Tuesday, May 31, 2016

IST issues statement on accidental workstation re-imaging

by Bruce Campbell

In order to manage thousands of Nexus workstations, IST relies heavily on system administration tools and automation. These tools and processes allow us to deliver new or updated software packages in a timely manner, and ensure computers are kept current and secure with patches and other upgrades. These tools are very powerful, and the impact of an error can thus be widespread.

On Wednesday, May 25 a ‘podium image’, reserved for use on workstations found within classrooms across campus, was inadvertently deployed to a group of academic support workstations, rather than just the single computer intended. Approximately 277 workstations were affected, with the impact on those varying in severity, causing some workstations to rebuild and rendering others unusable. 

Over the next couple of days we worked closely with our clients to ensure all affected workstations were restored to an operable state, and addressed requests to correct workstation configurations. These latter efforts will take time, and this work is our top priority.

The Nexus environment is designed to store user files and the desktop configuration on a network share, which is safe from harm, however any files stored on the local C: disk of affected workstations have been lost. Additionally, any applications installed locally through use of local administrator privileges will need to be reinstalled.

We recognize the magnitude of this incident and the impact it has had on our clients.  We have worked hard over the years to gain your trust in our systems, delivery, and support. Please accept our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience, lost content, and lost time resulting from this unfortunate mistake. We are exploring all options to minimize the chances of this type of error recurring.

Thank you for your patience and support in helping us resolve this issue.

Related issues and requests can be submitted to our team at rt-ist-workstations@rt.uwaterloo.ca.

Resources: Summary of computer states and next steps – May 26

Members of 25, 35, 45-Year Clubs named

The University of Waterloo will welcome 98 new members into its 25-Year, 35-Year, and 45-Year Clubs at a celebration event in June.

There are 64 new inductees into the 25-Year Club. Employees who started working at Waterloo in 1991 include:

Glenn Anderson, William Anderson, Jane Arnem, Wilma Balvert, Byron Becker, Alan Binns, Linda Bloos, Eric Breugst, Natalia Cadilha, Stephen Cook, William Coram, Chrysanne DiMarco, Walter Duley, Colin Ellard, Christopher Engel, Rossana Frowd, Mario Gauthier, Catherine Gebotys, Patricia Graf, Vincent Greenaway, Ted Harms, Geoffrey Hayes, Dave Johnston, Donna Joudrey, Vassili Karanassios, Gini Kennings, Caroline Kierstead, Sharon Kimberley, Carol Knipe, Gary Kosar, Gerd Kursikowski, Susan Leat, Roland Lynn, Marie-Paule Macdonald, Nancy Maloney, Lori McConnell, Dave McDougall, Andrew Miller, Daniel Miller, Anne Marie Miraglia, Jessica Miranda, Harry Merkel, Edna Nelson, Naomi Nishimura, Iovan Oprea, Daniel Parent, Paul Parker, Rajinder Pal, Eric Praetzel, Lisa Prokopich, David Rudolph, Peter Schepers, Kathryn Schieckoff, Stephen Sempson, Peter Speek, Mark Spencer, Mary Stanley, Bozica Stevanovic, Sherry Townes, Lynda Weigel, Brad Winder, Tony Wirjanto, Raymond White, and Martin Yescas.

The 30 employees who started at Waterloo 35 years ago in 1981 include:

Susan Andrews, Howard Armitage, Derek Besner, Michael Carbage, James Chambers, Donald Delaney, Scott Desormeaux, Marko Dumancic, Karen Dyck, Richard Gordon, Manfred Grisebach, Sarah Gunz, Robert Harrison, John Jaray, Maureen Jones, Duane Kennedy, Katie Kent, Drew Knight, Mary McColl, John Medley, Jeanette Nugent, Kevin Oberle, Bernie           Roehl, Wendy Rush, Alan Smith, Marianne Vandergriendt, Janet Venne, Ann Williams-Gorrie, Janice Willwerth, and Erik Woody.

The 4 inductees into Waterloo's 45-Year Club, who started their careers at the University in 1971, include:

Harry Meier, James Munro, Brian Reid, and James Walker.

The milestone celebration reception takes place on Tuesday, June 21 at 6:00 p.m. in the Physical Activities Complex.

Congratulations all on achieving these impressive employment milestones!

Raising the wellness of the whole person at Waterloo

This is the latest in a series of #UWStratPlan stories that profile some of the initiatives that are part of the robust efforts to implement the Strategic Plan. 

So many expectations, so little time to meet them all. It’s an age-old lament for university students under pressure.

The University of Waterloo is changing the tune, lead by Walter Mittelstaedt, the University’s first director of campus wellness. The role was recommended by a task force examining-mental health services for Waterloo students.

"What we’re talking about is putting effort and resources into the well-being and safety of students," Mittelstaedt says. "This is about helping students thrive in multiple areas of life."

Wellness falls under the theme of vibrant student experience in the Strategic Plan that advances Waterloo’s reputation as a world-class institution for learning and career development. It’s a broad topic that includes:

• Providing counselling for stress and related mental health concerns;
• The promotion of respectful sexual behaviour and good judgment around eating, sleeping and the consumption of alcohol; and
• Responding to health concerns of students through the provision of nursing and physician services.

Part of Mittelstaedt’s job is to improve connections among a widespread array of existing services. But the wellness program also involves working with student-life staff on being vigilant for the signs of distress and mental illness among students in residence.

And the program builds a welcoming environment to accommodate students who come to school with mental illness, and helps them become successful graduates.

“We view mental-health concerns so differently now,’’ Mittelstaedt says. “Part of our wellness initiative is to address stigma and make sure people recognize it is possible to live with a mental-health problem.”

Read the rest of the article on the Strategic Plan website.