available.

Subject: Reimbursement of MBA Fee

Forwarded: Dean of School of Business Administration

The feed structure of UHV online MBA course is a big barrier to new students wishing to enroll. A number of companies reimburse a portion of the tuition component only. The add-on's to tuition are substantial and a big deterrent. You can roll the add-on to a separate "MBA Course Tuition" and you will see a lot more interest. All of my friends are joining other programs because of this and reciving better reimbursement from there employers.

Thank you for raising the issue regarding reimbursement of the MBA fee by employers. We will research this problem in more detail and consider the possibility of moving the fee to differential tuition.

Subject: Website Request

Forwarded: Web Services Manager

Please put a link to the admissions office from the home page.

Thank you for the suggestion. I will take this request to the Web Advisory Committee.