ITS Service Catalog

The department of Information & Technology Solutions (ITS) at the Colorado School of Mines provides many technology services to the campus community. These services are prioritized as “Critical,” “Standard,” or “Extended” below. Click the + symbol to view more information about each item. If you are interested in a technology or service not found below, please let us know about it.

CRITICAL SERVICES

These urgent technology services are necessary for the basic functioning of the campus. ITS will make every effort to keep these services running at all times.

Account Creation, Management, and Termination
  • Description of service: New students, faculty, and staff at Mines, as well as some outside parties such as consultants and collaborators, require login accounts for numerous Mines computer systems. Since March 2015, many separate systems have been brought under one set of credentials, your Mines account. These credentials give access to Windows and Linux lab computers, My Mines, Trailhead (the campus portal), and Outlook Email, among other systems.
  • Supporting services: Access to particular accounts depends on an individual’s assigned role(s) within the school’s identity and access management system, also managed by ITS (see Identity and Access Management, below, for more details) and in Banner (see Banner, below). Click here to claim your Mines account, change your password, set challenge questions in case of a forgotten password, and more.
  • Limitations of service:  Access to most or all Mines online services ends when an individual leaves Mines. Policies and procedures are in place to terminate these services as appropriate for students, faculty, or staff. While some of these terminations may take weeks in certain cases, Mines reserves the right to terminate all such services immediately and individuals should plan for this possibility. Note: Employees who are terminated in non-standard or atypical fashion will have access removed manually. Managers of such employees should download and submit the Atypical Termination Template to ITS as early as possible to facilitate the termination process.
  • Service recipients: Members of the greater Mines community with rights to access particular services.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: Requests for accounts, or issues with current accounts, can be submitted via the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of availability: Some automated account creation systems such as the IDM system are available 24/7. Account-creation support staff are available during regular weekday business hours.
Backup
  • Description of service: ITS maintains disaster-recovery backups of ITS-managed institutional servers.
  • Service limitations: Backups of ITS-managed institutional servers are designed for disaster recovery only. They have a very limited lifetime, have no archive component, and are not guaranteed to be available for individual file- or directory-level restores. For extra redundancy and for personal file, email, or directory-level restores, individual Mines users are highly encouraged to backup their own data to storage media they personally control.
  • Service recipients: Institutional users required to use only ITS-managed institutional servers for data storage, and institutional users whose data resides on ITS-managed institutional servers and whose personal backup strategy has failed, may make a request to determine of data restoration is feasible.
  • Costs: Normally, none. Extraordinary services related to data recovery may incur a charge.
  • How to request this service: Open a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu to begin the process of determining the feasibility of a file or directory restore. A member of our Backup Team will contact you.
Banner
  • Banner for student, HR, and financial records.
  • Use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu to address Banner questions to the ITS Enterprise Systems group.
Business Systems
  • Cognos reporting, Travel Expense Management, and more.
  • Use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu to address business-systems questions to the ITS Enterprise Systems group.
Canvas

Description of Service: Canvas is the campus-wide learning management system (LMS) of Mines. Canvas is commonly used by faculty and students to electronically share instructional materials, submit assignments, interact and communicate online, and more. Canvas may be used to supplement face-to-face or hybrid courses, and facilitate fully online courses.  Registrar approved courses and instructor/student enrollments are automatically added to Canvas and Mines students, faculty and staff can log in to Canvas using their Multipass credentials. To get started with Canvas, visit https://www.mines.edu/elearning/. Supporting services: For technical support, 24/7 live chat or telephone support is available for students, faculty and staff by clicking the “help” icon in the lower left corner when signed into Canvas. Instructional design and assistance implementing best practices for teaching and learning is available for faculty through the Trefny Innovative Instruction Center (https://trefnycenter.mines.edu). Requests for such assistance can be made via the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at https://helpdesk.mines.edu. Service limitations: Canvas is a “cloud” hosted solution and may periodically experience brief service or feature interruption. Up-to-date status information along with past incident information is available at http://status.instructure.com. Service recipients: All Mines students, faculty, and staff. Cost: Free How to request this service: Requests for Canvas assistance can be submitted by clicking on the “help” icon in the lower left corner of the page when signed into Canvas. Requests for assistance may also be made via the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at https://helpdesk.mines.edu. Service limitations: Guest access for non-Mines users is available by request. To inquire about guest accounts, please submit a request to http://helpdesk.mines.edu. Hours of availability: Canvas can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information: Canvas resources are available at https://elearning.mines.edu/courses/8139

Email for Faculty and Staff (Exchange)

Description of service: Email services are available to all Mines faculty, and staff while they are actively employed at Mines. Services continue during summer breaks and periods that may include sabbaticals, or extended leave.

Service limitations: Special arrangements may need to be made during semester, or longer, absences from campus since employment records may indicate an inactive status.

Cost:  Free

For more information: Use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at https://helpdesk.mines.edu to address email questions to the ITS Enterprise Systems group.

 

Email for Students (Exchange/Office365)

Description of service: Email services are available to all Mines students while they are actively enrolled at Mines. Services continue during summer breaks and periods that may include study abroad, internships, or extended leave.

Service limitations: Special arrangements may need to be made during semester, or longer, absences from campus since enrollment records may indicate an inactive status.

Cost: Free

For more information: Use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at https://helpdesk.mines.edu to address email questions to the ITS Enterprise Systems group.

 

Identity and Access Management
  • Description of service: Access to computing resources at Mines depends on an individual’s role(s) on campus. Using roles and custom roles, our identity and access management systems allows fine-tuned access to particular campus computing resources. Students may access certain resources; professors may access others; and administrative staff may access yet a different set of resources. Outside consultants and collaborators may also be eligible for particular computing resources. Identity and access management systems use custom roles, allowing fine-tuned access to particular resources. Some access is automated based on roles and data from Banner (see the Banner entry, above); other access is granted on a case-by-case basis. ITS identity management staff work to ensure that members of the Mines community have access only to the systems they need — no more, no less.
  • Supporting services: ITS recently revamped its identity and access management system – my.mines.edu. See our self help guide at https://helpcenter.mines.edu/TDClient/1946/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=144815
  • Service limitations: Outside contractors and similar individuals seeking access to Mines computing resources must be sponsored by an authorized Mines faculty or staff representative.
  • Service recipients: All authorized members of the greater Mines community.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: Mines students, faculty, and staff may submit access requests via the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu (supervisor or departmental approval may be required). Mines employees may also request assignment of custom roles for outside contractors via the Custom Role Authorization Form.
  • Hours of availability: Identity management staff are available during regular weekday business hours.
Wired Networking
  • Description of service: Wired-networking services are available throughout the Mines campus, in all academic buildings, administrative buildings, residence halls, and apartments. Available speeds range from 100 Mbps to 10 Gbps, depending on service location. ITS provides network-configuration assistance and troubleshooting of existing network connections. Custom networks can also be designed for clients needing moderate to high levels of network isolation, security, or performance.
  • Service limitations: Port-activation requests are generally completed within one business day. While no specific service-level agreement exists for the wired network, ITS will work to quickly address any performance issues.
  • Service recipients: Mines faculty, staff, and students, and others with campus roles requiring wired network access.
  • Cost: Generally free. Installation of new data cables does have an associated charge. Creation of custom data networks may also incur an additional charge.
  • How to request this service: Network configuration or troubleshooting assistance can be requested via Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu. To use the wired network, simply connect your device via Ethernet cable to a data jack on the wall. If the wall port is not active, please request activation here: https://helpcenter.mines.edu/TDClient/Requests/ServiceDet?ID=30269. If it is the first time the devices has connected to the wired network please see the FAQfinder entry “How do I register my computer, tablet, or phone on the campus network?” here: http://faqfinder.mines.edu/faq138.
  • Hours of availability: 24/7, except during planned outages.
  • For more information: See the wired-networking website, here: https://it.mines.edu/academic-campus-wired. If you need to register a device for a dynamic IP address but the device does not have a built-in web browser, you may complete the manual registration form here: https://netreg.mines.edu/. You may request a static IP address here: https://helpcenter.mines.edu/TDClient/Requests/ServiceDet?ID=31197.
Wireless Networking

Description of service: Wireless networking is available in all academic and administrative buildings, residence halls and apartments. All buildings support 802.11ac wireless networking on both 2.4Ghz and 5.2Ghz bands. There are 3 wireless networks available for general use:

  • CSMwireless – Unencrypted wireless networking for faculty, staff, and students
  • CSMguest – Unencrypted wireless for guests of the Mines community.  Basic web, e-mail, and VPN access is provided to everyone.
  • eduroam – Encrypted wireless networking for Mines faculty, staff and students as well as guest access for affiliates of institutions who are members of eduroam.
Service limitations:  Wireless access in outdoor spaces is very limited.
 
