Help Desk Hours and Location
The ITS Help Desk is located in the Library on the Santa Maria campus and offers in-person support from Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and Fridays from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Banner to AWS Migration
ITS has successfully completed a major Banner maintenance project from Friday, November 15th through Sunday, November 17th. During this time, we migrated the hosting of Banner to a new platform, modernizing our systems and significantly improving our disaster recovery capabilities. All Banner systems, including Degree Works and Xtender, were unavailable between noon on November 15th and late afternoon on November 17th. We posted announcements in the portal and on the public website to keep AHC informed of the downtime and promptly sent an update once all systems were back online.
The following services remained unaffected throughout the maintenance period:
- Email
- Canvas
- CCCApply (note: applications were not loaded into Banner until after November 17th)
- SuccessNet
- Our public website (https://www.hancockcollege.edu)
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to enhance the resilience and efficiency of our systems. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
Thank you!
Essential Articles and Ticket Requests
Library Zoom Section Update!
Exciting news! The "Zoom" section in the Santa Maria campus library has been upgraded. We've installed new ChromeOS computers, and cameras will be added shortly to support your remote learning sessions. Students can now connect seamlessly to any regular Zoom link using these updated devices. Enjoy enhanced access to your virtual classes and meetings!
Computing Privacy
What is Privacy, and How Does Security Interact with It?
Privacy refers to individuals' right to control their personal information, deciding what is shared, with whom, and under what circumstances. Security is closely related to privacy, as it involves protecting personal information from unauthorized access or breaches. Essentially, while privacy is about the right to keep information confidential, security provides the mechanisms to enforce and uphold that right.
The Balance Between Privacy, Security, and Availability
Privacy, security, and availability are interconnected. Security measures protect privacy by preventing unauthorized access to personal information, while availability ensures that information and systems are accessible when needed. This balance is crucial to maintaining user data protection while providing reliable access to essential resources.
Unique Aspects of Privacy in California and the U.S.
The U.S. has various federal privacy regulations, but California stands out due to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which gives Californians additional rights to know, delete, and opt out of the sale of their personal data. This law imposes stricter requirements on businesses, including transparency around data collection and user control over their information, setting a benchmark for other states.
1. AHC Device on AHC Network
When using an Allan Hancock College (AHC) device on the AHC network, users should be aware that privacy is limited. The IT department manages both the device and network, which means there is visibility into how resources are used, such as monitoring browsing activity, software usage, and network traffic. This oversight ensures security, compliance with institutional policies, and the appropriate use of college resources. Users should understand that their activity may be logged or reviewed as necessary to uphold these guidelines. Consequently, it is best to refrain from personal activities or sensitive communications on these devices and networks. Refer to https://www.hancockcollege.edu/board/policies/doclib/Computer%20and%20Network%20Use%203720.pdf.
2. AHC Device on Home Network
Using an AHC device at home on a personal network offers a bit more privacy, but it is still limited. Although the home network itself is not managed by AHC, any monitoring or management software installed on the AHC device continues to function. This could mean that actions, such as browsing history or software use, are still recorded and subject to review if they fall under institutional monitoring policies. Users should operate with the understanding that even outside the institutional network, there is still an expectation of compliance and limited privacy. Refer to https://www.hancockcollege.edu/board/policies/doclib/Computer%20and%20Network%20Use%203720.pdf.
3. Personal Device on AHC Network
When connecting a personal device to the AHC network, the device remains private property, but network activity is subject to AHC’s monitoring and security measures. The IT department may filter or log online activities to ensure network security and detect policy violations or suspicious behavior. While there is less direct oversight compared to an AHC-managed device, users should be mindful that actions on the network, such as visiting websites or data downloads, may still be recorded. Refer to https://www.hancockcollege.edu/board/policies/doclib/Computer%20and%20Network%20Use%203720.pdf.
4. Personal Device on Home Network
This setup provides the most privacy. Both the device and network are under the user’s control, and there are no institutional policies affecting personal activity. The responsibility for ensuring privacy and security lies entirely with the user. As there are no institutional monitoring mechanisms in place, users can expect the highest level of privacy, though they should still follow best practices, like using strong passwords and data encryption, to protect their information. Refer to https://www.hancockcollege.edu/board/policies/doclib/Computer%20and%20Network%20Use%203720.pdf.
Updates from Technology Council and Committees
- Web Services Committee
- Schedule: Meetings are held bi-monthly, usually on the 1st Thursday, from 9:30-11:00 am.
- Update:
- Art Links: Concern about representing only one academic department. Phil will discuss integration with Fine Arts and PCPA calendars.
- Canvas Widget: Slow loading (30 seconds). Phil will consult with Pathify for optimization options.
- Starfish Widget (SuccessNet): Approval to proceed, testing with sample data.
- Catalog Sequences: No updates.
- Educational Technology Advisory Committee (EdTAC)
- Schedule: Meetings are held bi-monthly, usually on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday, from 2:30-4:00 pm.
- No Update
- Banner Committee
- Schedule: Meetings are held monthly, usually on the 2nd Monday, from 9:00 - 10:30 am.
- Update:
- Weekend Banner maintenance is complete; most functionality is restored.
- Important: Links to Banner, Argos, or Xtender have changed; refer to the portal for updated locations.
- After the Banner migration, some users are unable to attach documents to requisitions. The issue is under investigation; users may need to attach documents through Xtender as a temporary work around.
- Updates will be provided once the problem is resolved.
- If you experience any issues, contact the help desk.
- Technology Council
- Schedule: Meetings are held bi-monthly, usually on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday, from 2:30-4:00 pm.
- No Update
October 2024 Ticket Summary
Here’s a brief overview of ITS activity:
Total Tickets (Whole Department)
- August: 682
- September: 593
- October: 567
Location-less Tickets
327 tickets had no location specified.
Most Common Location-less Forms:
- Computer Help (for ithelp@hancockcollege.edu): 83
- I Can't Sign In: 33
- Request Computers and Equipment': 30
- Problem Form: 30
- New Banner User or Banner Security Update: 23
Lompoc Valley Campus (LVC) Tickets
18 tickets originated from the Lompoc Valley Campus.
Top 5 Buildings Reporting Tickets at LVC:
- LVC 1: 9
- LVC 5: 5
- LVC 2: 3
- LVC 3: 1
(Only four unique buildings reported tickets.)
Top 5 Forms Used at LVC:
- Something Broke: 11
- Install Something: 5
- Problem Form: 1
- VOIP Telephone Request: 1
(Only four unique ticket types used.)
Santa Maria Valley Campus (SM) Tickets
222 tickets originated from the Santa Maria Valley Campus.
Top 5 Locations Reporting Tickets:
- Building A: 57
- Building G: 26
- Building M: 20
- Building B: 19
- Building S: 15
Top 5 Forms Used at SM Campus:
- Something Broke (iPaaS): 118
- Install Something: 48
- Audio/Visual Event Request (New): 21
- VOIP Telephone Request: 9
- Classroom/Cart Maintenance Request: 7