A Faculty Guide
This guide is intended to provide basic information about faculty Web accounts and e-mail accounts, the basic policy governing the use, and a mention of two key committees dealing with related pedagogical and technical matters. The need for such a guide became compellingly clear to me as I dealt with frustration after frustration in constructing my Website and floundered trying to find an authority who could resolve my difficulties. The catastrophe–at least to me–that determined me to suggest the need for such a guide to Provost Roberta Matthews was receiving a message that my Website was full–after I had spent days creating and revising files for my classes. I could not upload them! All my work had been useless! My hope is that this guide will help others to avoid at least some of my floundering and frustrations in using the Internet in teaching their classes.

Faculty Web Accounts
There are five kinds of Web accounts available to faculty, four for course instruction and one for personal use.

Only one account, Blackboard, accepts either Word files or text files without any HTML formatting and allows you to upload files directly to the Web. Blackboard is housed in the Office of Academic Information Technology, which is directed by Nick Irons, 382 Library, X4634, nirons@brooklyn.cuny.edu.

The other four types of account require plain text files in HTML format and use an FTP (file transfer protocol) program to upload files to the Web. These accounts are housed in Information Technology Services, which is directed by Mark Gold, 0607P, X5861, mark@brooklyn.cuny.edu.

If you choose to run your own Web Server, access to it will be internal only, that is, it can be accessed only on campus,. through a campus Internet connection

§1: Blackboard (http://blackboard.brooklyn.cuny.edu/)
Blackboard is a full-featured Web-presentation program which allows you to upload Word files or text files directly to the Web; it does not require any knowledge of HTML, though it does allow you to upload HTML files. This means that you can upload existing Word files for the handouts you distribute in class-without changing them-and can create new materials for Web instruction in your word processor. Blackboard also allows you to create links to other Websites and to upload images, audio files, and video files. All you have to learn to do these things is a few simple steps in Blackboard.

Blackboard offers a host of useful features which require more time and effort to learn; you may
• record and compute grades online,
• allow students to review their own grades online,
• create surveys which students return online,
• make multiple choice, mix-and-match, short answer, or fill-in-the -blank tests (they may be practice tests which give immediate feedback or actual tests which students must take online within a specific time period and send back to you),
• enter mathematical equations,
• organize students into groups which work together on projects using a list and/or a group Web page,
• e-mail the entire class, groups, or selected individuals,
• monitor/direct student discussion on the Discussion Board, (aka bulletin board),
• accept student papers through the Blackboard digital drop box,
• hold conferences, monitor student discussion, or invite guest lecturers to the Chat Room,
•create a course calendar, for the day and even by the hour,
• gather statistics on your class, such as how many times a class or individual students accessed your course.

Blackboard has certain limitations. Files in Blackboard are not accessible directly by URL, but only through Blackboard; also search engines and Web crawlers cannot find your files and list them.

In order to use Blackboard, a student must have a Blackboard account. In order to access your course, a student must be registered in it, either by you or by the student's self-registering.

To obtain a Blackboard account, contact Dr. Sylvie Richards, sylvie@brooklyn.cuny.edu, 381 Library, X4667. She answers questions about Blackboard, troubleshoots problems, and offers courses on using Blackboard. She also provides faculty with instructions for students about how to create a Blackboard account as well as instructions on how the instructor enrolls students into a course.

§ 2: Course Instruction (http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/)
The academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu server is intended for course instruction. Text files must be coded in HTML; this means, of course, that to use this type of account, you must know HTML or a Web-design program which does the HTML coding for you. Such programs include Netscape Composer, which is free; Frontpage Express, which is free; or Dreamweaver, which you may use in the Academic Computing Lab in 382 Library or which may be purchased at an educational discount.

