*Download Faculty and Staff Service Catalog (PDF)
BlazerID Enabled Distribution/Recognition of Official Content (BEDROC)
BEDROC is a tool used to disseminate content deemed official to defined populations of UAB employees and students. BEDROC records acknowledgement that the content has been viewed and understood. Recipients are automatically notified that content is available for viewing, and can be sent periodic reminders.
BlazerID
The BlazerID is your log-on identification to all computing resources offered by UAB.
BlazerNET
One-stop-shopping for students, faculty and staff. Access systems, policies, forms, training schedules and resources to conduct research.
Budgeting
UAB's budgeting development tool is known as the "Budget Model" system for use by UAB employees.
Cell Phone Service
Employees, with manager's approval, can request cell phone services. Employees can also take advantage of personal cell phone service discounts offered through Verizon Wireless.
Class Email Distribution Service (CEDS)
CEDS provides a mechanism to easily send email to an entire class or group of classes.
Collaboration Software
UAB IT offers SharePoint, a Microsoft program, to use for ‘intranet' purposes. Web sites can be requested that will maintain the preferred look and feel of the department's request. These sites can be used to manage project or meeting documentation, calendars and communication.
Communication Engineering Consultation
Consultation services for configuring new equipment installations, making changes to existing configurations or installing additional voice/data wiring and jacks are available.
Computer Hardware
UAB has open contracts with vendors to purchase Apple, Dell and Lenovo desktop and laptop computers. UAB and Dell have contracted to provide employees with multiple desktop and laptop configurations based on employee needs. Additionally some of the vendors offer discounts for students, faculty and staff.
Conference Phones (Polycom):
Polycom speaker phones can be reserved for conferences on campus. These phones can be ordered for departments wishing to purchase one for exclusive use. Since the supply of these sets is limited, reservations should be made in advance.
Conference Services (Meet-Me Conference):
Meet-Me Conferencing is a feature available for use by UAB personnel. Since there are a limited number of conference bridges available, the bridges should be reserved in advance. An access number will be supplied and each participant can dial in at a specified date and time to join the conference.
Course Development Tips & Guides
Tips and guides on developing online courses are now available to faculty.
- How to access: blazernet.uab.edu > "Faculty Resources" tab > "Teaching and Learning Technology" channel
Data/Drive Recovery Services
UAB has worked with DriveSavers Data Recovery to put a contract in place for drive/data recovery services. This is not an exclusive contract, but one that is available to the UAB community to use if desired. The contract already includes agreed-to and required HIPAA and confidentiality language so everything is in-place for use by the UAB community.
Data Warehousing-Cognos
Cognos is a data reporting and analysis tool used for ad-hoc and standard report execution using Banner Operational Data Store (ODS) data. Instructor-led training or one-on-one training is available.
Departmental Computing
Departmental Computing provides services to UAB organizations ranging from information requests to software application development. Our objective is to deliver product solutions that integrate processes and business challenges with technology to satisfy organizational requirements.
Desktop Support
Computer Desktop Support is available for contracted customers and non-contracted customers, for a fee. Desktop Support provides services for Linux, Mac and Windows systems such as desktop/laptop setup, patching, group policies, firewall, laptop PGP encryption, virus protection and special application support. Services for BlackBerry/PDA support and printer repair are also available.
Desktop Web Conferencing / Microsoft Live Meeting
The Microsoft Live Meeting Service allows you to collaborate with other participants – online and in real-time – with powerful and easy to use document, application, and desktop sharing features.
Directory:
UAB's Electronic Phonebook provides fast and easy access to all listings of faculty, staff and students with a BlazerID.
DSL Off-Campus
UAB employees, with manager's approval, can request high speed Internet access provided by AT&T.
Email (Campus Exchange)
Campus Exchange, UAB's campus email server, allows faculty, staff and students to create an account and use various email applications including Outlook, Outlook Web Access and clients capable of POP/IMAP to access their email. All UAB email accounts have a size limit of one GB for faculty and staff and 100MB for students. Check your usage towards the size limit at UAB IT Billing.
