CAMPUS NOTES

Get on The Grid today

At any one time at York University, countless personal computers sit idle. Imagine harnessing that idle time to provide researchers with a readily available pool of computer processing power that can be used to solve macro research problems. That is exactly what York University has done by being the first Canadian university to join the World Community Grid.

The World Community Grid, powered by IBM, uses idle home or work computers – PC or Mac – joined by grid technology to provide researchers with a large system of massive computational power that far exceeds the power of a few supercomputers.

York has established its own group on the grid, the "York University Research" team, and York hopes you'll join it. Its success depends on the voluntary contribution of unused or idle computer time to a not-for-profit endeavour.

To join the York University Research team, individuals should go to York’s World Community Grid Web page. They will be asked to download and install a free, small software agent onto the computer – either home, school or office. The York page explains how to register as part of the York team.

When idle, the computer will request data from the World Community Grid’s server. Computers then perform computations using this data, send the results back to the server and ask for a new piece of work. Each computation that a computer on the grid performs provides research scientists with critical information that accelerates the pace of the research.

To learn more about York University’s involvement in this global research effort, and for information on how to register and join the York University Research team, visit York’s World Community Grid Web page.

University officials involved with the project say they want York to become the single largest contributing group to the World Community Grid. By registering now, campus computer users can help York help the world.

Operating system updates will result in core service outages
York’s Computing & Network Services (CNS) Network Operations will be systematically updating the operating system running on most of the University's networking devices. The updates will be applied in four stages and although it takes just a few minutes to complete the update, the entire network will be affected for about 15 minutes. CNS recommends that all technical teams take necessary steps to accommodate the intermittent network access.

The updates will take place on:

• Sunday, Feb. 18, from midnight to 6am, and will affect some of the network core at the Keele campus.
• Sunday, Feb. 25, from midnight to 6am. This update will affect some of the network core at the Keele campus.
• Sunday, March 4, from midnight to 6am. The Internet gateway and some of the building networks at the Keele campus will be affected by this update.
• Sunday, March 11, from midnight to 6am. This update will affect the network core at the Glendon campus.

For more information, contact the CNS Helpdesk at ext. 55800 or e-mail helpdesk@yorku.ca.

Important dates for 2007-2008 are now available online
Dates for York's Summer 2007 and Fall/Winter 2007-2008 sessions have been published online. This important notice, the official source for sessional dates, uses a new calendar format to list University closures, make up days, class end dates and the like in an easy-to-follow visual format.

To view the updated list of important dates, visit the Registrar's Web site.

Donations sought for the Vanier Book Sale
The popular Vanier College Annual Book Sale returns Feb. 26 to March 1, 2007. Members of the York community interested in donating books for the sale can drop them off at the Office of the Master, Vanier College, 254 Vanier College Bldg., Keele campus. If you require assistance or would like someone from Vanier to pick-up your donation, contact the master’s office at ext. 55192 or e-mail vanier@yorku.ca. All book donations are gratefully received. Proceeds from the Vanier College Annual Book Sale go toward refurbishing student space.

What is the smoking policy at York University?
All Ontario universities and colleges are bound by the requirements of the Smoke Free Ontario Act (2005). There are a number of areas on York's Keele and Glendon campuses that are designated as smoke free.

A copy of York's smoking policy and spaces on campus that are designated as smoke free is available online. For more on the Smoke Free Ontario Act, visit the Ministry of Health Promotion Web site.

Scholarship for students with disabilities studying rehabilitation
York University students are now eligible for the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Scholarship in Rehabilitation-Related Research for Graduate Students with Disabilities. The scholarship provides $20,000 and an individual supplement for educational expenses incurred as a result of the student’s disability.

Applicants must plan to be enrolled in a rehabilitation-related graduate program leading to a masters or doctoral degree at one of the following universities: McMaster University, Ryerson University, the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, or York University.

Fields of study must relate to rehabilitation but are not limited to any particular discipline. Eligible disciplines may include but are not limited to biochemistry, biology, biomedical science, biostatistics, chemistry, computer science, disability studies, early childhood education, engineering, kinesiology, labour studies, music therapy, nursing, physical education, physics, psychology, public administration, rehabilitation sciences, social work, sociology and women’s studies.

Applications are encouraged from international students and final year undergraduate students. The next round of scholarships will be awarded for the 2007-2008 academic year, with an application deadline date of May 1, 2007.

The scholarships are awarded by the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and are made possible by the financial generosity of the TD Bank Financial Group. For more details click here.

City now enforcing parking bylaws in The Village
York’s Security, Parking & Transportation Services advises all members of the York community that parking restrictions in the Tribute Communities development, The Village at York University, located south of the Keele campus, are now being strictly enforced by Toronto's parking bylaw officers, effective immediately.

Contact Parking & Transportation Services at ext. 55335 or by e-mail at parking@yorku.ca if you have any questions or would like to discuss daily or permit parking options on campus.