The University of Pennsylvania's Online Computing Magazine
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September 1992 - Volume 9:1 [Printout | Contents | Search ]
By N. Ben Goldstein The computing support services available in the School of Arts and Sciences have changed significantly since last fall, as have their methods of delivery. Here are some highlights:
Mission StatementThe mission of Arts and Sciences Computing is to promote the use of information technologies to help the School of Arts and Sciences achieve its educational and research goals.
Associate Dean for Academic Computing3401 Walnut StreetSuite 322A Philadelphia, PA 19104-6228 Phone: (215) 573-3119 FAX: (215) 898-1729 The Associate Dean is responsible for all aspects of academic computing in the School, including research computing, instructional computing, multimedia services, and data communications. Advisory Comittees: Three separate committees advise the Associate Dean: the SAS Academic Computing Committee, the Humanities Computing Committee, and the Social Science Computing Committee. The faculty members of those committees are:
Academic Computing Committee: Kent J. Blasie, Chemistry Peter Conn, English Dennis M. Deturck, Mathematics Robert J. Hollebeek, Physics Robert A. Kraft, Religious Studies Mark Liberman, Linguistics Mark R. Rosenzweig, EconomicsHumanities Computing Committee: Roger Allen, Asian/Middle Eastern Peter Conn, English, Chair Mark Liberman, Linguistics James J. O'Donnell, Classical Studies Holly Pittman, History of ArtSocial Sciences Computing Committee: Albert Ando, Economics Harold L. Dibble, Anthropology Ralph B. Ginsberg, Regional Science Jerry Jacobs, Sociology Mark R. Rosenzweig, EconomicsPolicies and procedures: The Associate Dean is responsible for the drafting, approval, and implementation of all policies regarding academic computing in SAS. The SAS academic computing committees recommend and review those policies. Workstation requests: The Associate Dean directs the purchase of multiuser and multitasking workstations for research or instructional computing in SAS that are funded by SAS central funds. He coordinates, through the academic departments, requests for the purchase of such equipment. All proposals are screened for approval by the SAS Academic Computing Committee. Desktop computer requests: The Associate Dean in coordination with the Associate Dean for Administration is responsible for the purchase of desktop computers for SAS. Requests for computers should be addressed to Ben Goldstein. Instructional Computing Development Fund (ICDF): Through the ICDF, the Associate Dean provides funds to faculty for innovation in instructional computing. All requests for information or proposals should be addressed to Ben Goldstein. All SAS faculty receive a request for proposal during the spring term. Coordination of computer requests to the Provost: The Associate Dean provides expertise and coordination for computing requests that are sent to the Provost for the Undergraduate Education Initiatives Fund, Commonwealth Equipment Fund, and Research Facilities Development Fund. Staff: N. Ben Goldstein, Associate Dean (ben@dance.sas.upenn.edu) Debra McGrath, Business Administrator (debbie@mint.sas.upenn.edu) Kathleen Kohler, Secretary (kate@work.sas.upenn.edu)The following departments report to the Associate Dean for Academic Computing:
Humanities ComputingWilliams Hall, Room 647, 649 Duhring Wing, Rooms 110-111 Phone: (215) 898-4917 Fax: (215) 898-0933Humanities Computing assists faculty in computer-aided instruction and research beyond word processing and e-mail. Support to Individual Faculty Projects: Faculty may apply twice a year to the Humanities Computer Committee for assistance with computer- related projects. Previously funded projects include: Cinema multimedia productions for language learning, the French HyperCard Reader, Concordance of Suger, and scanning of large text corpora. Decisions on support for new projects are made by the Humanities Computer Committee in consultation with senior staff in Academic Computing. Procedural details and additional information on applying may be obtained from John R. (Jack) Abercrombie. General support for Humanities faculty: Humanities Computing continues to improve the computing environment on a long term basis through the Center for Computer Analysis of Texts (or CCAT). CCAT provides support in three areas: data entry of texts and images via scanning, text archive, and information dissemination. CCAT has built one of world's largest electronic text archives. A major goal this year is to make this archive available from faculty desktop machines. CCAT staff provides information and direct assistance to faculty in the use of technology. General information on Humanities Computing is available via PennInfo, the University's online information service.