You can also upload graphics files, preferably GIF and JPG format, and audio files to this server. Video files should be uploaded to the dedicated server at http://bcmedia.brooklyn.cuny.edu (see §3). Files using CGI, Asp, or Perl scripts should be uploaded to the server at http://bcmedia.brooklyn.cuny.edu (see §4).

Because space is limited and not allocated to individual accounts, Brooklyn College Web servers are not to be used to store personal files. No MP3 files or video files, which consume enormous amounts of space, should be uploaded to the academic server In the past, a few users uploaded so many MP3 files that the server's hard drives were completely filled; as a result, new and revised course files could not be uploaded, and faculty were unable to add legitimate files to their course sites.

To open an academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu account, contact Network Support Services at X5861 or download the application form from http://infotech.brooklyn.cuny.edu/public.htm. Return the completed form by fax or interdepartmental mail. Allow two weeks for processing your application and receiving your User-ID and password, which are the same as your FTP User-ID and password (see §6).

§3: Media Server (http://bcmedia.brooklyn.cuny.edu/user/)
The bcmedia.brooklyn.cuny.edit or media server is designed to store video files using Real, QuickTime, MPEG1, and Windows Media formats. It can also be used to store MP3 audio files.

Because of copyright and fair use considerations, it is recommended that you create a movie page which is password protected and thus accessible only to your students.

Files uploaded to the BC media server will not be indexed with a search engine; the only way for your students to know where your media files are located on the server is to give them your URL. The media server can be set up so that only oncampus users may access the files; it has no password protection ability at the present time.

To open an account on the media server, contact netgroup@brooklyn.cuny.edu or call the Netgroup at X5861. Allow two weeks for processing your application and receiving your User-ID and password, which are the same as your FTP User-ID and password (see §6).

The Brooklyn College Library will soon be able to provide faculty access to the ARTESIA system, which allows on-campus users to access the files. This system will also index files, so that if a student searches for a specific topic, not only will the Library Resource be displayed but the related video/media files as well. For information about this system, contact Nicholas Johnson, 2000 Library, X327.

§4: Extranet Server (http://extranet.brooklyn.cuny.edu/)
The academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu server does not run scripting languages. If you plan to create files using CGI, Asp, or Perl scripts, you must use the extranet.brooklyncuny.edu server. Because this server is not behind the firewall that protects all other Brooklyn College servers, it is vulnerable to outside attack; therefore, you are responsible for guarding against hackers, viruses, and other attacks. Before writing in a script other than CGI, ASP, or Perl, check with the Netgroup to be sure that the scripting language you are planning to use is supported by Brooklyn College.

To open an account on the extranet server, contact netgroup@brooklyn.cuny.edu or call the Netgroup at X5861. Allow two weeks for processing your application and receiving your User-ID and password, which are the same as your FTP User-ID and password (see §6).

§5: Personal Website (http://userhome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/)<>The userhome.brooklyn. cuny. edu server is designed for faculty to share personal information, such as family pictures and hobbies. The faculty member is responsible for using discretion on what materials are put on this Website.

To open a personal Web account, contact Network Support Services at X5861 or download the application form from http://infotech.brooklyn.cuny.edu/public.htm. Return the completed form by fax or interdepartmental mail. Allow two weeks for processing your application and receiving your User-ID and password.

§6: FTP: Uploading Files to Your Web Account
Uploading files to every Web account except Blackboard requires an FTP (or file transfer protocol) program. Brooklyn College recommends that you use WS-FTP.LE, which is easy to install and to use. The only information you need in order to use this program is your FTP User-ID and your FTP Web password To download a free copy, go to http://www.ftpplanet.com/tutorial/dwnld_ftp client.htm. For a tutorial on how to use this program, go to http://www.ftpplanet.com/tutorial/index.htm.

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Adding Your Website to the BC Web Directory
To add your web page to the Brooklyn College Directory of Web pages (which is accessible through http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu), go to
http: //www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/dirindex.htm click on "Submit Directory Corrections"; fill in the form and submit. If your site has not been added in three weeks, contact
webgroup@ brooklyn.cuny.edu.

