About

The Digital Applications Delivery Unit is responsible for the corporate application support needs of the University. Its prime responsibility is to work corporate application owners to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of the University’s information systems.

Its functions include:

• Installation support for the implementation and upgrade of corporate systems;
• Middleware and integration support for corporate systems;
• Authentication systems management;
• Identity management;
• Active Directory management;
• Email and Calendar management;
• Development and maintenance of corporate web applications;
• Identification of data integrity issues with corporate data and liaising with application owners on resolving them;
• Advice to potential corporate application owners and ICTAC on the selection and provision of packages to meet corporate information management.

The Enterprise Architecture, Strategy & Risk unit provides strategic ICT guidance and support to the University as a whole, individual business areas, and ICT projects. This includes the development and management of strategic ICT plans, employing appropriate enterprise-level approaches to the development and execution of these plans, and ensuring that the ongoing development and operation of the University's virtual infrastructure results in a secure, robust, and effective set of business-technology capabilities.

Specifically, the unit has responsibilities for the following functions:

• Development of the JCU ICT Blueprint and related strategies
• Development and ongoing management of the JCU Enterprise Architecture
• Consulting and guidance on the selection and implementation of information systems
• Provision of Solution Architecture services to ICT Projects
• Development and maintenance of the JCU Information Security Roadmap
• Coordination of all Information Security activities including project and solution Information Security reviews
• ICT Risk Management oversight

Cyber Security

The Student Digital Solutions Unit is responsible for the student application support needs of the University.

Communications

Network Systems aims to provide communication mediums, for the interaction and collaboration of business and learning outcomes to the JCU community, other learning institutes, research institutes and the public.

Networking Systems is responsible for networking and telephony services for the University.
The unit covers three main disciplines:

Data Networks

The Network Section is headed by the Manager Communications Systems and Architecture.

We have six full-time staff based at JCU Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas and two staff members based on the JCU Cairns, Nguma-bada campus, Smithfield with full responsibility for the communications network. We collaborate with the Singapore staff to align strategies and support opportunities for JCU in our international operations.

The responsibilities of this Unit are to provide and maintain the data network at all of JCU's campuses.

• Wide Area Networking (WAN) - Connectivity between campuses and connectivity to the Internet.
• Local Area Networking (LAN) - Inter and intra-building connectivity on the campuses and facilitation of contract services to provide the wiring of new and refurbished facilities.
• Wireless Local Area Networking (WLAN) - Wireless technology for academic areas and into some residential colleges is provided and supported by the unit.
• Network monitoring and security - Monitoring traffic on the WAN and LAN for purposes of consistent and secure service. Monitoring of traffic and changes in traffic patterns as a result of changes to the University IT services for performance tuning, capacity planning and budget formulation These services are provided from COS funding;
• Network Infrastructure - Power utilities, Air-Conditioning, cabling and major project with respect to communications are additional responsibilities of this unit.

Wide-Area Network

JCU has two 1Gigabit/s links to the AARNet hub in Brisbane, which then connects through to the broader Internet.

JCU Cairns, Nguma-bada campus, Smithfield is connected to JCU Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas by a 2.5Gbps Ethernet link, which also has Voice-over-IP for internal phone calls. This link carries up to 8 concurrent Video Conference sessions for teaching and administration purposes. To preserve visual and audio quality these Video Conference sessions and voice calls have priority over any other traffic.

Numerous smaller campuses are connected via Telstra managed ADSL services.

Local-Area Network

• JCU Cairns, Nguma-bada campus, Smithfield - The network consists of two Avaya 8600s working parallel to provide a 20 Gigabit backbone connecting all the precinct Avaya 5530 Ethernet switch stacks, which then connect the edge Avaya 5520 Gigabit Ethernet switches.
• JCU Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas - The network consists of two Avaya 8800s working parallel to provide a 20 Gigabit backbone connecting all the precinct Avaya 5530 Ethernet switch stacks, which then connect the edge Avaya 5520 Gigabit Ethernet switches.
• Mackay Base Hospital - The local network is connected to the rest of the JCU Network via a 100Mbps link into the Wide Area Network, connecting all campuses.
• Cairns Base Hospital - The network consists of a Business Grade 20 Mbps IP Man link connected via The Telstra Managed service back to JCU Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas.
• Mount Isa - MICRRH - The network consists of a private ADSL link connected via a local ISP to the WWW.
• JCU Thursday Island, Ngulaigau Mudh campus - The network consists of a Business Grade 10 Mbps IP Man link connected via The Telstra Managed service back to JCU Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas.

Wireless Network

JCU Cairns, Nguma-bada campus, Smithfield and JCU Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas have significant wireless coverage.