Email (Web Access)
Outlook Web Access (OWA) provides the user the ability to access their email from any computer connected to the Internet.
Encryption
PGP Whole Disk Encryption software for laptops is available for free to all UAB faculty and staff. Installing this software minimizes the risk of data being stolen from a mobile device like laptops or PDAs.
Equipment Accounting System
UAB's asset management system known as "Sunflower" provides units of UAB the ability to track department-owned hardware.
File Management Services - Storage Solutions
Disk storage space is available on an enterprise class Storage Area Network (SAN) with backup to tape for most platforms. This is a fee based offering.
File Management Services - UABFile
UABFile is the common name used when referring to Central IT file management services. Central file services include a highly available hardware configuration as well as daily backup services. Storage utilization over the allotted amount is offered at a yearly rate. Check your usage towards the allotted amount at UAB IT Billing.
File Transfers
The DropBox service is available for use by faculty, staff and students needing to send large files outside of email. By utilizing this service the user will limit their use of email storage allotment and allow the email system to operate efficiently.
Google Search Appliance
The Google Search Appliance is the tool used at UAB to enable searches across UAB web pages. It will find pages that are not publicly available, and it will retrieve password-protected pages. The Google Search Appliance can be added to your web page by adding the HTML code specific to the appliance. Search results can be tailored to a specific sub-site of UAB.
Help Desk - AskIT
UAB's Information Technology (IT) help desk, AskIT, supports all students, faculty and staff with any of the services provided by IT.
- How to access: main.uab.edu/sites/it/askit/
- Email: AskIT@uab.edu
- Phone: 205-996-5555
- In Person: Lister Hill Library, located on the first floor, open during library hours; Blazer Hall, room 128, open Monday -Thursday 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.; Cudworth Hall, room 225, open Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
High Performance Computing - Shibboleth
This identity framework, offered through UAB's High Performance Computing Services, provides access to regional, national and international collaborators. Via Shibboleth, collaborators can communicate over the UABgrid.
High Performance Computing - UABGrid
UABGrid connects users to high performance and collaboration resources on campus, within the state and around the globe. It provides uniform access to local applications and High Performance Computing clusters, and integrates with the application platforms SURAgrid, TeraGrid and caBIG.
Human Resources and Finance System
An integrated suite of Human Resources (HR) and Finance modules for administrative operations and record keeping. Employees can access the self-service application, and faculty and staff can access HR and Finance applications to conduct day-to-day business.
Imaging Systems
Imaging systems (Optidoc/WebIT, Xtender) provide users with the ability to store paper documents as images for retention, searching and retrieval.
Information Security - Anti-Spam
UAB automatically provides spam filtering for all email users that have an @uab.edu email address.
Information Security - Anti-Virus Protection
UAB IT offers free antivirus protection software at no cost to all faculty, staff and students. All UAB-owned machines, all personal laptops used for UAB business and all home machines used to remote into the UAB network must be protected by antivirus software.
Information Security - Firewalls
UAB's border firewall provides the first layer of protection for hosts on the campus network. The Information Security Office decides what traffic will and will not pass through the border firewall. For a fee, a department can choose to have its own departmental firewall which will provide a secondary level of protection between the department and campus networks. Rules for these firewalls are controlled by the individual department.
Information Security - Forensic Analysis
Computer forensic investigations are coordinated through the Information Security Office for any UAB department requiring investigative solutions.
Information Security - Incident Response
The Information Security Office provides a monitoring capability for UAB's entire campus, and acts as a lead on information security incidents. Report any suspect security incident online.
Information Security - Penetration Assessments:
Penetration testing for internally developed and third-party commercial web applications is performed by the Information Security Office. Assessments will be completed based on the system administrator's request to protect against unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Information Security - Risk Assessments
Assistance with risk assessments for organizations across campus is available for compliance and security efforts. Risk assessments can be performed around existing practices, and assistance in development of security requirements for new projects and implementations is available.
Information Security - Training
General security awareness training courses are available through BlazerNET for all UAB faculty and staff.