Web Accessibility for Students with Disabilities
The college has the responsibility to ensure that all services and programs are accessible to students with disabilities. This includes all college Web sites and Web based courses. Please consult the following individuals for the guidance and assistance necessary to guarantee that all computing endeavors are accessible: Web design: Sylvie Richards, Library, X4667 (sylvie@brooklyn.cuny.edu), Assistive technology: James Kozack, ITS, X2961 (jkozack@brooklyn.cuny.edu), General student disability concerns: Roberta Adelman, Center for Student Disability Services, 5363
(radelman@brooklyn.cuny.edu).

Copyright Information
For up-to-date copyright information, go to http://www.usg.edit/admin/legal/copyright/copy.html.

Brooklyn College EmailL
Brooklyn College provides email accounts for all full-time and part-time faculty and staff. The address is @brooklyn.cuny.edu. All campus computers are set up to access such email accounts with Microsoft Outlook. At home, you can access your BC email account using Outlook; the Computer Center provides instructions for configuring Outlook. Or you may prefer to access your account through the Web; type webmail.brooklyn.cuny.edu; then logon as bcnet/your user-ID, e.g., bcnet/Jsmith. The server is case sensitive, so you must type capital and lower case letters exactly.

You may not send announcements to all or most campus users. If you have an announcement regarding a matter of widespread institutional interest, please forward it via e-mail to Connie Di Geronimo, Public Relations, connie@brooklyn.cuny.edu . Please allow at least two (2) days for the announcement to be broadcast via e-mail. Since the College's policy prohibits "the use of computer resources for profit making" and similar "private purposes," unsolicited e-mails sent to all or most campus users inviting them to purchase goods and/or services are not permitted.

To open an email account, contact the Netgroup at netgroup@brooklyn.cuny.edu or callX5861.

General Policy on Web Usage Using Brooklyn College Resources
You must have a valid authorized account to use any such computer resources that require one, and you may use only those computer resources that are specifically authorized. You may use your account in accordance with its authorized purposes and may not use an unauthorized account for any purpose.
You are responsible for the safeguarding of your computer account and to follow these rules:

• You are strongly advised to change your password frequently and not to disclose it to anyone. Take all necessary precautions to protect your account, no matter what type of computer resources you are using. You may not circumvent system protection facilities.
• You may not knowingly use any system to produce system failure or degraded performance.
• You may not engage in unauthorized duplication, alteration or destruction of data, programs and software.
•You may not transmit or disclose data, programs and software belonging to others, and may not duplicate copyrighted materials.
• You may not engage in abusive or improper use of computer hardware. This includes, but is not limited to, tampering with equipment, unauthorized attempts to repair equipment, and unauthorized removal of equipment components.
•You may not use computer resources for private purposes, including, but not limited to, use of computer resources for profit-making or illegal activities.
• You may not use computer resources to engage in abuse of computer personnel or other users. Such abuse includes the sending of abusive, anonymous or unsolicited messages within CUNY or beyond via network facilities.
• You are expected to be familiar with college regulations regarding the use of college computer resources. You must also note that these regulations are subject to change and/or revision. The University and Brooklyn College reserve the right to monitor, under appropriate conditions, all data contained in the system, to protect the integrity of the system and to insure compliance with regulations.

General Rules And Enforcement
Users of university computing resources must comply with federal and state laws, university rules and policies, and the terms of applicable contracts, including software licenses, while using university computing resources.

Users may not state or imply that they speak on behalf of the university or use university trademarks and logos without authorization to do so. Authorization to use university trademarks and logos on university computing resources may be granted only by the Office of Public Relations.

The use of appropriate disclaimers is encouraged.

