Author: Beth Varcho

Central Ohio is adding an area code – 380 – requiring a switch to 10-digit dialing. Callers will need to dial the area code (three digits) followed by the phone number (seven digits) for all local calls. Central Ohio added an area code to increase the number of available phone numbers; with an additional area code identical 7-digit phone numbers with different area codes can be issued in the same geographical area. 10-digit dialing can be used immediately, but it becomes mandatory across central Ohio for all local calls on Jan 30. There is no change to dialing numbers only require 5 digits on campus – if you currently use 5 digits to dial a number on campus, such as 8-4357 (8-HELP), you will continue to use five digits to dial these numbers

A system for routing and recording electronic signatures will be available to the university in FY16! Collecting traditional pen-and-paper signatures can take weeks to complete approval processes because hard-copy documents must still be delivered for physical signatures. Our new electronic signature program, DocuSign will change all that.

OCIO is dedicated to its customers, and we continually make improvements to meet their needs. We have some enhancements planned for our public website that will become effective on Monday, August 10. Change decisions were based on research gathered over the past year as well as Google Analytics data that helped determine what features are used the most. Staff members shared their thoughts during hosted focus groups and senior leaders and customers were interviewed for their perspectives. See the full Team News article for a preview of what to expect.

Picture a room lined with metal racks filled with electronics, miles of cables and thousands of square feet of polished tile floors all locked away behind secure physical barriers. After a great deal of analysis and strategic planning, this is the site that Ohio State has chosen for its new, upgraded data center. Partnering with the State of Ohio, we are in the process of moving our most critical data assets from our current aging data center into the State of Ohio Computer Center (SOCC).  

WiFi has become a necessity: staff want it; faculty require it; students demand it. We expect a secure connection wherever we go on campus. We get frustrated when the connection is too slow, we can’t connect or when we lose signal.

Planning a trip to another university? Now Ohio State students, faculty and staff have a new option for connecting securely throughout the U.S. and abroad --the eduroam network. Created in by European universities in 2003, the network allows you to access a secure, encrypted connection at any participating eduroam universities without having to gain guest credentials. There are thousands of eduroam hotspots to join, eliminating data roaming charges. 

Before You Travel

OCIO resources spent numerous hours on the HR/SIS PeopleSoft upgrade last year, but that shouldn’t overshadow the numerous other projects that were brought to market in 2014. Here are 10 of the most significant things you can do today --  that you couldn’t before 2014.

OCIO and Enterprise Security Teams are busy working toward our Top Goals and are making tremendous progress.  To follow is an update to our top priority projects.

OCIO TOP FIVE

Data Center Move
As we continue the work of moving our current data center to the State of Ohio Computing Center (SOCC), we have already moved about 6% of the racks, allowing us to retire those racks at Kinnear Road Center (KRC).

Last year the Technology Commercialization Office brought together developers from OCIO, the College of Arts and Sciences Technology Services and University Communications to create the University Code Repository (UCR), a hub for the code written across the university. The platform is Ohio State-centric and allows for openly sharing source code for other developers to use or manipulate. Coders from all areas of Ohio State have realized the true value of UCR, as the number of users grew and projects more than doubled, jumping from 519 to 1064. 

Ohio State is excited to be offering a new tool to students and instructors traveling in the U.S. and internationally and for visitors to our campus.  

The eduroam wireless network began broadcasting at the Ohio Union a few weeks ago, and is now available across campus and at universities across the U.S and worldwide.