The ISsue
eBulletin for information and technology developments for the University May 2011
Moving to a Managed Print Service
Message from Professor Saul Tendler, Pro-Vice-Chancellor
As part of the Savings and Efficiency initiative, Management Board has agreed a new strategy to reduce costs associated with printing. In particular we are asked to access opportunities that may be created through moving to a Managed Print Service - appointing a service provider to take control of the University’s complete print requirements.
A Managed Print Service will enhance the end user experience through providing a better quality, efficient and environmentally friendly method of printing - aligning with our strategic vision 
. As well as meeting research and teaching needs, the Managed Print Service will help us to meet targets required for HEFCE funding and create annual savings for the University in the region of £390,000 - £650,000.
In order to commence this project, we will be auditing our current printer fleet across all UK sites from Monday 23 May. This will take between four and six weeks and will establish the exact number of printers in operation.
The tender process will follow the audit, and it is anticipated that subject to approval, the chosen supplier will begin a phased rollout of managed printers in 2012, taking at least 12 months to roll out the Managed Print Service across all UK sites. The use of all personal printers will be assessed with a view to significantly reducing the number left in operation. The printers that remain will be assessed against a clear exceptions policy.
A Print Device Working Group has been created with representation across Schools, Estates, Procurement and Information Services. The service requirements have been drawn up jointly to meet the needs of the University.
We have therefore introduced a purchasing restriction on desktop printers and MFDs, including buying for home use. Staff will now need to complete a request form 
for consideration.
For further information about the service including aims, benefits and frequently asked questions, please visit the Managed Print Service Workspace pages.
The University’s new online store service
The University has a new online store which can be used to buy products or pay for a conference. The new store has been introduced to interface with the University’s new online debit and credit card payment provider.
The online store is also being used to pilot the Eurocall 2011 conference (European Association for Computer Language Learning) which is being managed by the School of Modern Languages. The store allows delegates to book conference places and accommodation for this conference.
There are also plans to use the online store to sell graduation hotline tickets and graduation broadcast tickets for this summer’s graduations.
Merchandise products with the store are being managed by the Development Office whose responsibility it is to update the product range as appropriate.
Further expansion of the online store is also planned for donations and short courses in the next few months.
Rollout of Windows 7 begins
During the past few months, Windows 7 has been piloted across the University to give end users the opportunity to test University software packages and provide feedback on the new system.
Feedback received has been used to ensure that the configuration of the system will work for all users. There is still time for users to give their feedback using the pilot machines.
From today the rollout to all public access PCs, computer rooms, teaching rooms, language labs, lecture theatre PCs will begin. The rollout to exams/re-sit rooms will be done after exams with an aim to have all these machines running Windows 7 and Office 2010 by September 2011.
Staff, particularly any teaching staff, with notes and handouts based on Windows XP or Office 2007, are encouraged to visit a pilot machine to evaluate how the changes will affect them.
Roadshows on the rollout will take place from June and a timetable can be found at the Windows 7 webpage.
For general information, locations of pilot machines and to keep up-to-date with the rollout schedule please visit the Windows 7 webpage.
Hosting of School IT systems
The University Management Board has agreed that all new and existing University IT systems and servers are, wherever possible, to be hosted in University managed data centres.
As part of a review of server hosting in the University a priority list of systems has been developed and work has been ongoing directly with Schools and Departments to centralise the systems where possible.
Currently 129 systems are being hosted within University data centres. This has helped in improvements in the resilience and data security and has contributed to reducing the amount of power and air conditioning needed to run these systems locally.
The University has developed a range of services for hosting School and Departmental systems.
All new server purchases and existing server hosting requirements have to be approved by Information Services so please contact your local IT Support team.
Portal elections
A record number of students voted in this year's elections at The University of Nottingham using the Portal Elections channel.
Elections have been run via the Portal since 2006 and the total turnout in the 2011 Student Union Executive elections was 7,756 which was a 9% improvement on the previous years’ figures.
The following elections are run via the Portal each year:
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Student Union Executive Officers (President, Democracy and Communications Officer, Activities Officer etc)
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Representational Officers (Disabled, Mature Students Womens, LGBT, International etc)
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Undergraduate Faculty Co-ordinators
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Postgraduate Students Association
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NUS Delegates
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Senate (Professorial and non-Professorial)
Ollie Kasper, Campaigns and Democracy Coordinator, said: “Ensuring that the Union is democratic is key to Students’ Union legitimacy as a representative body for students here at Nottingham. The work that I have done with Information Services on the Portal this year has played a crucial role in ensuring this success."
“Here at Nottingham we have the second highest turnout in the UK in terms of sheer numbers voting, and I think next year we need to be aiming to the best in the country. This can only be achieved by continuing to work closely with Information Services to ensure that the system in place is as accessible to students as it can be.”
In future the Students Union is also considering running referendums via the Portal Elections channel.
New Director of Research and Learning Resources – Caroline Williams
The University has welcomed Caroline Williams who has joined Information Services as the new Director of Research and Learning Resources.
Caroline has extensive experience in the delivery of library and information services both on a national and institutional level.
Her previous post was as the Deputy Director of MIMAS, the national data centre, at the University of Manchester. She has also worked at Manchester Metropolitan University, the Open University, Nottingham Trent University and University of London in a variety of roles.
Any comments and suggestions are always welcome, please email IS Marketing and Communications.