Service recipients:  All members of the Mines community
 
Cost: Free
 
Key contacts: Submit inquiries via the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at https://helpdesk.mines.edu or directly to the Network Team via email at network@mines.edu.
 
Hours of availability: 24/7 on a best-effort basis
 
For more information: Use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at https://helpdesk.mines.edu to address network questions to the ITS Network Team.

STANDARD SERVICES

Standard services are important for the day-to-day operation of the school. ITS maintains these services during regular business hours.

ADIT Account Management
  • Description of service: ADIT is the name of the main campus Windows domain. ADIT accounts were formerly separate from other accounts on campus. Since March 2015, the schoolwide MultiPass is used to access accounts such as ADIT, Trailhead, email, and even Linux computers in labs (and more). See “Account Creation and Management,” above, for more details of this switch. ITS manages MultiPass accounts through their entire lifecycle, including creation, modification, password resets, access authorization, Tier 2 support, and deletion.
  • Supporting services: The Identity Management System may be accessed at https://my.mines.edu
  • Service limitations: Windows services should be available at all times, except during the performance of system maintenance (software patches and hardware repairs, primarily). Unplanned outages outside of regular business hours will be resolved as quickly as possible.
  • Service recipients: All Mines faculty, staff, and students are eligible for a MultiPass account, which will give access to ADIT resources.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: MultiPass accounts may be claimed by authorized new members of the Mines community at https://my.mines.edu. Please address questions via a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Key contacts: In an emergency, contact ITS directly at 303.273.3433 and ask to be transferred to the manager of the Server Team.
  • Hours of availability: 24/7 (within the limitations described above).
  • For more information: See our Getting Started guide (https://it.mines.edu/getting-started).
Antivirus Protection
  • Description of service: A comprehensive antivirus software package is available at no cost to all Mines faculty, staff, and students for use on school-owned and personally-owned computers running Windows or Apple OS X operating systems.
  • Supporting services: Antivirus software on school-owned computers found on the Mines campus (such as administrative desktops and computer-lab machines joined to the ADIT domain) is controlled by a centralized management system run by ITS administrators. Other systems (e.g., personally owned computers and machines not joined to the ADIT Windows domain) are managed individually by the computer owners themselves.
  • Service recipients: Any Mines faculty, staff, or student.
  • Cost: Although there are costs to ITS for this service, it is provided free to the Mines community.
  • How to request this service: Download the software here: https://it.mines.edu/antivirus. Valid Mines MultiPass credentials are required.
  • Key contacts: All issues relating to antivirus software may be addressed via a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of availability: 24/7
  • For more information: Search for the keyword “antivirus” within the Mines Help Center FAQfinder database of frequently asked computer questions.
Audio-Visual Services
  • Description of service: Technical consultants in ITS provide troubleshooting help for new and existing classroom A/V installations. As time permits, ITS will provide design expertise for new audio-visual projects on campus. ITS’s goal is to maintain standard equipment configurations for A/V installations across campus.
  • Service limitations: Because ITS attempts to maintain standard equipment configurations, requests for nonstandard configurations may be difficult to fulfill. Emergency requests for help with AV equipment depend on the availability of support staff.
  • Service recipients: All Mines faculty, staff, and students may use available A/V equipment.
  • Cost: Free.
  • How to request this service: Requests for training or equipment repairs may be submitted via the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of availability: Support staff are generally available weekdays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Audio-visual equipment is available when rooms are open for use.
Banner (Self-Service)
  • Description of service: Mines students, faculty, and staff are able to access many aspects of their official records (stored in the Banner database system noted above) via Self-Service Banner. Self-Service Banner is accessed via the Trailhead campus portal (see Trailhead entry, below). Student access typically includes registering for classes and accessing information such as grades, financial-aid records, billing information, and class schedules. Information available to school employees may include vacation/sick leave, hourly time sheet entry, pay stubs, and tax records. Faculty access may include course rosters, submitting grades, and personal research-fund records. All members of the Mines community may edit parts of their Campus Directory entries (see Campus Directory entry, below) and sign up for Mines Emergency Alerts via Self-Service Banner (see Mines Emergency Alerts entry, below).
  • Supporting services: The schoolwide Banner database is the main secure repository for the most important information about students, faculty, staff, and campus finances.
  • Service recipients: All members of the Mines community may access Self-Service Banner. Access within Self-Service Banner is based on an individual’s campus role(s).
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: All new students, faculty, and staff will have Banner records created for them automatically. Trailhead access is via MultiPass account. The MultiPass may be managed via the Identity Management interface at https://identity.mines.edu. The Trailhead account allows access to Self-Service Banner.
  • Hours of availability: 24/7
Banner Training

Use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu to address Banner training questions to the ITS Enterprise Systems group.

Campus Directory
  • Description of service: ITS offers a speech-recognition phone directory that allows customers to contact all campus employees by name. This directory is available from both on and off campus. To access this service, dial 0 from any campus phone or 303-273-3000 from off campus. Once connected to the directory, clearly say the name of the person or department you would like to reach and your call will be transferred to them.
  • Supporting services: Individuals should update their Campus Directory listing in the directory by accessing “Personal Information” in the Self-Service tab through Trailhead. There is also an online Campus Directory of students, faculty, and staff available at: https://webapps.mines.edu/DirSearch.
  • Hours of availability: The automated and online directories are available 24/7.
Classroom Podiums
  • Description of service: ITS installs and supports classroom podiums that provide control of LCD projectors, document cameras, and presentation computers in select classrooms across campus.
  • Supporting services: Individualized training in podium use may be requested as described below.
  • Service limitations: Emergency help with classroom podiums during class depends on the availability of support staff. Though every effort is made to accommodate requests for emergency help, support staff may not always be available to make emergency repairs during class.
  • Service recipients: All Mines students, faculty, and staff may use the classroom podiums. Computer access may require valid Mines login credentials.
  • Cost: While support itself is free, new equipment, replacement parts, extended warranties, and software must be purchased by the department, Technology Fee committee or classroom committee. At times ITS may have available suitable surplus parts that will be provided at no cost.
  • How to request this service: Any issues concerning classroom podiums may be directed to the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Key contacts: Problems with classroom podiums and other classroom technology while class is in session may be reported to campus extension x2345 (303.384.2345). A ITS student consultant will direct requests for emergency service to support staff, if available.
  • Hours of availability: Support staff are generally on campus 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Classroom podiums are available whenever a classroom is available.
  • For more information: Details about computer labs and podiums (listed by building) can be found at https://it.mines.edu/computer-labs. Pictures and details of podium capabilities are provided.
Computer Commons
  • Description of service: ITS provides a common-use, first-come, first-served computer lab in the Center for Technology and Learning Media, room 156, containing approximately 50 computers for general student use. Additionally, black-and-white laser printing, color printing, color plotting, and scanner services are provided. The Computer Commons is staffed by 25-30 student consultants, normally two at a time, who provide assistance. Approximately 12 laptop computers are also available for short-term (normally, one week) student check-out.
  • Service recipients: Mines students
  • Cost: Use of shared computers is free to the user. Laptop computer checkouts are free to the user. Printing costs vary. As of May 2015, black-and-white laser prints were $0.10 per copy. There is no additional charge for duplexing. Color laser prints are $0.25 per copy. Discounted printing is available through purchase of prepaid print cards, which provide 15 prints per dollar. Plotting and scanning costs are based on size.
  • How to request this service: Students may walk in for computer and printing services. The shared lab in CT 156 may not be reserved for classes, but ITS has teaching labs which may be reserved through the Registrar’s Office (https://it.mines.edu/ctlm-computer-labs-podiums). To reserve a laptop computer for checkout, email a request to ccreserve@mines.edu or submit a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu. Laptops are not always available at short notice, so plan ahead.
  • Hours of availability: The Student Help Center is open for computer use 24 hours a day while the school is open. Access is granted through the BlasterCard reader at the northeast door. Staffed hours are typically: Mon-Thu 7 a.m. to 11:45 p.m., Fri 7 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., Sun 9 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. The Center for Technology and Learning Media (CTLM) building may be closed during holiday periods.
  • For more information: https://it.mines.edu/facilities-resources.
Computer Laboratories
  • Description of service: Computer laboratories on campus are used for both teaching and general computing needs. Each lab provides a basic software “build” plus extra software specific to an individual department’s needs for teaching classes.
  • Service limitations: Lab software is updated on a strict schedule before the start of each semester. Software versions are current versions released by the vendor unless there is a demonstrated need for other software compatible with particular lab equipment or software.
  • Service recipients: Both open and department-specific computer labs are available on campus. Students, faculty, and staff with a MultiPass account account are automatically granted access to open labs. Departmental labs have a more restricted user list maintained by ITS.
  • Cost: Free to users. Departments may incur costs licensing particular added software in their own labs.
  • How to request this service: Submit a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu to request departmental lab access.
  • Hours of availability: Access times vary from lab to lab. Hours are typically posted at the laboratory entrance.
  • For more information: Installed software for each lab is noted at https://it.mines.edu/campus-computing-labs. General ITS computing and facility information is available at https://it.mines.edu/facilities-resources.
Content Management System
  • Description of service: ITS helps administer the technology behind a schoolwide content-management system (CMS) based on WordPress. It allows easy editing and formatting of the web pages found primarily at https://www.mines.edu, as well as many other mines.edu departmental websites. This is the preferred method for creating and maintaining official Colorado School of Mines web pages.
  • Supporting services: Personalized training in use of the CMS is available to all individuals with accounts on the system. The training is conducted by the Mines Communications & Marketing department, which can be reached through the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at https://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Service limitations: Individual centers, departments, or personnel are responsible for maintaining up-to-date content within their own CMS pages. ITS staff will generally not update or maintain content in department web pages, though the Mines Communications Department can help there.
  • Service recipients: Official Mines departments, institutes, centers, programs, faculty and staff may request a website to be housed within the CMS. The CMS is not available for students, student clubs, or student projects, but students may be granted limited access to the CMS to help edit departmental pages as part of a work-study job.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: All inquiries concerning the CMS may be submitted via a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of service availability: The CMS interface is available via any modern web browser from any location year round, except for very infrequent unplanned outages or for scheduled maintenance, which will be announced in the News and Outages section of the ITS homepage.
Course Evaluations