Hours: 9:00 AM-6:00 PM Monday-Friday Staff: John R. Abercrombie, Assistant Dean (jacka@charity.sas.upenn.edu) Chris Hiester, Macintosh and UNIX consultant (chiester@charity.sas.upenn.edu) Phil Miraglia, DOS and UNIX Consultant (pmiraglia@charity.sas.upenn.edu) Social Science Computing111 McNeil/6209 Phone: (215) 898-6735Social Science Computing uses computing technology to promote education and research in the social science departments in the School of Arts and Sciences. Social Science Data Center (SSDC): The Center provides data, computing, and consulting services to faculty and graduate students in the social sciences. Nationally, it is the largest user of data from the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research. It maintains a data archive of 800 tapes, available for use by the entire Penn community. Graduate Data Analysis Laboratory (GDAL): GDAL provides consulting services for faculty and students on software packages (SAS, LIMDEP, TSP, Gauss, BMDP, SPSSx); computer operating systems (CMS, UNIX, and DOS), computer languages, editors, and communication software (FTP, NFS, and TCP/IP). GDAL maintains a local area network with ten 486- and five 386-based IBM-compatible computers, as well as terminal and printing facilities in 303 McNeil for mainframe and workstation use. Undergraduate Data Analysis Laboratory (UDAL): UDAL is a facility that provides computer hardware, educational software, and data for use by students in Sociology, Economics, and Regional Science. The facility includes 25 IBM PS/2's, 12 486-based computers, and 10 Macintosh IIsi's. Social Science Computing Courses: The staff teach courses on the use of computers in social science research. The credit courses are listed under Economics, Sociology, Regional Science, and Social Science. The noncredit courses cover SAS, UNIX, TSP, APL, DOS, and Windows. Social Science Computing Series: SSC publishes a series of computer manuals and papers that includes introductions to TSP, SAS, LIMDEP, UNIX, WordPerfect, Emacs, Matlab, Mathcad, Word, APL, STATA, and MicroCase. Staff: Robert C. Douglas, Assistant Dean and Director (rcdoug@ssdc.sas.upenn.edu) Janusz M. Szyrmer, Associate Director (jszyrmer@ssdc.sas.upenn.edu) Patricia J. Hildebrand, Database Administrator (phildebr@ssdc.sas.upenn.edu) Matthew Stoller, Software Manager (mstoller@ssdc.sas.upenn.edu) Alex Vishnevsky, Software Consultant (alexv@ssdc.sas.upenn.edu) Michael Little, Research Assistant (mlittle@ssdc.sas.upenn.edu) Communications and Network Services3401 Walnut Street, Suite 321A/6228Communications and Network Services (CNS) plans and implements networking and communications within the School of Arts and Sciences. It provides a central repository of pertinent information and oversees the design, implementation, and ongoing operation of computer networks and data communications activities within the school. Staff: Henry S. Radwanski, Director, 215) 898-9314 hank@penndrls.upenn.edu) Russell Lewis, Departmental LAN Manager, (215) 898-9735 (rlewis@pennsas.upenn.edu) Microcomputing SupportDavid Rittenhouse Laboratories, Room 3e3 33rd and Walnut Streets/6396 Help Desk phone: (215) 573-HELP Electronic mail: help@microsupport.sas.upenn.eduMicrocomputing Support provides a range of services for faculty, staff, and students who use microcomputers in their work. Help Desk: The Help Desk is the first point of contact for SAS faculty, staff, and students who have a computing question or problem. Help Desk staff can solve many microcomputing problems with a brief consultation by electronic mail or telephone. When appropriate, they make referrals to other individuals within SAS or to other computing organizations on campus or outside the University. The Help Desk also provides support for electronic mail, electronic bulletin boards, and communications software. Hardware Support: This team installs and repairs IBM/compatible computers, Apple Macintoshes, NeXT workstations, and various peripherals provided by the School of Arts and Sciences for the use of faculty, staff, and students. Direct requests for repairs to the Help Desk. Software Support: This group provides support for IBM/compatible, Macintosh, and NeXT operating systems and supported applications such as WordPerfect 5.1, Word for Macintosh, Excel, antiviral programs (Vi-Spy, Disinfectant), ProComm, Comet, and FTP. Laboratory Support: This group maintains and supports microcomputing laboratories established by SAS Computing in DRL--a Macintosh lab, a lab with 386- and 486-based IBM/compatible computers, and a NeXT lab.
Hours: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM Monday-FridayStaff: Michael Inskeep, Director (minskeep@microsupport.sas.upenn.edu) Lori Arnold, Help Desk Coordinator (larnold@microsupport.sas.upenn.edu) David Anstine, Macintosh Support Specialist (danstine@microsupport.sas.upenn.edu) Tom Bay, Laboratory Support Technician (tbay@microsupport.sas.upenn.edu) Bradley Midgett, Macintosh Hardware Technician Herman Phillips, PC Hardware Technician Multimedia & Educational Technology ServicesDavid Rittenhouse Laboratories, Rooms BS 1-24 33rd & Walnut/6396 Phone: (215) 898-4947Multimedia & Educational Technology Services (MMETS) provides specialized facilities, media equipment, and services. Services: MMETS operates a 25-station audio-cassette language lab, three media-equipped classrooms, two computer labs (one DOS and one Macintosh), one Macintosh SE/30 computer classroom, a suite of media viewing rooms, and a digital studio. MMETS lends out media technology (cameras, VCRs/monitors, CD players) for classroom use. MMETS has duplication facilities for VHS tape and analog cassettes. Conversion of material from analog to digital and digital to analog formats can also be done upon request. A growing audio and video library of relevant material is also available for faculty and student use. General information on MMETS is available via PennInfo, the University's online information service. Reservations: Reservations for services and facilities must be made one week in advance. Call the reservation desk (898-4948) weekdays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. There is no charge to staff and faculty in Arts and Sciences as long as the service occurs during business hours. A sheet listing the approved charges for services to individuals from other schools may be acquired from MMETS directly. Policies and related issues: Further questions about MMETS or its policies or about acquisition of new hardware or materials, as well as ideas for new services, should be directed to Jack Abercrombie. Questions about MMETS daily operations should be directed to Erin Fallon.
Hours: 8:30 AM - 9:00 PM Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Friday 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM SundayStaff: John R. Abercrombie, Director (jacka@charity.sas.upenn.edu) Erin Fallon, Manager (efallon@charity.sas.upenn.edu) Rennard Carmichael, Media Consultant & Facilities Supervisor (rennardc@charity.sas.upenn.edu) Luke Sullivan, Media Consultant Reth Touch, Media Consultant Elizabeth O'Brien, Administrative Coordinator N. BEN GOLDSTEIN is Associate Dean for Academic Computing for the School of Arts and Sciences.
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