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Author: Betsy Edwards

• Web/information specialist in Information Technology Services • Editor/writer, K-State IT communications • IT News blog moderator • ETDR specialist

Grad students and advisers: Final ETDR walk-in help 1-5 p.m. May 10

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

An impromptu ETDR walk-in help session is offered 1-5 p.m. Friday, May 10, in the Media Center (1 Seaton Hall) for grad students who want to finish their ETDRs and avoid paying tuition for a credit hour in summer session.

ETDRs (electronic theses, dissertations, and reports) must be submitted to the Graduate School by the end of May 10, as PDFs through the K-REx repository system.  Graduate students can use the resources below to help finish by the deadline.

The Media Center has Windows and Mac computers, scanners, Microsoft Office suite, and Acrobat Pro software. Media Center consultants are on hand to help with  PDF-conversion issues. 

Continue reading “Grad students and advisers: Final ETDR walk-in help 1-5 p.m. May 10” →

Grad students and advisers: ETDR walk-in help sessions April 15-19

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

The spring semester deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, April 19 for submitting ETDRs (electronic theses, dissertations, and reports) to the Graduate School.  All ETDRs must be submitted as PDFs through the K-REx repository system.  Graduate students can use the resources below to help finish by the deadline.

A. Walk-in ETDR help sessions are scheduled April 15-19: 

  • MON April 15, 3-5 p.m.
  • TUE  April 16, 6-8 p.m.
  • WED April 17, 10 a.m.-noon
  • THU  April 18, 6-8 p.m.
  • FRI   April 19, 1-5 p.m.

All sessions are in the Media Center in Seaton Hall, Room 1 (basement level). The center has Windows and Mac computers, scanners, Microsoft Office suite, and Acrobat Pro software. Media Center consultants are on hand to help with  PDF-conversion issues.  Continue reading “Grad students and advisers: ETDR walk-in help sessions April 15-19” →

Grad students and advisers: ETDR walk-in help sessions Nov. 6-16

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

The fall semester deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16 for submitting ETDRs (electronic theses, dissertations, and reports) to the Graduate School.  All ETDRs must be submitted as PDFs through the K-REx repository system.  Use the resources below to help finish by the deadline.

Walk-in ETDR help sessions Nov. 6-16

  • Nov. 6 (Tue) — 5-7 p.m.
  • Nov. 7 (Wed) — 4-6 p.m.
  • Nov. 9 (Fri) — 3-5 p.m.
  • Nov. 13 (Tue) — 5-7 p.m.
  • Nov. 15 (Thu) — 5-7 p.m.
  • Nov. 16 (Fri) — 1-5 p.m.

All sessions are in the Media Center in Seaton Hall, Room 1 (basement level). The center has Windows and Mac computers, scanners, Microsoft Office suite, and Acrobat Pro software to fix problems with PDF conversion.  Continue reading “Grad students and advisers: ETDR walk-in help sessions Nov. 6-16” →

Grad students and advisers: ETDR walk-in help Friday, Aug. 10

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

The summer semester deadline for submitting theses and dissertations to the Graduate School is 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10.  Electronic theses, dissertations, and reports (ETDRs) must be submitted as PDFs through the K-REx repository. Use the following resources to finish up this week:

  1. Attend a walk-in ETDR help session 1-5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10, in the Dickens 1 computing lab (located east of Hale Library). The lab has 32 Windows computers.
  2. Send an ETDR Request Form to get help via email on formatting issues, PDF conversion, K-REx, and so on. Attach thesis/dissertation files  by using the “paperclip” icon (near the Submit button or at top). Requests are answered within 24 hours during the deadline week. 
  3. Use the ETDR Review Checklist to catch 99% of errors that cause ETDR rejection by the Graduate School.

Continue reading “Grad students and advisers: ETDR walk-in help Friday, Aug. 10” →

Media Center is up and running in Union after Hale fire

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

With a new name, location, and modified hours, the Media Center (formerly the Media Development Center in Hale Library) is now open for service in the Cat’s Pause Lounge, Room 222, in the K-State Student Union.

The Media Center will have modified hours over the summer:

  • Monday-Friday – 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Saturday – 1-5 p.m.
  • Sunday – CLOSED

Services include:

  • Media production
  • Film
  • Audio
  • 2D design
  • 3D  development
  • Virtual reality
  • Scanning

For more information, visit the website, call 785-532-7422, or email Jahvelle Rhone, media coordinator, rhone@k-state.edu.

Grad students and advisers: No word limit in abstracts; ETDR walk-in help April 16-20

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

The spring semester deadline for submitting theses and dissertations to the Graduate School is 5 p.m. Friday, April 20.  Electronic theses, dissertations, and reports (ETDRs) must be submitted as PDFs through the K-REx repository.

