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Microsoft Vista Strategy

  • Evaluation and testing: Information Technology staff have been testing and using Microsoft Vista since the first beta version was released to understand the benefits, changes, and issues with the new operating system.
  • Campus Manager "Safe Computing" environment: The Campus Manager "Safe Computing" environment requires that students with PC workstations must have McAfee Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware installed and the latest Microsoft Windows operating system updates installed before a student workstation in the residence halls can be connected to the campus network and the Internet. Campus Manager will recognize Vista on student residential computers for Fall 2007.
  • McAfee Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware: McAfee software will be installed (and receive automatic updates) on student residential computers with Vista for Fall 2007.
  • Goucher owned machines (Faculty, staff, classrooms, and labs): New computers will not be ordered with Vista until after the first major service pack is released and tested. The first major service pack will be tested to insure that Vista is compatible with campus computer software and drivers are available for campus peripherals. Information Technology will be keeping records of all software titles in use on campus and their compatibility based on manufacturer recommendations. This will enable Information Technology to plan version, lab, and desktop upgrades according the needs of departments and their computing needs. Information Technology will not begin offering the Vista operating system until a majority of software vendors have certified their software on Vista. Even after Vista is deemed ready for use on campus computer workstations, some may need to continue to use Windows XP because a software package may be incompatible with Vista. Older computers will not be upgraded to Vista because of hardware requirements (e.g., additional memory, video cards) that would incur additional costs. Information Technology will continue to monitor industry discussions of Vista and discuss Vista strategy with Dell. Information Technology will determine the impact of Vista on tools to install and support campus computer workstations (e.g., Desktop Authority, software distribution through the network, remote control of desktop computers by the Help Desk). Once Vista has been tested and is ready for use on Goucher owned machines, Information Technology will begin to order all new computer workstations with Vista.
  • Documentation: Information Technology will need to develop new documentation for Vista for brochures and information on the Goucher Information Technology website (e.g., How to set up Virtual Private Network capabilities for an off-campus computer)
  • Training: Information Technology will need to develop training courses and update training materials for Vista.
  • Supporting Vista: Information Technology staff will need to be running both Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Vista to answer questions and provide support to campus users.

Microsoft Office 2007 Strategy

  • Evaluation and testing: Information Technology staff have been testing and using Microsoft Office 2007 since the first beta version was released to understand the benefits, changes, and issues, and differences between Microsoft Office 2003 and Microsoft 2007.
  • Compatibility software for Microsoft Office 2003 users: As soon as possible, Information Technology will push Microsoft Office 2007 compatibility software to all Goucher PC computer workstations. This will allow Microsoft Office 2003 software to read documents created in Microsoft Office 2007. Note that currently compatibility software is not available for Microsoft Office running on Macintosh computers. Student computers will be prompted to download the compatibility software if they open a Microsoft Office 2007 document.