Announcements
Serious Virtual Worlds '07
05/09/2007
First European Conference on the Professional Applications of Virtual Worlds13 – 14 September 2007 @ The Serious Games Institute, Coventry.
UKSerious Games Institute and Ambient Performance announce the first Serious Virtual Worlds conference
The Programme
The extraordinary success of virtual worlds such as ‘Second Life’ as virtual social spaces for play leads to the question ‘What is the potential for the serious uses of these worlds?’ The theme for this first Serious Virtual Worlds conference is ‘The Reality of the Virtual World’ and takes a close look at how virtual worlds are now being used for serious professional purposes. Many organisations are now actively researching and deploying virtual worlds. Serious Virtual Worlds is your introduction to the serious uses of virtual worlds.
The ConferenceDay 1 – Introducing Virtual Worlds: presentations and conversations introducing virtual worlds and the 3D web from Cisco, Forterra, Linden Labs, Giunti Labs, Daden, Ambient Performance, TruSim and others, closing with the launch of the Serious Games Institute and Coventry University’s ‘Second Life’ IslandThe Conference Dinner will be held at Ardencote Manor Hotel
Day 2 - Serious Virtual Worlds: Action & Potential: live virtual world presentations and conversations from PA Consulting, IBM, Reuters, BP, Trusim, Forterra, and others View the Programme and Book Online Now: www.seriousvirtualworlds.net Exhibition and sponsorship packages are available for the conference. Please contact Kate Pallister on +44 (0)24 7623 6377 or email events.team@cad.coventry.ac.uk
News from Human Resources
05/09/2007
Lecturer to Senior Lecturer Progression
Lecturer to Senior Lecturer Accelerated Promotion
Academic Merit Payments
Please note that the annual processes relating to the above are now underway. Deans have been advised of the eligibility of staff as appropriate and requested to put forward recommendations.
Pending the outcome of current negotiations with the academic trades union on the new pay and reward arrangements for academic staff, this year’s round of L to SL progressions and promotions and award of merit payments will be in accordance with the criteria used in previous years, copies of which have been forwarded to Deans. For this year all merit payments will be in the form of a lump sum, of equivalent value to an increment.
The closing date for recommendations for L to SL progressions and promotions is 5 October and for merit payment recommendations it is 19 October. Progressions and promotions to SL will be effective from 1 September 2007.
Enquiries about the processes should be directed to Nancy Garlick in HR on ext 5107, email n.garlick@coventry.ac.uk
Launch of new eLibrary
30/08/2007
eLibrary - The new name for the Library Portal
The following changes to the Library Portal will take effect on Friday 31 August:
New Name: eLibrary
Following a major upgrade over the summer, the Library Portal has been renamed as the eLibrary.
New URL: http://elibrary.coventry.ac.uk/
Most functions will remain the same, but please note the new URL.
New Login
The other major change is that you now login using your network username/password (the same details as you use to login to the computers on-campus).
To find out more about the eLibrary, pick up a guide from the Library or contact your Subject Librarian.
Learning Week 3 - 7 September 2007
28/08/2007
Just a reminder that during the week of Monday 3rd to Friday 7th September Learning Week is taking place across campus and at a couple of locations off site. Usually each session will be between 1 to 2 hours long.
Come along to Richard Crossman on Monday 3 September from 12.30pm for an informal chat with the Vice-Chancellor and to discuss the sessions available throughout the week. Tea and biscuits will be available.
Book a place now, before is too late!!
Ever wanted to find out more about the jet airplane? Fancied trying yoga but lacked the confidence to give it a go? If so then check out the website for a full list of information http://www.coventry.ac.uk/learningweek, where you will also be able to book online.
If you would like a hard copy of the timetable or in any other format, development.per@coventry.ac.uk or telephone extn 7148 for a form.
Survey - help needed
21/08/2007
Online questionnaire: Fathers and parenting programmes in South Warwickshire
Are you a father who lives in South Warwickshire?
Do you have at least one child under the age of 16?
Would you be willing to share your views about parenting programmes/ support?
If you can answer yes to these questions, we would love to hear from you. The Applied Research Centre in Health and Lifestyle Interventions is running a project for Warwickshire Primary Care Trust to explore father’s attitudes towards parenting programmes. As part of this, we are asking South Warwickshire fathers to complete an anonymous online questionnaire on their attitudes and ways in which programmes could be improved. You will also be able to enter a prize draw for £30 of High Street vouchers. The closing date for the questionnaire and prize draw entries is Friday October 19th 2007.
To complete the questionnaire be entered into the prize draw, go to http://www.hsrc.co.uk/hsrco/ethics.aspx
For more information, please contact Julie Bayley (j.bayley@coventry.ac.uk)
IT network maintenance
17/08/2007
Network Outage – 9th & 10th September ITS have arranged for the following windows of access to all systems on the 9th & 10th September 2007.
Network available up until 10:00
Network unavailable 10:00 - 14:00
Network available 14:00 - 16:00
Network unavailable 16:00 - 18:00
These windows will allow the continuation of enrolment at 14:00 - 16:00 and faculties the ability to carry out SABS updates.The core upgrade is an essential part of the Smart-Campus@CU and your co-operation is appreciated.Please ensure that you have logged off the system by the “Network unavailable” times to avoid the loss of data.
Anti-virus update
17/08/2007
When starting up your PC over the next few weeks you will see Sophos Anti-Virus being installed and this may delay login for up to 5 minutes. This should only happen once and only on start-up (not on logout or login). If you do get an error please click on 'OK' and log in normally, your current installation will not be affected and it will try again next time you start up your PC. If you experience a repeated problem with the Sophos Anti-Virus update, please contact the service desk on 7777 or use http://servicedesk.coventry.ac.uk/rmsl.