Abstracts no longer have a word limit.  The Graduate School removed the abstract word limit for spring 2018 and on in the ETDR Guidelines (see “Required Sections”).  Other webpages and documentation are being updated.  The ETDR Handbook and ETDR writing templates will be updated this summer.

Three walk-in ETDR sessions are scheduled April 16-20, the ETDR semester deadline week, for help on Word, PDF conversion, K-REx, etc.

  • Monday, April 16 — 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 18 — 3-6 p.m.
  • Friday, April 20 — 1-5 p.m.

All sessions are in the Media Development Center, 213 Hale Library (adjacent to the IT Help Desk).  The MDC has both Windows and Mac computers, and all have Acrobat Pro for best PDF conversion.  Continue reading “Grad students and advisers: No word limit in abstracts; ETDR walk-in help April 16-20” →

Grad students and advisers: ETDR walk-in help during Nov. 17 deadline week

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

The fall semester deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, for submitting theses and dissertations to the Graduate School (via the K-REx system).

Grad students who miss the ETDR walk-in clinic this week (5-6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, in 407 Hale Library) can take advantage of three ETDR help sessions during the deadline week Nov. 13-17:

Monday, Nov. 13 — 2-5 p.m. 
Thursday, Nov. 16 — 1-5 p.m. 
Friday, Nov. 17 — 1-5 p.m.

All sessions are in the Media Development Center, 213 Hale Library (adjacent to the IT Help Desk).  The MDC has both Windows and Mac computers, and all have Acrobat Pro for best PDF conversion.

Zoom conferences for distance students

During the deadline week, distance students and others not on the K-State-Manhattan campus may schedule individual Zoom conferences (no camera required) on a first-come, first-served basis.  Use the ETDR Request Form to suggest meeting times.

Need an ETDR review only?  

  1. Check your document with the ETDR Review Checklist.  It covers 99% of issues that cause ETDRs to be rejected.
  2. Get a preliminary review via email from the ETDR consultant by using the ETDR Request Form (K-State eID/password sign-in).  Request “Email” as the contact method.  Attach your document by using the “paperclip” icon on the form.

For more ETDR resources, see the ETDR website at k-state.edu/grad/etdr.

Grad students: More ETDR walk-in help sessions scheduled Nov. 1, Nov. 8

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

In response to recent inquiries from graduate students, two more walk-in help sessions on Electronic Theses, Dissertations, and Reports (ETDR) have been scheduled this semester: 5-6 p.m. Wednesdays, Nov. 1 and Nov. 8, in 407 Hale Library. These come-and-go help sessions are primarily for students graduating this semester.

ETDR walk-in help sessions are designed to give fast help on formatting theses and dissertations, Microsoft Word, LaTeX, and ETDR questions.  About 30 Windows computers are available in Hale 407.  Attendees are welcome to bring their laptops for specific help.

If you plan to attend, it will help to accommodate more students if you create an ETDR request form ahead of time and specify a meeting time (Nov. 1 ETDR session 5-6 p.m. OR Nov. 8 ETDR session 5-6 p.m.)  Otherwise, students will be asked to create the online request when they arrive.

Continue reading “Grad students: More ETDR walk-in help sessions scheduled Nov. 1, Nov. 8” →

Cybersecurity: It’s not all about YOU, but it’s close

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

Editor’s note: October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM). This is part of an IT security series during October to help K-Staters protect themselves, their data, and their money.

Tip

Be suspicious.
By using common sense, you can spot and stop most attacks.

You are the one. Technology alone will never be able to fully protect you. Attackers have learned that the easiest way to bypass even the most advanced security technology is by attacking YOU.

If they want your password, credit card, or personal data, the easiest thing for them to do is to trick you into giving them this information.

 

Examples

  • They might phone and say, “Hello, this is Microsoft tech support. Your computer is infected.” In reality, they are just cybercriminals who want you to give them access to your computer.
  • They might email and say, “Your package could not be delivered. Please click on a link to confirm your mailing address.” In reality, they want to trick you into visiting a malicious website that will hack into your computer.

This is how attacks such as Ransomware or CEO Fraud start. Ultimately, the greatest defense against attackers is you.

Excerpted with permission from the OUCH! newsletter’s “Four Steps to Staying Secure” at securingthehuman.sans.org.

Grad students and faculty: Final ETDR walk-in seminar Oct. 18

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

Graduate students who missed the September walk-in seminar on Electronic Theses, Dissertations, and Reports (ETDR) may want to attend the October session 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, in 407 Hale Library. This is a come-and-go seminar, so students can stay for more tips and timesavers, or get their answers and leave.

ETDR walk-in help sessions provide faster thesis/dissertation help on formatting, Microsoft Word, LaTeX, and ETDR questions.  About 30 Windows computers are available in Hale 407.  Attendees can bring their laptops if they need specific help.

Continue reading “Grad students and faculty: Final ETDR walk-in seminar Oct. 18” →