Month: November 2022

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Device Replacement News – November ’22

About the device replacement programme

Device lifecycle logo

Device lifecycle logo

The New Ways of Working (NWoW) Programme is an ambitious project including a sub-programme to replace all University devices with a standardised, easy to support-and-use, modern and portable device. The project to replace these aligns closely with the University’s strategic aims in terms of new ways of working, and this Programme will work closely with Estates, Health and Safety and HR to ensure consistency across each of these working areas, with a specific focus on digital flexibility and efficient working.

November Update

In our last post Device Replacement October update, we told you about our plans for the coming weeks to get the next phase up and running.

We have placed an order with our suppliers for the next batch of laptops. This has meant we have been able to take advantage of a bulk order discount.

We have recruited a device lifecycle engagement analyst who will start at the beginning of December. Also, we have recruited two additional dedicated User Support technicians, who will start working alongside our experienced engineers next month.

The envisioning centre in the URS Building is almost ready to accept visitors, and we expect it to be live before the Christmas break. Booking a visit for specific areas will be arranged through our engagement analyst.

Pilot: Human Resources

Photo of a desk with computer equipment

Example of a hot desk for HR (not all equipment supplied by DTS)

During the last week of November, our User Support technicians will be checking with the assigned stakeholders in HR to make sure that everything is set up and working as they required. This is an essential part of the device delivery process; ensuring everything that was agreed at the start of the project has been delivered before customer sign off. 

Next steps

Once HR have signed off the work, we will move to the next group. For the last month or so, our Business Relationship Managers have been contacting their areas to find out more detailed requirements and this has fed into the information we hold about the age of all devices to enable us to produce a draft schedule of work. As a result, the next area will be Legal (before Christmas), followed by Student Services (after the Christmas break).

Further information

We are in the process of setting up new communication channels, in the meantime if you need information about the device replacement programme, please raise a ticket with the IT Service Desk who will pass it to the team.

If you need a new device, this has reverted to the pre pandemic process and should be arranged through your department.

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DTS Annual Survey 2022

SURVEY NOW CLOSED

Each year DTS carries out a short survey to make sure we are fulfilling our role in supporting the University staff and their digital requirements.

We are pleased to launch the 2022 annual DTS Survey today. In this year’s short survey, we hope to get an idea of what staff members would like from their DTS department, whilst gaining an idea of how we are performing in day-to-day support tasks.

Previous years’ feedback has allowed us to implement the popular Teaching and Learning priority phone line for those calling from teaching and learning environments, the IT Status Hub, the implementation of a new phone system with place in queue and call back functionality, a wider selection of Self-Help guides, and a campus-wide Wi-Fi refresh amongst other initiatives.

With the feedback received this year, we plan to use this input to implement further improvements as well as hosting roadshows, focus groups and workshops to allow you to help shape our way forward. Further details of this will be shared via the DTS website in 2023. 

The survey will remain open until the Christmas break, please encourage your colleagues to respond. We look forward to your responses and sharing the findings in the future.

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Blackboard issues 7/11/22

Update: 7/11/22. This has now been resolved

There was a problem with the overnight import of enrolment data from RISIS into Blackboard, which meant that many students’ enrolments on Blackboard courses became disabled – i.e. students could not see the courses on which they were enrolled.

Any assessments due today will need to have their deadline extended by 24 hours.
Programme Administrators are already aware of this, and of what steps need to be taken.

DTS have identified the problem and we are in the process of resolving it. We will be running the enrolment scripts again and expect this process to be complete for all students by around 11:00 7/11/22.

The announcements in Blackboard regarding this will be updated when we are sure the issues are all fixed.

In the meantime, you can check the IT Status Page for updates.