KFU-DIT :  List of Detailed Services

 1. Wireless Networks

      Responsibility under DIT
      IT Systems and Network Operations Department (ITSNOD)
 

The Deanship of Information Technology operates a huge wireless network spread in KFU buildings and colleges and it is directly connected with the KFU main network in order to provide an opportunity for KFU employees to take advantage of all services connected to the Internet through Mobile Computers, PDA Devices, or Mobile Phones.

     2. Connecting Network Between Females' Colleges and Professor/Faculty  
     Member Colleges in the Eastern Province

      Responsibility under DIT:
      IT Systems and Network Operations Department (ITSNOD)
 

KFU has established a huge network that connects its headquarters with its colleges scattered in cities and governorates of the Eastern Province. To operate this network we used the IP-VPN technology which is a latest technique that transfers data packets with large quantities and at high speeds. Therefore, this network can be used in several fields, such as using Video Conferencing technology to broadcast lectures and held meetings between one city and another in easily and conveniently way and without the need to move or bothering to travel. Also, through this network it is possible to facilitate accessing (internet, e-mail, admission & registration system, and other services).

3. Smart Classrooms

      Responsibility under DIT
      Technical Support Department (TSD)
      Training and Academic Support Unit (TASU)
 

Today, the use of interactive (smart) classrooms in education is one of the principal means to deliver lectures at many universities worldwide. KFU has created established smart classrooms with modern educational techniques including:
 

·         Audio and video systems

·         Smart Board.

·         An electronic system in order to display documents.

·        Video Conferencing system.

4. Video Conferencing

      Responsibility under DIT
      Technical Support Department (TSD)

It is a system for video and audio broadcasting that allows to transfer audio and video from one location to another, whether inside or outside KFU (anywhere in the world). At the present time the Deanship of Information Technology is broadcasting and transferring lectures, conferences and seminars through the computer network within the headquarters of the University in Alhasa, or in the educational hospital in Alkhobar and also other locations. This system is also used in holding meetings between KFU officials and administrators among KFU branches, which saves time and effort and without the need to move and bothering to travel. 

5. Text Messaging Service (SMS) via Mobile Phone

      Responsibility under DIT
      Primary Responsibility (programming, and implementing): Application Systems Department (ASD)
      Technical Support (server availability) by: IT Systems and Network Operations Department (ITSNOD)

The Deanship of Information Technology manages the system of text messaging (SMS) via mobile phones. This service helps in strengthening the communication between all KFU stakeholders (employees, male and female students, and faculty members) in greatly way. as well as conveying the important news such as the registration dates, remuneration, and the announcement of KFU activities such as lectures, seminars and other events.

6. KFU Website (www.kfu.edu.sa)

      Responsibility under DIT
      Web Services Applications Department (WSAD)

This website is considered as a "gateway" to the KFU, also this website is providing the visitors with a lot of information and news about the university. The site also provides many services to all KFU stakeholders (students, faculty members, and employees). Also through the website it can be got an electronically results of the admission and registrations, deletions, additions, got the courses result, and perform a lot of other services. Moreover, through this website all KFU stakeholders can read their e-mails or use e-learning system and make several academic and administrative functions that already have been transformed electronically.

7. KFU Students Forum (https://www.kfuforums.kfu.edu.sa)

      Responsibility under DIT
      Web Services Applications Department (WSAD)
 

KFU website contains a privileged student forum which is designated to the community of KFU. The Forum is considered as an important link between KFU officials, all students, and faculty members for the purpose of hearing the views of students and receive their suggestions and remarks about everything concerning the university and the services rendered to them.  In addition to that, the forum is considered an important gateway for assistance, guidance and exchange of experiences between students and faculty members who share quiet dialogue and exchange of opinion and advice in all areas. Also, the Forum is an excellent place to allow for students to share their participation and contributions in several areas, including: literature, poetry, sports, medicine, engineering and design using computer. Etc.
 

It is a unique experience for being managed by a joint supervisory team between students and Deanship of Information Technology at KFU, which ensures for all students to gain experience and refine their talent and share the responsibility consciously and effectively and this undoubtedly will serve them in their future lives.