Guides

• How to create a VPN Connection
• Remote Access to JCU
• Connecting to Wireless

Communications Infrastructure

The Communications Infrastructure Section is headed by the Manager Communications Systems and Architecture. There is one full-time staff member based at Douglas campus with full responsibility for this campus. The unit is assisted by Cairns TS staff in managing the Cairns Campus.

The responsibilities of this Unit are to coordinate the provision and maintenance of:

• The Communications Conduit Pits and Cabling system (Infrastructure specifications for Cabling Standards.pdf);
• The Main Computer Room Facilities; and
• The Environmental Services (Air-Conditioning, Power etc) required for the communications systems.

University Voice Services

The Voice Services Unit is headed by the Manager Communications Systems and Architecture. We have one full-time technical staff, the Manager Voice Services based at the Douglas campus and a technician at the Cairns Campus.

• Mobile Phone and Wireless Data Information
• Forms

Systems and Storage

Systems & Storage Services provisions and maintains the ICT infrastructure and systems that support of all Corporate, Collaborative, and High Performance Computing services provided to/for the JCU Community.

Systems & Storage Services is responsible for the design, architecture and operations of all Corporate and Collaborative computing systems.

Our responsibilities include:

• Capacity planning, evaluation, management, and maintenance of computing infrastructure - physical and virtual.
• Installation and maintenance of operating systems, including related software or services.
• Application and maintenance of host-based, IT security measures. This includes, but is not limited to, operating system and software patching.
• Implementing methods for providing data protection, disaster avoidance, and disaster recovery - including backup and recovery management.
• Electronic News and Newsgroup maintenance;
• Advice, management and day to day service for hardware in support of general computing, high-performance computing, web, courseware and library servers;
• Database installations, operation and service support;
• Server Virtualisation and support;
• AUScert;
• Anti-Virus detection;
• Specialist IT support to all areas of the JCU Community for any technical and operational matters.

eResearch - High Performance Computing (HPC)

The JCU eResearch Centre supports researchers, University staff, and other organisations alike through developing customised solutions.  Ask us about web collaboration, sensor networking, high performance computing, and software development.  More information about services available to researchers at JCU at the eResearch Centre. Access to HPC facilities at JCU is generally restricted to research students and staff. This includes undergraduate students engaged in research activities.

This Unit is responsible for providing IT Services & Support to James Cook University staff, students and affiliated organisations (under specific Service Level Agreements).

These services include:

• Desktop/Laptop/Mobile Device technical support.
• IT Help Desk Services.
• The development & maintenance of the JCU Managed Desktop/Laptop environment for JCU owned PC and Mac computers and managed computers in Computer Rooms, Libraries and Common Teaching Rooms.
• The maintenance of security patching and virus protection of JCU owned staff & postgraduate student’s computers, and computers located in the Computer Rooms, Libraries and Common Teaching Rooms.
• The negotiation and maintenance of Site Licensed Software Agreements.

Computer Rooms

Computer Rooms are primarily designed to enhance the teaching and learning goals for currently enrolled students and staff of James Cook University (JCU). The facilities span 3 campuses encompassing Townsville, Cairns and Mackay, and include 866 desktop units in 35 individual facilities. Information on Computer Room locations, opening hours and a list of software is available at Computer Rooms.  Please ensure you have read the Usage guidelines for JCU facilities.

Student Systems is responsible for maintaining and managing some of the University systems which capture student data.  Three of those are Tier-1 Enterprise systems, there are also a number of smaller ad-on systems.

• Technology One: Student Management System (SMS) (captures the student lifecycle from application, offer, course and study progress, student finance, results, progressions, graduation, and various reporting tools)
• Oracle: Customer Relationship Management System (CRM) (records current and prospective student enquiries) includes chat, text messaging, knowledge base and relationship management functionality
• QuantumIT: InPlace (manages student placements (clinical and WIL work-integrated-learning) including pre-placement requirements, Agent (placement) venues and communications.

Key activities include:

• Configuration and testing to support the various business processes that manage the student life-cycle
• Provide data for downstream applications such as Learning Management System, Student App, Estate Office, COGNOS, TCSI Government reporting etc
• Implement new functionality
• Operational Support & trouble shooting
• Liaising directly with the system Vendors and raising support requests as necessary
• Undertaking and assisting coordination of Staff Training
• Assist with integration design and testing
• Engage with both internal and external Audits
• Maintaining associated help documentation
• Involved in and sometimes required to lead business process improvements
• Coordinate and complete testing for System Upgrades
• Handover for implemented project work within our team for operational support for new system implementations