Office of Technology Administration Newsletter FEBRUARY 2022

The Office of Technology Administration Xavier University of Louisiana Issue: 5 / Volume 4 / FEBRUARY 2022 Building Cloud-Based Student Systems That Last and Technology Investments for the Future Inside this issue:  New Technology Hires 2  Departmental Promotions 3  XULA’s OTA Partnership with NTIA’s Broadband USA 4  Migration of Faculty and Staff Email 5  Migration to a New MyXULA internal Portal 5  Cybersecurity Update on Student Freedom Initiative 5  Classroom Automation and Multi-Media 6  XULA Data Center 6  Offer from Student Freedom Initiative 6  New Transact Campus System 7  Expanding the Outdoor Wireless Infrastructure 7

From the VP/CIO of OTA In the February Newsletter we share several large, completed OTA pro- jects from 2021 and new OTA projects for 2022 with improvements in stu- dents’ ONE Card services, a new cloud-based student attendance model and expanding the wireless infrastructure on the south side of XULA’s campus in preparation for new residence housing for students. The remainder of the classrooms are also modernized with multi-media equipment. Dr. Mable Moore Vice President/CIO Welcome OTA’s New Employees Vera Johnson — Technical Support Specialist II I started working at Xavier on December 1, 2021. I have been working in Information Technology for over 16 years, and the best part of my job is helping end users solve any technical issues. In the past, I have trained users on how to do everyday tasks such as check email, set strong passwords, install antivirus software, and how to back up important files for safe keeping. On Sunday mornings, you will find me at the hair salon, and then watching my Saints play. Who Dat! I look forward to working with all of you! Kendall Coleman— Technical Support Specialist I I began my employment at Xavier on January 4, 2022 and this is my first job in my chosen field. My favorite thing about the job is when someone says, \"You've made my day so much better, thank you!\" I enjoy motivational speaking and on Sunday mornings, you can find me doing my meditation routine. I am excited to be a part of the Technology Administration team. 2

Brian Bowers Jr. Promotion: Manager of Web Development and Mobile Applications Brian has been with Xavier for 15 years, specializing in web and creative development as the Senior Webmaster with more than 20 years of experience in his field. Brian has expertise in cutting-edge creativity and problem-solving Web development skills. Latoya Bowman: Promotion: Junior Web Developer Latoya has served as our Web Content Specialist since 2016. I enjoy coming to a work environment that's diverse and inclusive in times of adversity. I enjoy the people I work with, coding and learning new coding techniques. Kanetra Tillotson Promotion: Sr. DBA / Senior Systems Analyst Kanetra has more than 11 years of experience, and arrived at Xavier in June of 2018. She serves as the department’s System Admin/DBA. My job is exciting with opportunities to learn new skills and assist others with those skills. Jabari Wilson PROMOTED: Senior Programmer Jabari has been with the university for 3 years and serves as the department‘s Junior App's Programmer. I enjoy the challenges that the job brings daily, no matter the complexity. I really appreciate the tightknit circle that our department has, we work closely with each other. I look forward to providing a superb technology support service to the university and student body by pitching in wherever IT is needed. 3

XULA’s OTA Partnership with NTIA’s Broadband USA (BBUSA) Jenestaer Horne Special Assignment: Program Manager Jenestaer has been appointed to work as Program Manager of XULA’s OTA partnership with NTIA’s Broadband USA (BBUSA) College Partnership. Broadband success requires both Infrastructure and digital inclusion that ensures individuals and communities have access and connectivity. Ms. Horne will lead Xavier’s student workers participation and oversee their training and work assignments in the program. Our student workers will benefit by gaining experiential learning while being federally funded using XULA’s College Work Study program. Training will be virtual and includes independent seminar courses led by NTIA consultants. They will be provided direct educational training and broadband planning services to local community residents in selected anchor communities. Student workers will collect data that NTIA and XULA's faculty and staff can use to develop community-based strategic plans for anchor com- munities in the Connecting to Minority Communities (CMC) Pilot Program. 4

OFFICE TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION (OTA) FEBRUARY 2022 Newsletter Migration of Faculty and Staff Email and Documents to Outlook and OneDrive Completed (Dec 17-Dec 23, 2021) Migration to a New MyXULA internal Portal with lots of New Features Completed (Dec 22-23, 2021) Cybersecurity Update on Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) and NIST 800-171 Certification The OTA office continues to work through our partnership with SFI and establish additional critical Cybersecurity contacts from federal, state, and local government agencies that will ensure an effective, rapid response in the event of a cyber-attack. We have been working with several local cybersecurity advisors to create a cyber-workshop (tabletop exercises) and become aware of resources available locally and nationally to assist us. Over the past few months, we have been working with CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) and continue to work with the Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) updating policies, processes, and procedures with respect to controlled unclassified information (cui) and personal identifiable information (pii) to identify and protect XULA’s data according to NIST 800-171 standards. We will be working with all campus divisions to identify and protect university data moving forward. In late December 2021 and early January 2022, OTA received cybersecurity software and hardware as a part of the SFI Cyber project. The software has been installed and technology staff are training to maximize usage. Xavier CISA Tabletop Exercise Cabinet and Deans (January 19, 2022) Xavier’s Cybersecurity Tabletop held on January 19, 2022 was well received with a coordinated collective response and cybersecurity attendees and presenters from local, state, and national cybersecurity advisors: (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)); (NOHSEP and GOHSEP Offices of Homeland Security); LA State Police Cyber; LA National Guard Cyber; New Orleans FBI; and the U.S. Secret Service). Xavier’s Cabinet members, Deans, Information Security Officer (ISO) and Senior Technology staff were also in attendance. Cybersecurity presentations and Cybersecurity scenarios were presented from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at the workshop. 5