                 Applied Systems:
 

1.      Student and Faculty Members Information System (Banner)

Responsibility under DIT

Application Systems Department (ASD)

The Banner System is an integrated and comprehensive system for Information Management of the students’ and faculty members’ as it allows them many services effectively via Internet in a highly technical style developed to satisfy the ambitious of KFU officials towards facilitating and simplifying procedures for students, faculty members, and the relevant authorities. The system includes two parts:

 

A.     Student Information System

It covers all aspects pertaining to students in order to enable each of them getting his/her self-services through Internet, either from home or from computer labs at KFU. These services include the following:

 

1.       Registration.

2.       Deletion and addition.

3.       Obtaining a registration notice.

4.       Obtaining the final results.

5.       Obtaining academic record (unofficial).

6.       Printing Schedules.

7.       Modifying personal information (address - phone numbers - email, etc.).

8.       Communicating with the instructor / faculty member via e-mail.

9.       Following-up bonuses and tuition fees (students of the College of Applied Studies).

                       In addition to many of the services that will be activated in the future.
 

B.     Faculty Members Information System

Using this system a faculty member at KFU can get many of the services through the Internet, such like: 
 

1.           Obtaining lists of students enrolled in the courses and the classes.

2.           Inserting quarterly and final grades.

3.           Modifying personal information (address - phone numbers, etc.).

4.           Inserting and displaying office hours.

5.           Printing a detailed course schedule.

6.           Printing a weekly schedule.

7.           Teaching tasks.

8.           Inserting information about courses and curriculum.

9.           Communicating with students via e-mail.

10.        e-learning.
 

In addition to many of the services that will be activated in the future.
 

2.      e-Learning System and Distance Learning: WebCT

Responsibility under: Deanship of e-learning

 

WebCT System allows students the opportunity to communicate with the course and professor/Faculty Member outside the auditorium. Also, this system provides variety of tools to view the content of the course material and interacting with it via easiest and attractive ways; in addition to communicate with the professor/Faculty Member and all other students enrolled in the same course by a variety of electronic means via Internet.

 

The WebCT system has distinguished features and easy to use for both professor/Faculty Member or student with the comprehensiveness of the most important means of the learning process; making it one of the most important systems used in universities worldwide.

 

Alpha

3.      New e-Mail System (Exchange 2010)

Responsibility under DIT

IT Systems and Network Operations Department (ITSNOD)

 

Featuring some of the following characteristics:

1.       Ease and speed of reviewing inbox and sent items, etc... From any place and from any computer.

2.       The ability to setup personal settings in your personal e-mail such as personal signature and Auto Reply Messages for travelling or vacation and possibility to block certain messages.

3.       The ability to setup to forward/redirect incoming messages to any other e-mail.

4.       The ability to setup to filter incoming messages from a particular contact to a new folder or block the message or delete it once it reaches the mailbox.

5.       The ability of changing the password at any time.

6.       The ability to setup e-mail settings on your mobile device.

7.       The ability to use e-mail software from anywhere to get the same messages in different Computer Systems and different Software.

8.       The ability of schedule meetings and events using the calendar service which exists on your account.

               And so many other services that you can discover by yourself when using your 
               account.
 

4.      Electronic System Managing Learning (Blackboard)

  Responsibility under: Deanship of e-learning

 

(Blackboard) system is one of the specialized international developed systems in the field of e-learning and distance education that depends primarily on Information and Communication Technology. It has features to provide virtual interactive education systems that provide direct interaction between students and their professor/Faculty Member as well as required software for the preparation and development of e-learning materials and advanced systems to record lectures and make them available to students where they can be browsed and displayed using Internet at any time and in any place

 

The most important services of the (Blackboard) system:

 

1.       Access and review the scientific material from presentation slides and electronic materials files.

2.       Download and listen to recorded scheduled lectures via Internet.

3.       Live broadcasting of lectures.

4.       Contact with the professor/Faculty Member via KFU website through interactive and virtual systems and forums available on e-learning Management System.

5.       Dialogue and debate and ask direct questions and receive direct answers through interactive virtual systems.

6.       Provide technical support and help to serve male and female students.

7.    View the Announcements and provide communications and related services to course.

5.      Technical Support System (Remedy):

Responsibility under DIT

Technical Support Department (TSD)

(Database maintenance and administration) by: Application Systems Department (ASD)

 

It is a special technical support system that manages the requests of technical support, deal with problems, troubleshooting them, answering questions and make the necessary changes in effectively way.

 

Features of the Technical Support System (Remedy):

 

1.       Send a request (ticket) for technical support from different devices, where the student can send the request (ticket) by mobile phone, e-mail, or through the website.

2.       Find solutions where student can search for solutions in solutions database.

3.       Follow-up the (ticket) problem's time until it will be closed.

4.       Escalation of unresolved (tickets) problems and pending (tickets) problems.

5.       Assigning the (ticket) problem to a group in automatically or manually way.

6.       The ability to know the client opinion on the service provided in terms of time and level of performance.

7.       The ability to send public messages for users or a group over a period of time that can be determined by system administrator.