University Computing Systems (UCS)
UCS supports the core of the University’s major administrative and academic computing systems, applications, and facilities for students, faculty and staff. Among these are PeopleSoft, technical programming supporting operating system environments, WebCT, email, Web services, campus-wide research software, Advancement, and the computer center in Tyler Hall.
UCS also designs and maintains campus-wide communication and response systems, in collaboration with the Help Desk, to keep all academic systems running. Part of the communications system are the e-Campus Upgrade Central newsletter, user documentation, IT Short Courses, and workshops.
Administrative computing is housed on a UNIX-based P690 system with multiple Web servers supporting the PeopleSoft/Oracle-based University information system, e-Campus. The University uses PeopleSoft/Oracle’s Higher Education suite of applications: Student Administration, Human Resources and Payroll, and Financials.
Some administrative services to be migrated to PeopleSoft/Oracle are currently supported by a mainframe running OS/390. Several administrative applications are also deployed on Windows network servers interfacing either with e-Campus or the mainframe. The Web-enabled suite of administrative services is available to all URI students, faculty, and staff and can be accessed with a PC or Mac running a Web browser.
Supported hardware and software systems for select administrative functions, research, instruction, and outreach include an IBM H50 server running the AIX operating system and 50 Dell servers running Red Hat UNIX. This complex includes a 3 Terabyte EMC disk storage system and an IBM automated tape library with six transports.
Ancillary equipment provides Optical Mark Reader services for exam grading and survey processing, and plotting services in support of instruction and research. Most servers are available 24 x 7 and have been implemented for unattended use.