Use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu to address course-evaluation questions to the ITS Enterprise Systems group.

Cyber Infrastructure and Advanced Research Computing (CIARC)
  • Description of service: ITS’ Cyber Infrastructure and Advanced Research Computing (CIARC – pronounced “shark”) team works to identify research needs across University and aims to provide over-arching services and infrastructure to further research and meet the vision set by Mines@150. CIARC will help faculty by identifying IT solutions and help facilitate their research by providing assistance in areas such as: management, storage, and transfer of research data, evaluating cloud vs. on-premise sharing of data, project management in regards to IT solutions, etc. By providing consultation services and by acting as a liaison between faculty and ITS groups, CIARC is able to efficiently provide a customized solution to fit research needs.
  • Service limitations: The Cyber Infrastructure and Advanced Research Computing team is willing to discuss issues related to research-related needs. Please contact Cyber Infrastructure and Advanced Research Computing to discuss your needs, and whether we can be of assistance.
  • Service recipients: Any Mines faculty member or student.
  • Cost: While support itself is free, faculty may be required to purchase supplies, licenses, hardware, etc. to complete their project or address their needs.
  • How to request this service: Please submit a support request to the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu Please include a description of the issue or project, and complete contact information.
  • Hours of availability: Service is available during normal working hours Monday through Friday.
  • For more information: Please visit the Cyber Infrastructure and Advanced Research Computing website for more details: https://ciarc.mines.edu
Desktop Support (Faculty and Staff)
  • Description of service: User Experience & Support Services (UXSS) is a group within ITS that provides computing support services to academic and administrative departments on campus. UXSS supports hardware and software and some services. Support for enterprise-wide services such as wired and wireless networking, email, the campus web presence, and network-based applications is provided by other groups within ITS.
  • Service limitations: Support for foreign-language systems is not available. Service is limited geographically to the campus and Mines Park. Remote support may be provided by telephone, email, or remote-login technology.  Priorities are set in this order: 1. any work-stoppage issue; 2. standard maintenance, installation, and upgrades; 3. long-term projects of a larger scope. Within these categories, service is provided on a first-in, first-out basis, though UXSS reserves the right to adjust priorities for maximum efficiency. There is limited or no support for products and services no longer supported by the manufacturer. Support is not provided for the use of software products or for resolving functional problems in software products after they are successfully installed. “Helpdesk” support requests requiring information from the user will automatically close in five days unless there is a response, though they can be reopened upon request.
  • Service recipients: Any faculty, staff, or student using Mines-owned equipment or software.
  • Cost: While support itself is free, new equipment, replacement parts, extended warranties, and software must be purchased by the user. At times ITS may have available suitable surplus parts that will be provided at no cost.
  • How to request this service: In all cases, submit a support request to the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk,” http://helpdesk.mines.edu. Please include a description of the problem, error messages if applicable, and complete contact information. Requests requiring more information will be returned to the user. Once sufficient information is gathered, the support request will be assigned to a Systems and Software Support Engineer who will arrange a service call. Support can also be requested by calling x2345 or 303-384-2345 during CTLM Computer Commons staffed times. In this case a Student Consultant will take your information and submit the support request for you. Answers to questions not requiring a scheduled visit may be provided at this time.
  • Key contacts: Urgent issues resulting in a work stoppage should be noted in the support request. For concerns regarding the quality of the service delivered please contact Sara Schwarz, sschwarz@mines.edu, 303.273.3604.
  • Hours of availability: Service is available during normal working hours Monday through Friday.
  • For more information: Please take a look at the UXSS website: https://it.mines.edu/client-support-services.
Desktop Support (Students)
  • Description of service: ITS provides general support services, including software-installation help and diagnostic support for hardware issues, for the personally owned computers of undergraduate and graduate students.
  • Service limitations: All support services are provided in the Mines Service Center (MSC) in the CTLM Computer Commons; we cannot make “house calls.” Service is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more time-consuming issues and larger projects, an appointment may be made via the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu. These computer-support services are intended to resolve issues that arise within the Mines computing infrastructure. Students are expected to install and configure software on their own computers. But guidance and assistance can be provided. ITS will not perform hardware repairs on personally owned machines, but diagnosis and advice may be available.
  • Service recipients: Any Mines graduate or undergraduate student
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: Walk into the Computer Commons during regular business hours. Availability of this service depends on the availability of student workers. Or submit a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu to schedule an appointment. At the time support is provided a Mines Help Center request will be required. All work on personally owned equipment will also require a signed damage waiver.
  • Key contacts: Contact the manager of the Customer Service Center directly at 303.273.3433.
  • Hours of availability: Regular Computer Commons hours.
  • For more information: Read about software available on campus, here: https://it.mines.edu/software.
Digital Signage
  • Description of service: The term “digital signage” refers to a system that provides visual content (e.g., events, advertising, and data) to large monitors situated in departments and buildings throughout campus. Specifically, ITS uses the vendor Ping HD to provide digital signage. We will assist in setting up a player.
  • Service limitations: Users are responsible for purchasing a Ping HD player and display monitor, for power and data needs, and for installation. Content management and design of digital content are also the responsibility of the end user.
  • Service recipients: Faculty, staff, and students may request support for digital signage.
  • Cost: Hardware costs and yearly service contracts are the responsibility of the signage owner.
  • How to request this service: Questions about digital signage may be directed to the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of availability: The Ping HD signage is cloud based and available 24/7 with update outage notifications going to registered users.
  • For more information: See further information on the Ping HD signage player: https://pinghd.com/
Email Configuration (Faculty and Staff)
  • Description of service: Faculty and staff are eligible for assistance configuring their Mines Exchange email account on personal devices.
  • Supporting services: A Mines Exchange email account must already be established by the user.
  • Service limitations: Support is available only on campus or by telephone.
  • Service recipients: Faculty and staff using Mines Exchange email accounts.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: Submit a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of availability: Regular business hours Monday through Friday.
  • For more information: Take a look at Mines email services for faculty and staff, https://it.mines.edu/email-fac-staff, and basic email configuration for mobile devices:  https://it.mines.edu/email/email-iphone/​ and https://it.mines.edu/email/email-droid/.
Emergency (Blue) Phones

Description of service: Emergency phone kiosks (generally blue in color) are distributed throughout the Mines campus. Use them to instantly connect to Mines Public Safety.

For more information: Visit https://www.mines.edu/campus-safety/blue-phones/ — or use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu to address emergency-phone questions to the ITS Telecommunications Team.

 

Emergency Notification System

See “Mines Emergency Alert”.

Emeritus Faculty Email

Use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu to address email questions to the ITS Enterprise Systems group.

