Daily Bulletin

Computing support meeting "Year 2K -- are we ready?" is among the agenda items as the FACulty Computing User Support group (FACCUS) meets today. The session will run from 1:30 to 3:00 in Math and Computer room 2009. Here's the full agenda: SAW Update (Carol Vogt) Office 2000 -- Should We Upgrade? (Carol Vogt) ZDU Update and Experiences to Date (Bob Hicks) Y2K -- Are We Ready? (Around the table discussion) Request System Update (Paul Snyder) New Things in the Winter Term (around the table discussion) Best Practices in Customer Service In-house Help Desks (Bob Hicks) "All are welcome to attend," says Bob Hicks of information systems and technology.

Final advice, comfort about Year 2K

"The year is coming to an end quickly," Black points out in a final Year 2000 memo reassuring people that there isn't going to be a Y2K collapse of computing systems at UW or, likely, anywhere else, despite endless talk over the past few months about a Year 2K Bug.

Says Black's memo: "IST anticipates there will be no major problems over the holiday season (December 24 to January 3 inclusive), and is treating this closure as it always does.

"Most facilities should be operational during this time, and normal channels should be used to report problems.

"We do suggest, however, that all workstations be shut down and turned off before the closure. Waterloo Polaris users may choose to leave their machines on as they normally do. Unix workstations should be left on, to allow automatic updates that may occur during the holidays."

It goes on: "While we do not anticipate major problems on January 4, it may be more hectic than usual, and so we are asking users to be as flexible and understanding as possible. We also suggest that you report any problems through your local computer support person or group.

"When you return on January 4, workstations should be powered on and the date and time should be checked manually:

PC: Start menu -- Settings -- Control Panel -- Date/Time
Mac: Apple menu -- Control Panels -- Date & Time

If problems arise, he says, users should follow these guidelines:

1. All problems should be centralized through your local computer support person or group since IST will give top priority to problems that have been reported in this manner.
2. If access to a browser (e.g. Netscape, Internet Explorer) is available, check the IST home page for a news flash in case it's a reported problem and information is already available. If a solution is still required, then contact the IST HelpDesk at ext. 4357.
3. All non-critical requests should be sent to request@ist.
4. As usual, the IST HelpDesk in the CHIP (Math and Computer room 1052) will be open 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 4. IST has a web page with detailed information about the possible Year 2000 problem and what has to be done -- by individuals, as well as computing system administrators -- to check that various kinds of hardware and software are Y2K compliant.

   Ottawa blamed for funding cuts

   The federal government has shown a declining "commitment" to higher education over the past two decades, and funding cuts aren't just the result of efforts to balance the budget, says a British Columbia study.

   Andrew Petter, minister of advanced education in BC's New Democratic government, presented the study to a conference of provincial and territorial education ministers earlier this month.

   "At a time when Ottawa is acknowledging the growing importance of post-secondary education to students and the economy," he said, "the federal government has dramatically reduced the priority it places on post-secondary funding."

   His news release says the share of federal program spending devoted to post-secondary education has declined by 50 per cent over the past 20 years, from 3.3 per cent in 1979 to 1.6 per cent in 1998. "This study explodes the myth that federal post-secondary education cuts have been driven by deficit reduction alone," said Petter. "It shows that the federal government's commitment to education itself has declined."

   The study also claims that, "despite provincial efforts to cushion the impact of recent federal cuts, public spending on post-secondary education in Canada has declined 20 per cent on a per-student basis over the past two decades. Spending in the United States has increased 30 per cent in the same period."

   Says Petter: "This pattern of declining federal support for post-secondary education at a time when support in other countries is increasing threatens to weaken our competitive position and is already having adverse consequences for students and institutions."

   Other findings in the report:

   • Average tuition fees in Canada have increased by $1,850 since 1990, a jump of 119 per cent as institutions have been forced to pass the effect of the funding cuts on to students.
   • Canada's post-secondary enrolment has gone down by 2.8 per cent since 1992 "and higher tuition costs have virtually frozen participation rates among low-income families, reinforcing traditional class barriers."
   • "Education pays off for individuals and society: people with university degrees earn, on average, $15,000 more per year than people who have high school diplomas."
   "We urgently need to address these issues before irreparable damage is done to our national education system," said Petter. "Federal 'boutique programs' cannot compensate for the decline in core program funding over the past 20 years. What is needed is a commitment from the federal government to restore post-secondary funding now."

   Computing courses in January

   The department of information systems and technology has issued a list of its January computing courses -- offered free of charge to UW faculty, staff and students. Here's what's on the menu next month:
   • Introduction to Unix
   • Moving Files to/from Unix
   • Learning More about Unix
   • Using LaTeX for Theses and Large Documents
   • Mathematical Computations Using Mathcad
   • Statistical Analysis Using Excel
   • Keeping Up with Your Research Literature -- Electronically (offered by the library in cooperation with IST)
   More information and a registration form for the courses are available on the web. The same web site has information about the Skills for the Electronic Workplace program (primarily for staff), IST's web-based courses, and the new Skills for the Academic e-Workplace program, which we'll be hearing more about in the new year.

   Registrar's office cuts some fees

   There's some good news for people who need service from the registrar's office, says a note from Peter Burroughs, the director of admissions. "This 'good news' notice is that a number of services provided by the registrar's office through our customer services area will be adjusted downward."

   The changes in fees are effective January 1, says Burroughs. "Currently, we charge GST on fees paid for various services. This results in students having to pay various odd amounts of money depending on the service provided which can create some confusion and incomplete payments on the part of our clients and subsequent additional work for our staff. For example, simply keeping and making change at the customer services area is time-consuming and possibly prone to error.

   "In order to simplify life for our customers and our staff, a new schedule of fees has been approved which will basically absorb the GST within the total fees charged without raising the cost of our services."

   Here's the new price list:

   • Transcripts: $8.00.
   • Replacement Diplomas: $20.00.
   • Letters of Permission: $25.00.
   • Copies of Grade Reports: $3.00.
   • To Whom it May Concern Letters: $5.00.
   Burroughs says he understands some other UW departments may be taking similar steps to include GST in the prices they charge and round off the prices to convenient numbers.

   CAR

   ---

   Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
   Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
   credmond@uwaterloo.ca | (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
   | Yesterday's Bulletin
   Copyright © 1999 University of Waterloo