Users who violate the policy stated herein may be denied access to university computing resources and may be subject to other penalties and disciplinary action, both within and outside the university, including suspension and/or termination of computer privileges, disciplinary action(s) by appropriate college and/or University officials, referral to law enforcement authorities for criminal prosecution, and other legal action, including action to recover civil damages and penalties.

Security and Privacy
The university employs various measures to protect the security of its computing resources and user accounts. Users should be aware, however, that the university cannot guarantee security and confidentiality. Users should therefore engage in "safe computing" practices by establishing appropriate access restrictions for their accounts, guarding their passwords and changing them regularly.

Users should also be aware that their use of university computing resources is not completely private. While the university does not routinely monitor individual usage of its computing resources, the normal operation and maintenance of the university's computing resources require the backup and caching of data and communications, the logging of activity, the monitoring of general usage patterns and other such activities that are necessary for the rendition of service. The university may also specifically monitor, without notice, the activity and accounts of individual users of university computing resources, including individual login sessions and the content of individual communications, when:

• the user has voluntarily made them accessible to the public, as by posting to Usenet or a Web page;
• it reasonably appears necessary to do so to protect the integrity, security, or functionality of university or other computing resources or to protect the university from liability;
• there is reasonable cause to believe that the user has violated or is violating this policy;
• an account appears to be engaged in unusual or unusually excessive activity; or
• it is otherwise required or permitted by law.

Commercial Use
Computing resources are not to be used for personal commercial purposes or for personal financial purposes or other gain. Occasional personal use of university computing resources for other purposes is permitted when it does not consume a significant amount of those resources, does not interfere with the performance of the user's job or other university responsibilities, and is otherwise in compliance with this policy. Further limits may be imposed upon personal use in accordance with normal supervisory procedures concerning the use of University equipment.

Unacceptable Use of the BC Networks:

1. The creation or transmission of data or material that is obscene or that displays indecent images; any data that can be resolved into obscene or indecent material; the creation or transmission of data and material that are not lawful and properly supervised;
2. The creation or transmission of material that is either purposefully designed, or likely to, cause any and all of the following on the part of the recipient: annoyance, inconvenience, or needless anxiety;
3. The creation or transmission of material of a defamatory nature;
4. The transmission of any material that infringes upon the copyright of another person's work;
5. The transmission to User Organizations, or to organizations connected to other networks, of advertising material or material that is of an unsolicited commercial nature
6. The purposeful conducting of activities which wastes the time and efforts of staff, and networked resources, including the spending of time on end systems that are accessible via BC Network; damaging, corrupting or destroying the data of other users; violating the privacy of other users; disrupting or interrupting the work of other users; causing service to be denied to other users; and any and all indicated, specific and commonly understood misuse of the network or networked resources, such as the introduction of "viruses."

For the full policy statement governing Web administration at Brooklyn College/CUNY, go to http: //infotech.brooklyn.cuny.edu/standards/index.php.

The Teaching, Learning, Technology Roundtable
The teaching, Learning, Technology Roundtable (TLTR) consists of members drawn from the Provost’s Technology Committee, the Faculty Council Computer Utilization Committee, Advisory Committee on Academic Computing, members of Academic Instructional Technology, and Information Technology, as well as faculty and staff pursuing projects involving technology. TLTR, as Provost Roberta Matthews set forth, “will serve as a clearinghouse for information and a vehicle for communication among various groups concerned with technology at the college. It will be the body where suggested policy statements from all the committees will be brought for discussion and action.”

Its Website is http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/pubs/roundt.

Advisory Committee on Academic Computing
The Advisory Committee on Academic Computing (ACAC) consists of representatives from every academic department, Academic information Technology, and Information Technology. The purpose of ACAC is to advise the Chief Librarian and Executive Director of Academic Information Technologies on Faculty needs regarding information technologies and to act as an advocate and intermediary of faculty computing activities. ACAC is chaired by Professor David Bloomfield, Education, X5608, davidb@brooklyn.cuny.edu.

Lilia Melani
November 26, 2003

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