Faculty Notes

for Faculty Using the Spatial Analysis Labs (AH-14, AH-16 & ES-318)

 

SAL Home                               SAL General Information 

Custom Software Requests        ESRI Software On-Campus

 

Scheduling Classes (see also current Schedule)

The annual SAL schedules are developed each spring for the following academic year. Faculty wishing to schedule a class in one of the SAL labs should contact Stefan or Dave during Winter quarter (we will make an effort to contact faculty we think might be using the SAL but leave ultimate responsibility of communication upon the faculty member).

Priority for scheduling takes the following into consideration:

    - Class length (longer blocks of time scheduled first)

    - Class size (classes with larger enrollments prioritized) 

    - Class content (GIS/RS classes prioritized)

    - Tradition... (e.g., EGEO-450 is 'always' T-Th @ 2:00...)

 

Thus, Huxley's 4 and 5 credit GIS & RS classes with high enrollments are scheduled first. After these classes are blocked in, remaining Huxley classes are fit in as best possible, followed by classes from other Departments if space is available.

Note that both ESTU (including Geography and Planning) and ESCI make use of the SAL labs so the SAL schedules must also mesh with both larger departmental schedules... as best we can.

See also Draft Schedule for next year

See also Options for Large Format Printing for Faculty

 

Requests for Custom Software Additions in SAL Computer Labs 

The Spatial Analysis Lab includes a variety of software applications (see list of installed software). Huxley faculty desiring additional pieces of software and/or customizations are welcome to discuss such ideas with the Lab Manager, provided they do so well IN ADVANCE. Huxley staff no longer perform custom software installations or customizations for other Departments (thus other Departments wishing to use the SAL facilities must be able to use the lab 'as is'.

Typically, updates/additions to the existing lab computers are done between quarters and are not done mid quarter except in emergency situations.

 

Deadlines for software requests for the following quarter are as follows:

    - For Fall quarter         By July 1st

    - For Winter quarter     By Nov. 1st

    - For Spring quarter      By Feb. 1st

    - For Summer quarter    By May 1st

 

Huxley faculty requesting new software should provide:

    - The name (and version) of the software desired

    - Source of the software (and how it will be paid for if applicable):

    - ATUS or outside vendor

    - Cost of software (optionally including technical support)

    - Annual license (renewed) or one-time purchase

    - Budget code and authority

    - Software Vendor contact information

    - Which lab(s) the software will be needed in

    - How many seats are needed*

    - Source of technical support (software vendor, faculty member, ATUS, etc.)

 

All software installed on SAL computers must be properly licensed for every computer the software is installed on (personal copies of software cannot be installed on university computers). Faculty having custom / personal software are encouraged to install it on their office computers and use Remote Desktop to remotely connect to that computer from the lab (enabling them to run/demo their personal office software from the lab).

Note that some of SAL computer labs are already close to capacity (in terms of hard drive size, etc.) and thus not all request can be honored.

* NOTE that in MOST cases software installed in the SAL will need to be installed on EVERY computer in the lab (i.e., you will need to provide 32 licenses for software to be installed in AH-16 or 11 licenses for software installed in ES-318, etc.). It is generally NOT feasible to install individual software on a subset of computers in the lab (lab computers need to remain identical).

In some cases, installing software on every computer in a lab is either not feasible (due to costs) or not necessary. Other options include:

    - Using Remote Desktop to access the Faculty's office computer

            (which enables the Faculty member to run/demo software installed on their

            office computer while in the lab)

    - Installing the software just on the podium machine for demonstrations purposes

    - Installing the software on a single computer for individual projects

    - Using software installed in an ATUS or other lab on campus

 

Students desiring custom software should obtain the support of a faculty member prior to discussing the options with the SAL Lab Manager.

 

ESRI Products for use On campus (installed in Non-Huxley labs or offices)

WWU maintains a site license for ESRI software (including ArcGIS, ArcView 3.x and many of the ‘core’ extensions). Huxley IT and GIS staff provide installation assistance and software support for Huxley faculty, staff and students. .

Other users on campus (outside of Huxley) should contact their departmental or college IT staff and/or ATUS for installation, maintenance and pricing information.