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Information Technology and Learning Resources |
USTF provides computing, networking, information, and telecommunication resources to the university community to support teaching, research, and efficient administrative processes. Access to Information Technology resources is granted to members of the university community who are enrolled students, employees, or academic staff members. The authorized Office for running these resources is the Office of Information Technology (OIT).
Providing efficient and current IT services to all university users (faculty, students, and staff) in order to fully support their teaching, research, and administrative activities.
Provide robust IT physical and logical infrastructure, maintain WAN and LAN nodes, and perform administrative operations to keep IT services available 24/7 to users.
Provide prompt and accurate technical assistance from knowledgeable staff, and to listen carefully to users’ requests and feedback.
Develop database systems, maintain university-wide database applications, and give full support to the Application users.
Create, maintain and enhance University and related websites, and develop integrated application to enhance users’ web browsing experience.
Perform RND to recommend new technologies.
Protect USTF IT assets.
Ensure that the use of IT resources is primarily for university purposes and university-related activities.
Maintain the integrity and security of the university’s computing facilities.
Network Account
Internet
Wi-Fi
Online Registration
E-Learning Management System
Maintenance and replacement of computing and network resources for educational facilities and to USTF staff.
IT facilities at USTF are maintained by the Office of Information Technology. It is the responsibility of all users of the computer system to notify the Office of IT of violations of laws and university policies in connection with the use of computers, as well as of potential loopholes in the security of the computer system. Any concerns, complaints, or reports of misconduct with regard to the computer system should be reported to the IT Supervisor on 092023555 or email helpdesk@ustf.ac.ae.
Accounts are intended to be personal. The individual to whom the account has been created is responsible for ensuring that his/her username and password remain confidential. No one is allowed to use another person’s username and password.
All freshmen students should receive an identification letter by email with their password/user account details and how to use it after two (2) working days before the Registration starting date or one (1) working day from the admission approval, in the case of students who have been admitted during the registration period. All registered students should have passwords/user accounts. The password/user account will remain active for the duration of a student’s course. The email account will remain active for life. Students who, for a reason or another, lose their passwords will be required to pay AED 20 for a password reset.
Students can use their user account to access all the below USTF web services:
Computer labs.
Wi-Fi
E-Learning Management System (Moodle)
Online Registration System (ORS)
USTF has established e-mail as a primary vehicle for official communication with students. All university communications via email will be sent to this address. Faculty members will use the official university e-mail address to communicate with a student registered in their classes and administrative units will correspond with students via this address. The University expects that students will receive and read e-mail in a timely manner. Students are expected to maintain their accounts and check their e-mail. A student is obliged to check university e-mail and act upon content.
USTF adopts an E-Learning Management System (Moodle) to enhance the teaching and learning process. It is a web-based application that allows instructors to deliver content and resources to students and manage their delivery. It provides easy ways for instructors to create and deliver their course content, communicates with students, and assess student performance. Students will be enrolled in all their courses automatically as the Moodle system is integrated with the registration system.
The Office of Information Technology (OIT) is neither an investigative nor a disciplinary entity in its primary responsibilities. However, in cases where university resources and privileges are abused or otherwise threatened, the Office may be asked to take appropriate action. Immediate revocation of access and subsequent prosecution by the authorities, for example, might be directed. Such revocation may be appealed to the IT committee.
Access to University computing and communications equipment and facilities may be revoked for reasons including, but not limited to:
Attacking the security of the system;
Modifying or divulging private information such as file or mail contents of other users without their consent;
Misusing or abusing Internet/Network by using Internet tools or software that may affect the performance of the Internet/Network;
Modifying or destroying university data; and
Using the networks/Internet in a manner contrary to the established guidelines.
Finally, users may not read sensitive information simply because it is accessible to them - because of accidental exposure and/or through the malice of others who have broken into a system or are misusing their access privileges. When sensitive information is recognized as such, it should not be examined further, but reported to the keeper of the materials, if known, or otherwise reported to the Office of IT.
Computer labs operated by the Office of IT are a shared University resource available on a first-come, first-served basis. Food and beverages are prohibited in these labs. Labs may be reserved for exclusive use by a class or group. Some labs are provided by Colleges, not the Office of IT; contact those Colleges for their additional usage guidelines.
The Office of IT considers all temporary and permanent connections via the University network, to be subject to the provisions of this policy.
Computing resources not owned or approved by USTF may not be connected to the University’s network.
The Office of IT has the right to monitor the traffic of all transmissions on networks maintained by the Office at all times.
Operating systems currently supported (for the desktop) include Windows OS (Windows 10 and above) and Apple OS (11 and above). There are special requirements for Unix workstations in the College of Engineering and Technology. Upgrading will take place in a controlled manner.
Software and hardware to be installed should be requested by the Dean or Director and it may not be installed or connected to the university systems without the approval of the IT Committee. This includes the data and telephone networks.
All university affiliates (faculty, staff and students) are permitted to use the university network and selected computing resources at all times while the network is available.
IDF/MDF rooms are under the authority and responsibility of the Office of IT. Everyone within the USTF Network community who uses university computing and communications facilities has the responsibility to use them in an ethical, professional and legal manner.
Violations of information technology policies and procedures typically result in university disciplinary action, which may have serious consequences, and in some cases, may result in legal action.
It is the responsibility of students to have a backup of their data and coursework on a personal data storage medium (such as External Hard Disks, USB flash drives or CD/DVD disks). Students may also backup on the cloud using the provided storage with the email service (50 GB on OneDrive).
Students may access the Internet through computers in university computer labs and through personal laptops connected to the university’s Wi-Fi provided in designated locations. Student access to the Internet conforms to the laws of the United Arab Emirates, including the monitoring and filtering of Internet content. Any attempt to circumvent or disable Internet access controls set by the University or the government of the UAE is a violation of university policy and will result in disciplinary action.