Information Security - Vulnerability Scanning
Application and network-based vulnerability scanners are operated by the Information Security Office. All vulnerabilities are reported to affected system administrators.
Internal Communications
UAB offers several methods of internal communication, including the eReporter, BlazerNET, email lists, mass emails and personal distribution lists. Please review the "Best Practices for Internal Electronic Communications" page to determine which method of distribution is applicable for your communication.
Off-Campus Internet VPN Access
Virtual Private Network (VPN) access is used to make a remote host look as though it is connected locally to the campus network, while also providing a secure encrypted tunnel.
- Requirements to access: User must have the VPN software client and a BlazerID.
- How to Access: Download the VPN software at www.uab.edu/it/software.
Online Classroom
The online classroom, or virtual classroom, is UAB's way of extending the student learning experience beyond the traditional classroom. Online courses are offered to supplement the traditional classroom, or as fully online courses. All academic courses are automatically activated each term. Modifications are available to online courses when requested.
Online Tutorials
Online tutorials for designers and instructors of Blackboard Vista courses are available. These are designed to get the user started with how to use teaching and learning technology.
- Requirements to access: BlazerID
- How to Access: blazernet.uab.edu >" Courses and Training" tab> "Faculty Dashboard" channel.
PDAs/Blackberry Service
Employees with manager's approval can request PDA/Blackberry service. These devices are contracted through Verizon Wireless as a one-time cost. For devices not contracted through Verizon, there is a one-time cost and annual license renewal fee.
Report Tools - Cognos
Cognos is a data reporting and analysis tool used for ad-hoc and standard report execution using the Banner Operational Data Store (ODS) and the Application Data Mart as the data source. Training is available via instructor-led training, or one-on-one training is available.
Reports
Reports created for administrative units are available via the Report Viewer.
Server Management
System administration for both Windows and Unix platforms is available. Specific support functions include system monitoring, hardware maintenance, patching and data backup. This is a fee based offering.
Software
UAB IT offers an extensive library of software for free or at discounted pricing. Faculty, staff and students can download much of the software from the software library site. Other software listed on the website is available at Barnes & Noble @ UAB Bookstore for a minimal fee.
- How to Access: www.uab.edu/it/software
- Barnes & Noble at UAB Bookstore, 150 Hill University Center, 1400 7th Avenue South, 205-996-2665
- Phone: AskIT 205-996-5555
Teaching and Learning
Instructional Technology provides services and support to faculty related to technology used in both the online/blended and classroom learning environments. Services include instructor-led training, workshops, one-on-one consultations, media services, assistance with Blackboard Vista, Wimba Live and other technology tools plus tips, guides and resources on developing online courses. For more details and contact information see the Instructional Technology website
Telephone - Annoyance Calls Reporting
Experience has shown that most nuisance callers will give up after one or two attempts if they are given no attention. For those callers which persist, there is a procedure in place at UAB for identifying the annoyance caller.
Telephone Service
UAB provides a wide range of telephone services for students, faculty and staff. Please visit the following web pages to obtain information about requesting service, long distance rates and other related services.
Training and Development
UAB IT works in conjunction with UAB Training & Development to offer technology-based training courses. A comprehensive list of all technology courses can be found online.
Website Hosting
Students, faculty, staff, alumni and retired employees can request a personal web site. To be eligible the user must be registered in the UAB Electronic Phonebook with a BlazerID.
Wireless Network
UAB's wireless network, UABWiFi, is available in convenient areas on campus, including residence halls, classrooms, the student center and others areas. UAB provides WiFi access to all students, faculty, and staff free of charge. Access is provided to guests with the approval of the UAB host. To access UABWiFi a user must have a capable wireless device, a BlazerID and WEP Key.
Workshops
Workshops are provided to equip faculty with effective tools for developing blended learning courses. Workshops are available on Blackboard Vista Basics and Enhanced; Blended and Online Course Design; Respondus and Turnitin; Hands-On and Teaching with Blackboard Vista. For times and registration see the calendar of Training & Education