I.T. Times
Volume 2. No 1 Information Technology News of the University of California, Davis October 1993


I.T. Secures Enhanced Technical Support through Vendor Programs

by Jennifer Koester, Information Resources


Information Technology staff have been working with vendors to provide enhanced technical support for campus users of Microsoft, WordPerfect, and Apple products. Here are the most recent successes!

Microsoft Support Coordinator Program

During the past six years, Information Technology staff have been active members in the Microsoft Support Coordinator Program. Attendance at quarterly meetings has proven to be extremely beneficial.

With our membership, the Davis campus has received monthly CDs containing technical information and software. The software CD has provided customers of the Center for Advanced Information Technology with immediate access to the Microsoft product line for evaluation and testing. The technical CDs have proved to be a valuable resource for consulting efforts at the IT-Campus Access Point.

Most importantly, participation has established our campus as a viable site for alpha and beta testing of software, due to the diverse users and technological platforms currently in place. This relationship has allowed UC Davis to preview forthcoming changes and to update Microsoft Corporation officials on the migration of Microsoft products on campus.

Increased Support for 1993-1994

During the coming fiscal year, Information Technology staff will continue to serve as Support Coordinator liaisons through membership in the new Microsoft TechNet Program:

TechNet Membership gives access to:

Throughout the year IT staff will receive updates of these support materials, as well as new information on the features, functions, and system requirements of Microsoft products.

WordPerfect Customer Advantage Program

Information Technology staff are currently qualifying the campus for membership in the WordPerfect Customer Advantage Program (i.e., the contracts have been sent to Purchasing and Business and Contracts for approval). Membership will grant Davis customers special licensing rights to the WPCorp family of products.

Benefits will include:

Apple Computer Support Professional Program

During the past two years, Information Technology staff have been active members of the Apple Computer Western Operations Advisory Council. Our efforts as part of this council have been focused on assisting Apple Computer to develop the "Support Professional Program." The goal of this program is to provide Macintosh wisdom to corporate help desk staff. Information Technology staff helped develop the program's structure and criteria. They also alpha- and beta- tested all the new products in the program. Here are the highlights:

Information Technology is particularly proud of its involvement in this advisory group. Due to our aggressive participation and the UC Davis technical profile, we were chosen as the national Higher Education sponsor of the program. This is clearly a successful case of the vendor listening to the "enduser"! For more on the Microsoft Tech-Net Program, WordPerfect Customer Advantage Program, or Apple Support Professional Program, contact Jennifer Koester at jakoester@ucdavis.edu or 752-1904.


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