New and Improved Services for Students
We would like to take the opportunity to announce the introduction of new and exciting initiatives that will be come into effect during 2005.
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myMQ Student Portal
After a successful pilot in 2004, the Student Portal is now available to all students. myMQ, the student portal, provides the gateway to information for current students. The myMQ Portal has been designed to bring all student resources to one location to access all your university resources. The Portal contains links to:- Student Email- Calendar- On Line Teaching Facility- Library catalogue and reserve systems- eStudent - Unit home pages- and many other student and university resources. Additional services will be added throughout the year.
Student Email – New Account
All Macquarie students are issued with an official University email account. It is now University policy that the University issued email account will be used for official University communication. All students are required to access their University account frequently. Alternatively, Email can be forwarded to another account but each student is responsible for the information sent to a non-Macquarie account and for managing mailbox size to ensure that account remains active.
Your new email account can be accessed via the portal, myMQ at https://my.mq.edu.au
.To Sign On to the portal use your Student Number, and your original MQID password ( ie 2 random characters followed by your date of birth in ddmmyy format).
Your Email Address can be viewed in portal.
The student email format will be first.last@students.mq.edu.au eg joe.blogs@students.mq.edu.au (subsequent joe blogs will be joe.blogs1@students.mq.edu.au, joe.blogs2@students.mq.edu.au, etc))
Your existing MQ email account located at http://mail.student.mq.edu.au will be phased out in Semester 1 and mail will be forwarded to your new account in the myMQ portal.
Access to University Systems
A key initiative to improve IT services to students in 2005 is consistent sign on. A survey of students in 2004 identified that students required an average of three, and in some instances up to six, user identifiers/passwords to access University systems.
By mid year all students will use a single user identity (Student Number) and password to access most systems. During transition the Student Portal and eStudent will be accessed by Student Number, all other systems will require the MQID user identifier. Further changes will be advised by email.
Policies
- Information Security Policy
All students should ensure they fully understand their responsibilities to help ensure the integrity, availability and confidentiality of Macquarie University’s information assets by reading the Information Security Policy. Compliance with the Information Security Policy and supporting standards and procedures is mandatory for students and staff.
A student guide to the Security Policy has also been developed to assist you in understanding your responsibilities.
- Information Technology Conditions of Use Rules
The users of the University’s IT facilities must ensure they; use computing resources ethically, observe academic and professional integrity, respect intellectual property and the ownership of data and software, and respect other users right to privacy, freedom from intimidation, harassment and annoyance.
Students must read the full policy documents and student guide at http://www.its.mq.edu.au/web/policies.
IT Bulk Purchase Discounts
The University is currently negotiating a number of bulk purchase discounts which will be available to all students. Immediate priorities are:
- Discount Notebook Rentals - arrangements are being finalised for significant discounts on 2 - 3 year rental options for notebook computers. Rentals will be direct from the supplier and will offer significant discounts over normal rental prices as well as a number of other benefits, including an onsite service centre and guaranteed repair times. Unlike many other retail solutions, this programme is designed for students who have no credit history. Notebooks are available for upfront purchase, although the discount is heavily built around the rental option.
- Wireless Internet Access - bulk discounts have already been negotiated for the iBurst wireless solution and will be available from early 2005. Discounts with other internet suppliers will also be pursued if there is a demand.
Additional services are being investigated and will be announced throughout the year. Details will be in the portal as arrangements are finalised.
Mary Sharp
Director, Information Technology Services