$1.043 Million in XULA Classroom Automation and Multi-Media Updates. Xavier has audio-video capability in about 65% of classrooms on campus currently. This project will upgrade aging equipment and add new AV technology in rooms with no teaching technology. After the project, every classroom, lab, and teaching space will be equipped with the latest teaching technology. Larger classrooms will be equipped with advanced web conferencing capability allowing faculty to utilize these rooms to teach in-person and remote students simultaneously. Expected completion summer 2022. Funded by HEERF. $ 86, 000 Classroom Audio Visual (AV) Security Monitoring System Installed As we invest more in classroom technology, monitoring these classrooms to prevent and deter vandalism and theft becomes necessary. The modern surveillance system selected for this project allows 24/7 remote monitoring of security cameras using a secure, easy-to-use management web portal. The cameras can retain three months of recordings. Thirty cameras have been installed and wired. Expected completion spring 2022. Funded by Title III. Migration to the Cloud of Critical Applications and Servers (Pending resources available and costs) before Hurricane Season The Office of Technology Administration is in the process of reviewing vendors and specifications for migration of critical resources prior to 2022 Hurricane season. Estimated completion date: June 1, 2022. Costs TBD XULA Data Center Five-Year Lease expires July 1, 2022 (OTA will migrate some servers and applications to the Cloud) The Office of Technology Administration is reviewing the five-year old Data Center Lease agreement and equipment that may need to be refreshed as well as moving most critical applications to the cloud environment. Estimated completion date: June 2022. Costs TBD Offer from Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) for XULA to become an HBCU Cisco Network Academy (TBD) as a part of SFI’s HBCU Social Justice Initiative Cisco’s Network Academy is an online learning management system with certifications in Cybersecurity, Network Administration and other technologies available to students, faculty, and staff. 6

New Transact Campus System for Secure Door Access and Electronic Student Attendance Funding was approved to install electronic card access technology to the external doors of the following buildings: Convocation Center, Convocation Annex, Music Building, the Library and the residence halls; St. Michael's, St. Katharine Drexel, Living Learning Center, and St. Martin DePorres. This involves replacing some doors and installing electrical power nearby so that POE (Power over Ethernet) delivers network connectivity to card readers that will be installed on the doors. A New Student attendance system for students will also be installed with updated magnetic strips, contactless readings, and mobile credentials to track student attendance in person or remotely. New XULA One card will be issued this spring with an updated magnetic strip and chip that allows transition from the old attendance readers to the new ones. Along with the new readers, we have licensed a cloud-based Attendance module, which has a user-friendly interface by which faculty can update a student's attendance who enters class late and is unable to use their card to record attendance. This is important to not adversely impact financial aid disbursement, which integrates attendance data to certain federal aid awards. Faculty will no longer need to send emails to the Registrar's Office to report students as present who didn't have their X-card or arrived too late to tap their card or use mobile credentials. Using the new system Faculty can also schedule their attendance reports to be emailed to them weekly or at whatever frequency they choose. Due to global supply chain issues, the attendance readers and door and installations have been delayed. As soon as the new attendance readers and doors become available, we will train staff and faculty on using the new system. Targeted completion for this project is before the first summer session 2022. Funded by Title III; Cost $409, 153.31 Expanding the Outdoor Wireless Infrastructure on the South side of Xavier’s Campus with modern wireless technology (Cisco’s Fluidmesh Wi-Fi) OTA will expand the outdoor wireless capacity on the south side of XULA’s campus with modern Cisco Fluidmesh Wireless technology, which is widely known and used for scalability in commuter services and the technology of choice by a large number of system integrators for light rail systems, buses, cars, and outdoor wireless services. Fluidmesh technology is well known for providing Wi-Fi in commuter services and once installed will provide consistent outdoor end user connectivity for mobile and moving devices. An additional 18 additional Wi-Fi antennas will be installed in addition to the twenty existing Wi-Fi outdoor devices. The new antennas for outdoor wireless will be installed on the south side, pathways between the south side and Union Center, and student gathering areas such as the Wellness Center, Student Union, St. Joseph, and Tennis Court. Estimated completion date: May 30, 2022. Funded by HEERF; Cost: $170,000 7

Support the next generation of eXcellence! Click Here XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA About Xavier University of Louisiana Xavier University of Louisiana, founded in 1925 by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, is the only Catholic and historically Black higher education institution in North America. The ultimate purpose of the University is to contribute to the promotion of a more just and humane society by preparing its students to assume roles of leadership and service in a global society. Xavier ranks first nationally in the number of African-American undergraduates continuing to complete medical school and is leading the nation in bachelor’s degrees granted to African Americans in the biological and biomedical sciences, the physical sciences, and physics, and in graduation of African- Americans who go on to earn doctorates in the sciences and engineering. OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION [OTA] Xavier University of Louisiana 1 Drexel Drive New Orleans, Louisiana 70125 8