Encryption
  • Description of service: Any mobile device — laptops, tablets, smartphones and the like — containing Mines institutional data must be encrypted. ITS supplies both an enterprise-level encryption option and support for other encryption technologies. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure that appropriate encryption methods are enabled and used to protect all institutional data stored on any mobile device, whether the device is owned by the institution or by the individual user.
  • Supporting services:  “Enterprise-level encryption” means that the encryption client relies on a central server through which ITS, and therefore the institution, retains control over the data on these devices. The client periodically checks in with that server whenever the system is connected to the Internet. If a user is unable or unwilling to provide the password for access, authorized ITS administrators can recover the encrypted data. If the mobile device is lost or stolen ITS administrators can wipe the hard drive securely, thus protecting institutional data. Some departments and users may be required to purchase and use enterprise-level encryption due to the nature of the data they may store on their portable devices. Other departments and users may be allowed to use less-elaborate encryption solutions. The Department of Internal Audit and Compliance will conduct random compliance audits to make sure that all mobile devices holding institutional data are properly encrypted.
  • Service limitations: Each enterprise-level perpetual encryption license is vendor supported for three years. Any license can be swapped to another machine as long as the original system is either retired or has the encryption software totally removed. Supported devices, as of May 2014, include: Any Windows laptop; Microsoft Surface Pro tablets; laptops running Apple OS X; laptops running many Linux distributions. Encryption for unsupported devices such as smartphones is generally provided by non-enterprise encryption options supplied by the device vendor. These are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. The encryption requirement may also be waived in certain circumstances. Contact the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to seek an exemption. All exemptions must be approved by the CISO.
  • Service recipients: Any Mines faculty or staff who use mobile devices carrying institutional data.
  • Cost: Enterprise-level users pay $125 per supported mobile device using the preferred enterprise-level encryption software. Other encryption solutions are generally free.
  • How to request this service: Any supported mobile devices (mainly laptops) purchased by the school automatically have encryption software installed and enabled. This is performed by the User Experiance & Support Services (UXSS) team of ITS and usually takes a day or two to complete. Owners of previously purchased devices must coordinate with ITS and the UXSS Team to have encryption implemented.
  • Key contacts: All requests for encryption services are made via a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of availability: 24/7
  • For more information: Read the Executive Directive on “Mandatory Use of Encryption Software for Mobile Devices” and the “Required IT Security Practices and Guidelines” policy documents here: https://www.mines.edu/policy-library/information-technology.
Equipment Checkout

Description of service: ITS controls a fleet of Windows laptops available for checkout. A few well-used but serviceable LCD projectors are also available. This inventory is upgraded periodically. Remote controls and microphones for local classrooms and conference rooms are available to room users only and will not be reserved or loaned out otherwise. Ethernet cables are available for distribution based on availability. Audio/video adapters and cables are not a part of this service.

Computers are erased and re-imaged upon return so that no data is recoverable after return.

Supporting services: Mines Service Center

Service limitations: All requests are subject to availability and equipment operability.

Equipment is available only for short-term loans; generally 2 or 3 hours, sometimes a day or a weekend. Longer-term loans will be considered only with adequate notice and justification.

Equipment is intended and provided for on-campus use. If you need to take equipment off-campus, you must make it known to ITS and have specific permission for each loan. If you are leaving the state or country with the equipment, which is not encouraged, you must provide ITS with detailed travel information as part of your request to travel with the equipment.

You must sign out your reserved equipment at the MSC in the Computer Commons in CT156A. You may also be required to provide a valid student, faculty or staff ID card and valid phone number. Be sure to sign the equipment back in when you return it.

ITS Staff will not deliver, setup or pick up the equipment. It is your responsibility to learn how to use it. Plan ahead, make a reservation and borrow it during a quiet period to familiarize yourself with setup, use and packing it away. Make sure to allow enough time in your reservation for pick up, set up and packing, as well as travel time when you commit to a return time.

You run the risk of having your borrowing privileges suspended or terminated if:

  • The equipment is not returned in the same condition it was in when you borrowed it.
  • The equipment is returned late according to your reservation. If you are unavoidable delayed you must provide ITS with reasonable notice of your tardiness. Our determination of “reasonable notice” will be based upon circumstances and your ability to contact via phone (303.273.2345) or email.
  • You return equipment without cables, manuals or other components. You are expected to pay for lost, damaged or missing items and you may be financial encumbered if you do not.
  • You abuse, mistreat or misuse the equipment, or use it to violate State and Federal laws, Mines policies, or ITS procedures.

Power cables, adapters, and connection cables must be returned to the appropriate case.

Each projector has a power cord and a VGA/data cable; be sure they are placed back in the projector case before you return it.

Some pieces of equipment are assigned to projects or classes, like field camp, during certain times of the year. Make sure to verify that the equipment you need will be available.

Service recipients: Mines faculty, staff, and students

Cost: No cost unless equipment is not returned in satisfactory condition.

How to request this service: Submit the form found at https://it.mines.edu/equipment-checkout-loan/reservations/. A service representative will contact you about availability and picking up the laptop or projector from the MSC in the Computer Commons, CT156. A reservation is not finalized until a ITS staff member informs you that it is confirmed.

Key contacts: Ron Cosseboom, rcossebo@mines.edu, 303.273.3471.

Hours of availability: The Mines Service Center (formerly the Technology Support Center) is available during regularly scheduled and posted hours. Semester hours are: Mon-Thu 7 a.m. to 11:45 p.m., Fri 7 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., Sun 9 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. The Center for Technology and Learning Media (CTLM) building may be closed during holiday and certain break periods. Professional staff will be available between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment, as necessary.

For more information: Please submit questions via the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at https://helpdesk.mines.edu.

 

Excess Hardware Management
  • Description of service: ITS maintains an inventory of used Intel-processor desktop computers and monitors that are available for redistribution to selected members of the Mines community.
  • Supporting services: These computers typically come with Windows installed, but most other software will need to be purchased by the recipient. ITS will configure the hardware and software initially.
  • Service limitations: These machines are no longer under the manufacturer’s warranty and the hardware will not be supported by ITS.
  • Service recipients: Though the specific rules governing distribution of surplus hardware may change from time to time based on availability, these machines are available primarily to graduate students and faculty. ITS will distribute excess computers to eligible recipients on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Cost: Any additional software must be purchased by the recipient of the computer.
  • How to request this service: Open a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu stating your general requirements for excess computer hardware. Then complete the Surplus Computer Request found here — https://helpcenter.mines.edu/TDClient/Requests/ServiceDet?ID=30262
  • For more information: See current guidelines concerning the distribution of surplus Mines-owned computers at the bottom of this page: http://techfee.mines.edu.
FAQfinder Knowledgebase
  • Description of service: ITS maintains an extensive public database of the most frequently asked computing questions we receive during the year. We call it FAQfinder. We are also transitioning to a new and growing Knowledge Base.
  • Service recipients: Anyone
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: Visit FAQfinder at http://faqfinder.mines.edu and/or https://helpcenter.mines.edu/TDClient/KB/. Search by keyword or by category. Unanswered questions may be directed to the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of availability: 24/7
File Servers

Use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu to address file-server questions to the ITS Server Team.

