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This page details the state of user-facing campus technology and the status of technology upgrade projects.

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Summary of Known Issues

Note

IT SUPPORT

If you are aware of an issue, especially with classroom technology, email itsupport@pccc.edu to ensure the IT team is aware. If you cannot reach anyone by phone, leave a voice mail to auto-create a support request.

Include:

  • Name and call back number

  • Brief description of the issue

  • Building and room #

If there is no support ticket in our system, it will not get attention.

  1. The podiums in Academic Hall classrooms rely on virtual desktop computers that have limited support for USB flash drives.
    Workaround: Access files through OneDrive via web browser.

  2. The programming of podium A/V controllers in PAC, WAC, HH, and FH upgraded classrooms is incomplete (scheduled for completion this winter).
    Workaround: Remote controls are required for cameras and display devices.

  3. The new PCCC wireless networks are secure and require a PCCC or guest account to connect. This creates inconvenience for some cohorts of users, most notably continuing education students.
    Solution: The IT office creates custom wireless logon credentials for these user cohorts upon request (email: itsupport@pccc.edu).

  4. Some audio-visual components in recently upgraded classrooms are failing as the rooms see heavy technology use. Common component failures include USB extension cables or display adapters. They are small, easily replaceable components, but their failure can be highly disruptive. This is not uncommon for recently upgraded rooms, and the failure rate sharply declines after the “burn in” phase.
    Solution: IT has stocked replacement parts in anticipation of these failures and ordered extra replacement components as inventory has diminished. Supply chain issues have introduced some delays, especially for more complex parts that may have malfunctioned.

  5. The scaling out of technology across almost all classrooms and campuses significantly increased the amount of management and support required by the IT department, yet the support staff has not grown.
    Solutions:
    1. The IT department is trying to hire additional part-time staff to increase coverage and reduce response times. Finding IT talent is difficult in the current market.
    2. Academic Affairs has grown the course navigators program to assist faculty that are new to teaching in concurrent classrooms.
    3. The Distance Learning department and Center for Teaching and Learning have provided professional development opportunities to assist faculty in becoming more comfortable with the concurrent classroom technology.
    4. The IT department is updating instructions on all podiums.

Employee Computing:

  • Moving to Office 365 and Office 2019 in special use cases

  • Manage laptops and physical desktops from the cloud

  • Require all employees to bring laptops on campus to update (an IT representative will contact you to schedule an update if we do not see your laptop on the new monitoring system)

Classroom Technology

In the 2021 - 2022 time frame, the technology in many classrooms was upgraded using federal funding. Classrooms allocated for concurrent class usage also received additional technology to support interaction with remote students.

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LOCATION

STATUS

NOTES AND KNOWN ISSUES

Wanaque Academic Center

Status
colourBlue
titleFUll Functionality PENDING

Status
colourGreen
titleUpgraded Tech

Podium media controllers require reprogramming.

Temporary remote controls used for cameras and display devices.

Passaic Academic Center

Status
colourBlue
titleFUll Functionality PENDING

Status
colourGreen
titleUpgraded Tech

Podium media controllers require reprogramming.

Temporary remote controls used for cameras and display devices.

Public Safety Academy

Status
colourGreen
titleFully Functional

Status
colourGreen
titleUpgraded Tech

Paterson - Memorial Hall

Status
colourGreen
titleFully Functional

Status
colourGreen
titleUpgraded Tech

Paterson - Hamilton Hall

Status
colourBlue
titleFUll Functionality PENDING

Status
colourGreen
titleUpgraded Tech

Podium media controllers require reprogramming.

Temporary remote controls used for cameras and display devices.

Paterson - Academic Hall

Status
colourPurple
titleFunctional

Status
titleOld Tech

Status
colourYellow
titlePENDING UPGRADE

Scheduled for winter break 2022.

Podiums still use VDI. Instructors should logon with their PCCC account.

Access files and presentations via OneDrive if USB flash drives are not supported.

Paterson - Founders Hall

Status
colourBlue
titleFUll Functionality PENDING

Status
colourGreen
titleUpgraded Tech

Podium media controllers require reprogramming.

Temporary remote controls used for cameras and display devices.

Paterson - Community Tech. Center

Status
titleOld Tech

Status
colourYellow
titlePENDING UPGRADE

Equipment ordered. Implementation TBD.

Some classrooms functional, but most offline in preparation for upgrades.

Paterson - Zendell Hall

Status
colourGreen
titleFully Functional
Status
titleOld Tech

Paterson - Church St.

Status
colourGreen
titleFully Functional
Status
titleOld Tech

Paterson - 126 Broadway

Status
colourGreen
titleFully Functional
Status
titleOld Tech

...

Status
colourGreen
titleFully Functional

Classroom technology in the room is fully functional.

Status
colourGreen
titleUpgraded Tech

Classrooms have the current standard of technology for traditional or concurrent classrooms.

Status
titleOld Tech

Classrooms have the previous standard of technology for traditional classrooms. Concurrent classes not supported.

Status
colourBlue
titleFUll Functionality PENDING

Classrooms are functional and have the current standard of technology. However, there are pending configuration items yet to be completed.

Status
colourYellow
titlePENDING UPGRADE

Upgrade of classroom technology has been budgeted, approved, and is in the planning or implementation process.

Status
colourPurple
titleFunctional

Classroom technology is functional but is not at the current standard or may require some work-arounds.

Laptop display adapters may be necessary to connect to the podiums, for example.

Upcoming work and schedule

  • Winter 2022: The programming of podium media controllers in HH, FH, PAC and WAC classrooms is scheduled for the winter. Upon completion, the remote controls will no longer be necessary, and the rooms will be considered 100% complete and up to the current technology standard.

  • Winter 2022: The upgrade of Academic Hall classrooms to the current standard of technology will occur over the winter break.

Wireless Network

PCCC provides two wireless networks at the Paterson, Wanaque, Passaic, and Wayne campus locations.

  • PCCC_SECURED - for all users with a PCCC account

  • PCCC_GUEST - for guests to campus

The wireless networks support up to Wi-Fi 6 (or 802.11ax) connectivity.

Info

If you have a cohort of users without PCCC accounts that needs access to the PCCC wireless network (e.g., students of continuing education programs), please submit a request for access to itsupport@pccc.edu.

Computer Labs and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

PCCC uses VMware Horizon 8 to support virtual desktop computers in computer labs and across campus to meet specific user computing needs. The VDI environment was completely rebuilt in August 2022 in preparation for the fall 2022 semester. See below for deployment status and known issues.

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