Firewall
  • Description of service: A “border firewall” serves as a protective barrier between Mines networks and the outside world. By default, nothing on any on-campus system is accessible from the wider Internet. Exceptions are made for some services, such as Mines web pages, that must be open to the world. Fine-tuning access to Mines servers ensures that our Internet profile is as small and secure as possible while still serving legitimate institutional needs.
  • Service recipients: All mines faculty, students, and staff on Mines networks are protected automatically.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: All request for firewall exceptions or “holes” are considered by the ITS Networking Team and Security Team via a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Key contacts: All requests are individually assessed and ultimately approved or rejected by the ITS Computing Infrastructure Security Officer.
  • Hours of availability: 24/7
  • For more information: See a general cybersecurity discussion at https://it.mines.edu/cybersecurity-tips and specific information on opening a new “hole” in the campus firewall at http://faqfinder.mines.edu/faq086.
Getting Started Guides
  • Description of service: ITS offers a number of introductory web pages and documents for new students, faculty, and staff. These “Getting Started” resources tell how to connect with the numerous computing resources available to new members of the Mines community.
  • Service recipients: Mines faculty, staff, and students will find these guides useful.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: Visit https://it.mines.edu/getting-started and explore the links available there. Unanswered questions may be directed to the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of availability: Getting Started documents are available online 24/7. Support staff are normally available weekdays during regular business hours.
  • For more information: Specific guides to getting started with email, networking, printing and more are available here: https://it.mines.edu/guides-reference/. See also our FAQfinder database of frequently asked computing questions, at: http://faqfinder.mines.edu.
Guest Network Access
  • Description of service: ITS provides network access to sponsored guests of Mines faculty and staff. Wireless access and Virtual Private Networking (VPN) accounts are available. Accounts can be issued to individuals or groups, as required. Guest wired network access is also available in unusual circumstances by special arrangement.
  • Supporting services: ITS provides troubleshooting assistance for guest network access. We can assist with setting network-performance expectations based on the location of network access, number of guests, and method of network access.
  • Service limitations: Guest access can be provided only to people 18 years of age or older. We request a week’s notice to create guest credentials and evaluate the proposed service location. In general, we only provide wireless guest access. We make no warranties as to the suitability or availability of the wireless network in any particular location or at any particular time. Guest wireless access provides Internet access only, not access to other campus computing resources. A VPN guest account is required to access network resources that are restricted to the Mines community.
  • Service recipients: Any Mines faculty or staff member may receive this service.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: Submit a completed Guest WiFi/VPN Access form, found here: https://it.mines.edu/network-guest-access. Upon receipt of the form, ITS will contact the sponsor with details about accessing the Mines wireless network, including username and password. It is the sponsor’s responsibility to distribute these credentials to their guest(s). Technical assistance will be provided to the sponsor, not to individual guests.
  • Key contacts: Please submit a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu. In time-sensitive situations, contact the Mines Service Center (CT156a) at 303.273.3471.
  • Hours of availability: 24/7
Hardware Advice (Faculty and Staff)
  • Description of service: Hardware — computers, printers, scanners, and so on — is purchased directly by the user or department. However, ITS will assist in finding and specifying appropriate equipment for the stated needs of the customer. ITS will either prepare a sales quotation or provide information on how and where to purchase the hardware. When the equipment has been delivered, ITS will prepare, configure, and install it.
  • Service recipients: Any Mines faculty or staff member may receive this service.
  • How to request this service: Please submit a support request through the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Key contacts: Urgent issues resulting in a work stoppage should be noted in the support request. For concerns regarding the quality of the service delivered please contact Sara Schwarz, sschwarz@mines.edu, 303.273.3604.
  • Hours of availability: Service is available during normal working hours Monday through Friday.
Hardware Procurement (Computer Labs)
  • Description of service: The computer hardware in most campus computer labs is purchased and replaced using Technology Fee funding. Twice a year Tech Fee proposals are submitted. The ITS Lab Team provides quotes for new computer systems based on a standard computer build and specific use needs. The Lab Team also looks at peripheral devices used for data capture to ensure compatibility with current software and hardware.
  • Service limitations: Requests for advice on hardware purchases will be addressed as time is available. ITS requests that queries be made as far in advance as possible.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: Contact the ITS Lab Team with a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request, http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of availability: The ITS Lab Team is generally available during regular business hours weekdays.
  • For more information: Read more about the Mines Technology Fee here: http://techfee.mines.edu.
Information-Technology Policies
  • Description of service: Regulations concerning virtually every aspect of computing at Mines — from proper email use to allowed content on personal (Mines-hosted) web pages — are found in a series of policy documents. When requesting various Mines services, faculty, staff and students are reminded of these rules and required to accept them before proceeding. All users of Mines  information-technology services are required to know and abide by these policies.
  • Supporting services: The Mines Policy and Governance website contains myriad documents covering a large number of campus policies, including those regulating information-technology services.
  • Service recipients: All Mines faculty, staff, students — as well as consultants, emeritus faculty and staff, and generally anyone who use Mines computer services — are subject to the school’s information-technology policies without exception.
  • How to request this service: View most Mines information-technology policies here: https://mines.edu/policy-library/information-technology. Unanswered questions may be asked via a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • For more information: See the Mines Policies and Governance general website at: https://mines.edu/policy-library.
IT Service Desk (formerly MSC)

Description of service: The IT Service Desk provides Tier 1 support to faculty, staff, and students for issues such as network and email connectivity, account claim and password issues, and other issues that can be resolved in a reasonable amount of time. Complex problems presented may be rescheduled or escalated to Client Services as a Tier 2 request. Student consultants are the primary provider of support.

The IT Service Desk is available during regularly scheduled and posted hours. (See hours of availability, below.) The Center for Technology and Learning Media (CTLM) building may be closed during holiday and certain break periods. Professional staff will be available between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment, as necessary.

Supporting services: See also User Experience & Support Services

Service limitations: In-person requests are subject to an evaluation of their appropriateness, feasibility, and available consultants on a first-come, first-served basis. All work on personally owned equipment will require a signed waiver and may require you to be present during service. All support provided within this service will occur at the IT Service Desk in the CTLM Computer Commons or by phone – requests for field support will be escalated to User Experience & Support Services (UXSS). ITS will not perform hardware repairs on personally owned machines, but diagnosis and advice may be available.

Service recipients: Students, Faculty, Staff

Cost: Free

How to request this service: Visit the IT Service Desk in person, within the computer commons (CT156A) during regular business hours, based on staff availability. Alternatively, you can call 303.384.2345 or submit a Mines Help Center support request online at https://helpcenter.mines.edu to schedule an appointment

Key contacts: For feedback regarding the quality of the service delivered please contact Peter Estacio, Sr. Manager – IT Service Management: peterestacio@mines.edu, x3355 (303.273.3355).

Hours of availability: See https://it.mines.edu/location-hours/ for hours. The Center for Technology and Learning Media (CTLM) building may be closed during holiday and certain break periods. Professional staff will be available between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment, as necessary.

For more information: Self-service information can be found starting at the ITS home page https://it.mines.edu/, or the Help Center knowledge base.

 

ITS Facilities Management
  • Description of service: ITS coordinates the use of, maintenance of, and changes to the physical infrastructure of the Center for Technology and Learning Media (CTLM) building. These services includes physical repairs to the building and reservation of various CTLM rooms and resources.
  • Service limitations: Requests are subject to an evaluation of their appropriateness and feasibility. Reservations are subject to prior commitments.
  • Service recipients: Members of the Mines community who have noticed a problem (light out, door not functioning, broken handrails, and so on); those who need to schedule a room during regular business hours; those who have additional needs (e.g., an additional electrical circuit at a new location); those who need BlasterCard access to the building or labs.
  • Cost: Charge back of all costs for requested changes. There may also be charges for facilities used, depending on the particular event.
  • How to request this service: Submit a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Key contacts: The primary point of contact is the building manager, Ron Cosseboom (303-273-3471). Access requests may be directed to the CTLM Building Proctors.
  • Hours of availability: Normal CTLM business hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Building hours vary by season and event.
High-Performance Computing

Description of service: ITS’ High-Performance Computing group maintains various HPC (“supercomputer”) resources and offers support for Mines faculty and students using using HPC systems in research efforts. The goal of the service is to help scientists do their science through the application of HPC. The group maintains Mines’ HPC platforms (currently Wendian, Mio, AuN, Mc2, BlueM) and their file systems. The HPC group will provide documentation on system usage, and consulting and installations services, as time permits.

Service limitations: Service is limited to HPC resources that are owned by the Colorado School of Mines. Priorities are set in this order:

  1. any work-stoppage issue
  2. standard maintenance, installation, and upgrades
  3. long-term projects of a larger scope

Service recipients: Any Mines faculty member or student.

Cost: While support itself is free, faculty may be required to purchase or supply a license for commercial software.

How to request this service: Email the HPC Team (hpcinfo@mines.edu) or submit a support request to the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu. Please include a description of the problem, error messages if applicable, and complete contact information.

Hours of availability: Service is available during normal working hours Monday through Friday.

For more information: Please take a look at the HPC website for more details: http://hpc.mines.edu.

Microsoft Imagine Software (Students)
  • Description of service: The school’s Microsoft Imagine Premium (formerly DreamSpark Premium, formerly MSDNAA) subscription allows eligible students and faculty to download selected Microsoft software products at no cost. This program is restricted to individuals currently participating in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) departments and courses.
  • Supporting services: Microsoft Imagine Premium access requires an account on the Microsoft Imagine Premium website. ITS will automatically create accounts at the beginning of each semester for all eligible students and faculty.
  • Service limitations: Accounts expire at the end of each semester. The agreement does not include Microsoft Office, which is available through other means.
  • Service recipients: Students taking at least one STEM course during the current semester are eligible. Student eligibility terminates at the end of each semester. Participating faculty must be involved in STEM classes to be eligible. Eligibility is recalculated at the start of each semester.
  • Cost: Though there is a substantial cost to the school, there is no cost to faculty or students.
  • Hours of availability: 24/7, while eligible.
  • For more information: See the Microsoft Imagine Premium web page here: https://it.mines.edu/imagine.
Mines Account Management
Mines Calendar
  • Description of service: ITS helps maintain the technology behind the official schoolwide calendar website. Mines Calendar is intended as a single point of information regarding events on the Mines campus and is found at https://calendar.mines.edu.
  • Supporting services: Sports-related Mines Calendar items may be found in the official Mines Athletics calendar controlled by that department (http://minesathletics.com — click the “Schedules” link). General campus news, outages, and announcements may also be submitted via the Daily Blast (a daily campuswide email).
  • Service limitations: A limited (one-month) iCal event feed may allow you to add Mines Calendar to your personal calendar.
  • Service recipients: Anyone may access Mines Calendar. Designated individuals may create new calendar items. All individuals may submit Mines Calendar items to a moderator at https://calendar.mines.edu/events/community/add/.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: Promotion of a particular calendar item or event is done by the Mines Communications & Marketing Department. For help or training regarding Mines Calendar, or to request an account to enter general or academic-department-related Mines Calendar items, submit a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” request to the Mines Communications Department at  http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of availability: 24/7, except for rare scheduled outages.
Mines Emergency Alert

For more detailed information, please see the Mines Emergency Alert page.

Mines Help Center
  • Description of service: The Mines Help Center is an online system for requesting and tracking support provided by ITS and other campus departments, including Human Resources, Admissions, the Registrar, Financial Aid, the Office of Research Administration, the Faculty Senate, and Academic Affairs. End users can submit support requests, receive and submit email updates, and generally track the progress of their support request. The organization providing support will track and document the service provide and communicate with the end user throughout the process.
  • Supporting services: The system is based on a product called Footprints, sold and supported by BMC. All administration of Mines Help Center is performed internally by ITS.
  • Service limitations: Facilities Management support requests use a different system and cannot be accepted through MHC. In other cases where a request to a non-participating department is made, an attempt will be made to contact that department. Otherwise, the request will be returned to the user and closed. Each participating department enacts its own policies regarding service levels, response times, and so on.
  • Service recipients: Anyone
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: Submit a Mines Help Center  support request at http://helpcenter.mines.edu.
  • Key contacts: In an emergency, or if there is a problem with the Helpdesk itself, contact ITS directly at extension 3433 on campus (303.273.3433) and ask to transferred to the Helpdesk Team manager.
  • Hours of availability: Mines Help Center itself is available 24/7. ITS staff support is generally available during regular business hours Monday through Friday.
Mobile Applications
  • Description of service: Official Colorado School of Mines mobile apps are available in the Apple App Store (for iOS) and Google Play Store (for Android devices). Search for “Colorado School of Mines” and download “The M” (yes, the app is named for our famous landmark). The mobile apps give quick access to Mines news, events, athletics, maps, and more.
  • Supporting services: In addition, a mobile-friendly website — http://m.mines.edu — allows similar mobile access through a web browser.
  • Service limitations: Not all information available at http://www.mines.edu is available through these web interfaces.
  • Service recipients: Anyone
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: Questions and suggestions regarding the Mines Mobile apps and website may be submitted via the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of availability: 24/7
  • For more information: See the Mines Mobile web page for details of our current mobile offerings: https://it.mines.edu/mines-mobile.
Outage Notifications
  • Description of service: In the event of a planned or unplanned outage regarding computing infrastructure on campus (including web servers, telephone services, and other services provided by ITS), information about the outage will be posted on the ITS Outages page, https://it.mines.edu/outages. Outage notifications are also displayed as the “ITS Outages” channel on the Trailhead tab within Trailhead (see Trailhead Portal, below).
  • Service limitations: This outage notification system is limited to main computing resources.
  • Service recipients: Anyone may access outage notifications online.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: Creation and configuration of an outage-notices page, or training in the posting of outage notices, can be requested via the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of availability: Outage notifications are available 24/7. ITS staff who administer the notifications infrastructure are available during regular weekday business hours.
Outlook / Exchange Email Access (Faculty and Staff)

Description of service: Outlook in Office365 offers a way to manage your Mines Exchange email through the web in a browser. Login at https://outlook.office365.com using your full user@mines.edu email address. You will be forwarded to a Mines-specific login page where you submit your full user@mines.edu email address and your Mines MultiPass password.

Service recipients: All Mines faculty and staff using Exchange email.

Cost: Free

Hours of availability: 24/7

For more information: Use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at https://helpdesk.mines.edu to address Outlook and Exchange questions to the proper ITS group.

Personal Home Pages
  • Description of service: Personal home pages are offered in a hosted WordPress environment.
  • Service limitations: Personal home page creators must have a MultiPass account to create a page. Page creators are bound by the responsible-use information-technology policies enumerated here — https://mines.edu/policy-library/information-technology — and here — https://it.mines.edu/web-services/personal-web-sites/. Creation of a personal home page is a service provided by the school. It can be withdrawn at any time.
  • Service recipients: All Mine faculty, staff, and students are eligible to create a personal home page hosted on Mines servers.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: Visit https://it.mines.edu/web-services/personal-web-sites/, read the appropriate documents, and log in with your MultiPass credentials to start the process. For help on creating a personal home page, submit a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of availability: 24/7
  • For more information: See the Mines Help Center FAQfinder entry “How do I get a Mines personal website?” at http://faqfinder.mines.edu/faq114 for details of this process.
Phone Configuration

Phone users’ guides may be found at https://it.mines.edu/openuc/.

If you need more specific help, please use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu to address email questions to the ITS Telecommunications Team.

Poster Printing and Scanning

Description of service: Printing of posters and other large format documents. Paper is available in 42”, 36” and 24” widths. Only “Satin” finish (a blending of Glossy and Matte) is available. The printers are in the Mines Service Center, CT156. The resolution of the printers is 2400×1200 dpi.

It is recommended that printing be scheduled. Especially toward the end of semesters there is a demand for the printers that often cause unexpected delays. Plan early. Once printed, the ink requires some time to dry before the posters can be taken away.

Large format scanning is also available. Originals up to 41” wide can be accommodated.

Supporting services: Mines Service Center (formerly the Technology Support Center)

Service limitations: For printing, PDF documents are preferred. PowerPoint has some limitations. Contact the MSC for more information.

Documents to be scanned should be of good quality without frayed edges. Because of the setup involved, we ask that you wait until you have five or more documents to scan before scheduling.

The printer/scanners are to be operated by MSC personnel only.

Service recipients: Students, Faculty and Staff

Cost: $1.00 per inch on the longest side of the document.

How to request this service: Contact the Mines Service Center in CT156 or at 303.272.2345.

Key contacts: Ron Cosseboom, rcossebo@mines.edu, 303.384.3471

Hours of availability: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. M-F.

For more information: Please submit questions via the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at https://helpdesk.mines.edu.

 

Print Management (OrePrint)
  • Description of service: ITS maintains a limited print-management service for printers hosted on ITS-managed print servers (Cyclone, Lightning, AdminPrint1, and AdminPrint2).
  • Service limitations: We are currently not accepting new applications for print-management services pending implementation of a campus-wide print-governance system.
  • Service recipients: Any Mines department.
  • Cost: None
  • How to request this service: While no new applications are being accepted at this time, departments may submit a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu to begin a dialog about print-management services in the future.
  • Hours of availability: 24/7
  • For more information: https://it.mines.edu/printing/

 

Project and Portfolio Management
  • Description of service: Project Management  is the standarizing of the processes, methods, and technologies that are used by project managers in managing the projects that support the organization’s operational and financial goals.  It is also looking wholistically at all the projects (or project portfolio) and providing analysis and information to all interested stakeholders to support overall decision making around both proposed and current projects.  Additionally, the Project Manager is here to help the organization and staff to identify, prioritize, and manage projects to a successful conclusion. See https://mines.edu/pmo/ for more information.
Room Reservations in CTLM
  • Description of service: The Center for Technology and Learning Media (or “CTLM Building”) offers a number of classroom and conference facilities that can be reserved for school-related activities. These include CT156, CTB56, and CT129 (all are computer labs), CT146 (study room), CT148 and CT242 (both are conference rooms).
  • Service limitations: While access to these rooms is generally first-come, first-served, occasionally high-profile events will force rescheduling of previously scheduled events. Also, some rooms in the CTLM, including the large auditorium CT102, are not controlled by ITS and may be reserved through the Registrar’s office.
  • Service recipients: Mines faculty, staff, and students.
  • Cost: Generally none, unless certain teleconferencing or other for-cost services are desired.
  • How to request this service: Submit the form at https://it.mines.edu/reservations specifying date(s) and time(s) and room desired. A ITS staff member will reply with details. A reservation is not confirmed until a ITS staff member informs you that it is.
  • Hours of availability: Reservations may be requested during regular weekday business hours. Rooms may be available outside those business hours.
Search
  • Description of service: ITS manages online Google Custom Search services for Mines websites. We can provide a combined search interface for all Mines websites or (on request) tailored search boxes for individual departments or pages.
  • Service limitations: Keyword or phrase matching is no longer available through Google, which is phasing out features previously available.
  • Service recipients: Anyone may access the search function via the World Wide Web. Requests for customized search results may be made by Mines faculty, staff, and students as described below.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: Information on, and customization of, the Mines Google Custom Search may be requested through a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request, http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of availability: 24/7
Security
  • Description of service: This umbrella term refers to all aspects of information security at Mines. From technical solutions at the network, server, or application levels, to hands-on forensic analysis of Mines-owned machines involved in suspicious activities, to editing and creating new policy documents, to investigating any other issues where security is in some way bypassed or institutional data put at risk.
  • Supporting services: See the following ITS Service Catalog entries for more details on various security-related services: Antivirus, Digital Signatures (S/MIME), Encryption, Firewall, and Virtual Private Network (VPN).
  • Service limitations: Due to currently limited resources, security investigations must be triaged at times, leading to possibly extended response times.
  • Service recipients: Any Mines student, faculty, or staff member.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: All computer-security issues are handled on a case-by-case basis by the CCIT Security Team, via a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request submitted here: http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of availability: Automated security technologies typically operate 24/7. Security forensics and maintenance occur during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. True security emergencies are dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
  • For more information: See the ITS Security Team website at https://it.mines.edu/security.
Server Hosting
  • Description of service: ITS will house non-ITS-managed servers in a limited-access, secure, and environmentally conditioned (power and cooling) environment.
  • Supporting services: Server owners must perform any and all system-administration duties on any hosted server.
  • Service limitations: A summary of the hosted-server-area rules will be provided and must be agreed to prior to the hosting of any server.
  • Service recipients: Faculty and staff who have a demonstrated need to house a non-ITS-managed server in appropriate environmental conditions are eligible. The service is not available to graduate or undergraduate students.
  • Cost: None, unless it is necessary to tailor the provided environment to a particular server.
  • How to request this service: Submit a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu and ask for information about hosted servers.
  • Hours of availability: 24/7 after hosting is established.
Software Development (HPC)

Use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu to address questions about software development in high-performance computing to the HPC group.

Software and Software Licensing
  • Description of service: Mines is diligent about complying with software-license agreements and protecting intellectual property. Licensing restrictions vary by product. Many software products are available for student use in classrooms and computer labs. In some cases this software may be available to users outside of labs. Some software licenses are restrictive or may have a cost to the end-user. ITS purchases and maintains licenses for most of the widely used products deployed in labs. More specialized products and products intended for research use are purchased by research centers or academic departments. ITS installs software and manages network-based licensing for these products.
  • Supporting services: Depending on the software in question, installation and configuration support by ITS’ User Experience & Support Services (UXSS) team, or Server Team is required.
  • Service limitations: We will not install unlicensed software. Be prepared to demonstrate legitimate use of software when requesting installation.
  • Service recipients: Faculty, staff, and students (depending on the product and the terms of the license).
  • Cost: Costs associated with software purchases are generally borne by the user. Proof of purchase or appropriate licensing must be maintained by the user and demonstrated prior to installation. In some cases of widely used software, the costs are borne by ITS.
  • How to request this service: Submit a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu. Most requests are handled by UXSS staff. Classroom requests are handled by the ITS Lab Team. The ITS Server Team installs and maintains network-license servers.
  • Hours of availability: Network licenses are available from license servers 24/7. Staff support is available during normal business hours.
  • For more information: See the ITS Software page at https://it.mines.edu/software. Visit the ITS Software Licensing page at https://it.mines.edu/software-licensing for a more detailed explanation of licensing services, scopes, and types.
Spam Filtering (Faculty and Staff)

Description of service: We offer Barracuda Networks Email Security Gateway accounts for @Mines.EDU addresses for helping in spam management. All new Exchange email users receive a spam filter quarantine account when your mailbox is created. Users receive periodic notices of suspected spam emails.

Service limitations: These accounts apply only to Mines Exchange email, used primarily by faculty and staff. Students on MyMail will find their spam managed automatically by Google.

Cost: Free

For more information: Use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at https://helpdesk.mines.edu to address questions about campus spam filtering to the ITS Enterprise Systems group. Or view this web page: https://it.mines.edu/email/spam-general/.

Telephones
  • Description of service: ITS offers telephones to the campus for outbound, inbound, and on-campus calls. There are several phones to choose from, depending on telephony needs, and phones can be installed in offices, labs, conference rooms, and hallways. Phones can be set to on-campus calls only, local calls, and long distance/international calling. Troubleshooting issues, phone upgrades, and training are available.
  • Service recipients: All Mines faculty, staff, and departments.
  • Cost: There is a monthly fee of $43 for phone service. The cost for installation of new phones includes the cost of the phone plus one hour of labor ($42.88).
  • How to request this service: Submit a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” request to http://helpdesk.mines.edu. Please include a FOAP in your request.
  • Hours of availability: Phones operate 24/7. Telecom staff are available during regular weekday business hours.
  • For more information: See the ITS Telecommunications website, here: https://it.mines.edu/telecommunications.
Trailhead Campus Portal
  • Description of service: Trailhead is a campuswide “portal” — an entry point to access a wide variety of campus resources. Some of the resources accessible through Trailhead are: Self-Service Banner (see Banner Self-Service entry, above), Student Housing portal, National Student Clearing House, Vacation/Sick Leave Reporting system, LON CAPA, MyMail, Outlook (Exchange) Web Access. Access to resources through Trailhead is based on an individual’s campus role(s) as determined by Banner and the campus Identity and Access Management system.
  • Service recipients: Trailhead access (via MultiPass) is available for students, faculty, staff, and individuals with custom roles when appropriate.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: New faculty, staff, and students will typically create a Trailhead account (and other accounts) soon after arriving on campus, via the Identity Management system at https://my.mines.edu.
  • Hours of availability: The portal is available online 24/7 except for periodic scheduled maintenance windows. Portal maintenance staff are available during regular weekday business hours.
User Experience & Support Services

Description of service: User Experience & Support Services (UXSS) provides computing support to students, faculty and staff. UXSS provides full support for Mines-owned computer hardware and software, some peripherals, and some Mines-provided services. Remote support may be provided by telephone, email, or remote-login technology. Purchasing advice and assistance is provided. Assistance in breaking down equipment and setting up equipment is provided during office moves.

For personally owned computers, configuration support is provided for Mines-provided software to the extent it is used for school business or purposes. Diagnostic and remedial advice may be provided.

Support for enterprise-wide services such as wired and wireless networking, email, the campus web presence, and network-based applications may be provided by other groups within ITS.

Priorities are set in this order: 1. any work-stoppage issue; 2. standard maintenance, installation, and upgrades; 3. long-term projects of a larger scope. Within these categories, service is provided on a first-in, first-out basis, though UXSS reserves the right to adjust priorities for maximum efficiency. Support is not provided for the use of software products after they are successfully installed. Software will not be installed on personal computers though assistance may be provided. “Helpdesk” support requests requiring information from the user will automatically close in five days unless there is a response, though they can be reopened upon request. Support is provided during normal business hours. Outside of normal business hours, support will be provided by Mines Service Center (MSC) student employees when available.

Supporting services: Mines Service Center (formerly the Technology Support Center)

Service limitations: Support for foreign-language systems is not available. Service is limited to the geographic campus and Mines Park. There is limited or no support for products and services no longer supported by the manufacturer.

Service recipients: Students, Faculty, Staff

Cost: While support itself is free, new equipment, replacement parts, extended warranties, and software must be purchased by each department or user except for campus-wide software such as Office, Matlab, LabView that are purchased by CCIT or Tech Fee. At times ITS may have available suitable surplus parts that will be provided at no cost.

How to request this service: Submit a service request to the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at https://helpdesk.mines.edu. Please include a description of the problem, error messages if applicable, and complete contact information. Urgent issues resulting in a work stoppage should be noted in the service request. Requests requiring more information will be returned to the user. Once sufficient information is gathered, the service request will be assigned to a service-and-support engineer who will arrange a service call.

Support can also be requested by visiting the Mines Service Center (CT156) or calling x2345 (303.384.2345) during MSC staffed times. In this case a student consultant will take your information.

Key contacts: For feedback regarding the quality of the service delivered please contact Sara Schwarz, sschwarz@mines.edu, 303.273.3604.

Hours of availability: Business hours

For more information: Self-service information can be found starting at the CCIT home page https://it.mines.edu/and on FAQfinder,  http://faqfinder.mines.edu/, the its database of frequently-asked computing questions.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)
  • Description of service: The Mines Virtual Private Network (or, VPN) allows authorized users to bypass the campus firewall when necessary to access campus-only network resources from off campus.
  • Service recipients: Any Mines student, faculty, or staff member.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: Visit https://it.mines.edu/vpn/ for installation and configuration information.
  • Key contacts: All VPN issues may be resolved by opening a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of service availability: 24/7
Virtual Servers

Use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu to address questions about virtual servers to the ITS Server Team.

Voice Mail
  • Description of service: ITS provides voice mail capability with all Mines phones. Voice mail messages can be forwarded or saved. Users have the ability to record standard, out-of-office, and extended-absence greetings. Voice mail messages can be retrieved from on or off campus. Troubleshooting and training in the use of voice mail are available.
  • Service recipients: All Mines faculty and staff that have a ITS-provided phone that supports voice mail.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: This service is included with the installation of a ITS-provided phone. Submit questions concerning your voice mail to the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of availability: Voice mail is operational 24/7. Voice mail support personnel are available during regular weekday business hours.
Web Applications

Use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu to address questions about enterprise web applications to the ITS Enterprise Systems group.

Web Conferencing
  • Description of service: Mines has licenses for both Microsoft Teams and Zoom web conferencing.
  • Supporting services: Training and test calls may be requested as described below.
  • Service limitations: As part of our Office365 license we can offer use of Microsoft Teams to support webinar functions – see https://it.mines.edu/software-title/ms-teams/ for details. We can also support a limited number of Zoom Webinar sessions.
  • Service recipients: Mines faculty, staff, students and other stakeholders in the conference call.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: For training and support regarding web conferencing, contact ITS via the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Key contacts: If a conference is in session call extension x2345 (303.384.2345) and a student consultant will assist you in putting in the request for service. If a support person is available, immediate emergency support during the web conference will be provided.
  • Hours of availability: Anytime. Support staff are generally available 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.
  • For more information: Microsoft Teams – see https://it.mines.edu/software-title/ms-teams/ for details; see this Knowledge Base article for more information about Zoom conferences.
Web Services
  • Description of service: ITS provides two kinds of web services to the general campus community:
    1. a WordPress-based Content Management System (CMS) used to maintain https://www.mines.edu, and various other mines.edu websites within that system;
    2. a traditional HTML-based web server for cases in which a CMS site is not appropriate (e.g., for Computer Science classes learning about traditional web servers).
  • Service limitations: The ability to create and edit pages on ITS-hosted web servers is generally restricted to Mines faculty and staff. However, personal home pages (see the Personal Home Pages entry elsewhere in this Service Catalog) are currently available to all faculty, staff, and students.
  • Service recipients: Depends on the system.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: Submit a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request to http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • Hours of availability: 24/7
  • For more information: Read more about personal home pages: https://it.mines.edu/personal-web-sites.

EXTENDED SERVICES

Extended services are specialized, lower-priority services that are made available as time and personnel permit during regular business hours.

Cloud Computing

Use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu to address cloud-computing questions to the ITS Server Team.

Content Management System Training
  • Description of service: Training for users of the WordPress-based Mines Content Management System (CMS) has been taken over by the Mines Communications & Marketing Department. ITS no longer provides CMS training.
  • Service limitations: Scheduling may be influenced by season and workload within the Mines Communications Department.
  • Service recipients: Anyone with a Mines WordPress account.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: Please submit a support request to the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu. Feel free to suggest some convenient times for your individualized training and a Communications Department representative will respond. Group training is scheduled periodically throughout the year.
  • Hours of availability: Staff will respond to Helpdesk support requests and conduct training during regular business hours, typically 8 am to 5 pm weekdays.
Custom Programming (Enterprise)

Use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at https://helpdesk.mines.edu to address questions about enterprise custom application programming to the ITS Enterprise Systems group.

Data and Document Retention

Use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at http://helpdesk.mines.edu to ask questions about data- and document-retention systems at Mines.

Digital Signatures
  • Description of service: “Digital signing” of email messages by a sender gives the recipient a high degree of certainty that the message originated with the claimed sender and has not been altered since it was sent. This ability is generically called “secure email” or “S/MIME” technology.
  • Supporting services: Most modern email clients are fully conversant with the underlying requirements of sending and reading S/MIME messages.
  • Service limitations: Most S/MIME certificates are issued with a one- to three-year life cycle. After the expiry date, any old certificates will be flagged as “expired” by most email clients. The certificate should then be replaced by a valid new one.
  • Service recipients: At this time, only the ITS staff is testing digital email secure signing. The service is likely to be made available to more Mines faculty and staff over the next few years.
  • Cost: There are costs associated with this service but actual figures for groups outside ITS have not yet been determined.
  • How to request this service: ITS is not yet accepting requests for this service.
  • Key contacts: All S/MIME issues are addressed by the ITS Security Team via a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
  • For more information: See “The Joys of Importing and Using an S/MIME Certificate.”
Email Aliases

Description of service: Short-term email aliases for incoming mail. These may be used as a contact address for upcoming conferences or other services.

Service limitations: These email aliases are available to those with Mines email accounts and are not intended as permanent addresses.

Cost: Free

How to request this service: Use the Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at https://helpdesk.mines.edu to address questions about email aliases to the ITS Enterprise Systems group.

Fax (POTS) Lines
  • Description of service: Analog phone lines (also known as “POTS” lines or “Plain old telephone service”) for fax machines or special circuits can be provided by ITS’ telephony system, or a CenturyLink line can be extended to most locations on campus.
  • Supporting services: Installation and troubleshooting is available.
  • Service recipients: Mines faculty, staff, and departments.
  • Cost: There is a monthly fee of $22.50 for ITS-provided lines. The cost of CenturyLink lines is passed through to the customer. Cost for installation is $42.88.
  • How to request this service: Submit a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request to https://helpdesk.mines.edu. Please include a FOAP in your request.
Multi-Factor Authentication
  • Description of service: Multi-Factor Authentication makes accounts more secure by requiring approval via a second method (generally a mobile phone) to log into particular, critical services.
  • Service limitations: Currently, few Mines services are MFA enabled. More will be in months and years to come.
  • Service recipients: At this time, only the ITS staff is testing MFA. The service is likely to be made available to more Mines faculty and staff over the next few years.
  • Cost: Probably free.
  • How to request this service: ITS is not yet accepting requests for this service.
  • Key contacts: All MFA issues are addressed by the ITS Security Team via a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” support request at http://helpdesk.mines.edu.
RSS Feeds
  • Description of service: RSS, short for “Really Simple Syndication” (and a number of other acronyms), is a convenient method for delivering text and other information via an online “feed” or “channel” that is updated periodically and automatically. ITS, Mines Athletics, Mines Public Relations, Mines mobile apps, and other areas use RSS feeds to keep the campus community up to date regarding service outages, sporting events, campus news, and more.
  • Supporting services: RSS data may be entered via several interfaces on campus, including the Mines Content Management System, the student portal Engage, and by proprietary interfaces controlled by various school departments. RSS data must be viewed in an RSS reader. Some browsers (e.g., Firefox with the Livemarks plugin) will do so automatically. In other cases, on mobile devices for instance, specialized RSS readers may be required.
  • Service limitations: Not every kind of information may be usefully disseminated via RSS feed. Other publication methods — web pages, podcasts, email, Mailman mailing lists, or even paper flyers, for instance — may yield better results in particular cases.
  • Service recipients: Official Mines departments may request establishment of their own RSS feed, generally managed through the Mines Content Management System, for legitimate school purposes.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: If your department would like to disseminate information via RSS feed, please contact ITS via Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” at https://helpdesk.mines.edu. We can discuss your various publication options.
  • Hours of availability: Once set up, RSS feeds are available 24/7. New items will appear in your feed soon after they are posted. Items may be posted via the CMS from on or off campus, 24/7.
Web Analytics
  • Description of service: Analytic information concerning many school web pages — information such as number of visitors, duration of visits, and so on — is available to users of the school’s Content Management System (CMS).
  • Supporting services: Analytic information is enabled by Google Analytics.
  • Service limitations: Only websites that are maintained within the Mines Content Management System, such as https://www.mines.edu and associated systems are tracked by Google Analytics. Websites not maintained via the CMS, or websites housed on external servers, may (or may not) use other methods for gathering analytics-style data, but ITS does not have access to such information. In addition, turnaround time for analytics requests may be impacted by seasonal workload and other factors.
  • Service recipients: Designated “owners” of official Mines websites maintained in our CMS.
  • Cost: Free
  • How to request this service: Submit a Mines Help Center “Helpdesk” request to http://helpdesk.mines.edu. Please include the address of the website (or web page) in question and a list of data that you would like to retrieve. A narrative description of the kinds of information of interest is sufficient.
  • Hours of availability: Analytic services are made available on an time-available basis, during regular business hours weekdays.