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  • OnBase Update May 17, 2025

    This update does not affect the OSUWMC OnBase instance or the Office of Advancement OnBase instance. 

    What is happening? 

    On Saturday, May 17, 2025, the Office of Technology and Digital Innovation (OTDI) will update the OnBase hardware and services. Enterprise Document Management (EDM) service will be unavailable during the maintenance window from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

    OnBase user impact:

    • OnBase Production will be unavailable on Saturday, May 17, 2025. This includes the Unity Client, Web Client, and OnBaseService API.
    • There will be no changes to the user interface of the Unity Client or Web Client.
    • If you need to access non-production environments, a new Unity Client Configuration Utility package is available via Software Center.

    Please share this information with anyone in your unit who uses OnBase to ensure they are aware of the maintenance. 

    Thank you for your cooperation. If you have questions regarding this update, contact the IT Service Desk and reference change number CHG0106018. The IT Service Desk can be reached through Self Service, by calling 614-688-HELP (4357) or by email at servicedesk@osu.edu.

  • Mediasite Undergoes Service Improvement Project

    The Ohio State University has been using Mediasite as its enterprise video hosting platform since 2014. As with all our teaching and learning tools, we routinely evaluate them and explore what else is available in the market, to ensure we have the best fit for Ohio State’s needs. The Office of Technology and Digital Innovation (OTDI) led a request for proposals in 2022 to explore other media platforms, but ultimately awarded the RFP to Mediasite as it was still our best and most cost-effective option. However, based on feedback from the evaluation committee as well as tool user surveys, it was clear Mediasite had room for improvement.

    In response to feedback, the Learning Systems team in OTDI launched a service improvement plan to strategically enhance the tool. The team had already been updating the LTI to the latest version, which allows Mediasite to integrate with CarmenCanvas and provide a better user experience. Learning Systems also improved storage capabilities in Mediasite and switched to a more accurate automated captioning service. Automated captions are now enabled by default for all recordings, but they must be reviewed and edited to be considered accessible.

    The Learning Systems team kept the improvements rolling over Summer 2024 and prioritized the top features requested by survey participants and the evaluation committee. One such feature was the ability to transfer grades from Mediasite Quizzes directly to the Gradebook in Canvas. Mediasite Quizzes are a great way to keep your students engaged with your video content, and now awarding points for those quizzes is more seamless. Browser-Based Recording, another highly-desired feature was piloted in the summer and released for Autumn 2024. This new feature lets users record audio, video and screen content conveniently from a web browser, with no need for hardware or special software.

    Ahead of Spring 2025, the Learning Systems team updated Mediasite to its latest version, which greatly improved the experience from within Canvas. Instructors can now upload and embed videos directly in their courses rather than having to navigate to MyMediasite—and this includes taking advantage of the browser-based recording feature. This update also added Mediasite Assignment, which allows students to record and upload videos to any assignment with a File Upload submission type. Students can create and upload work right from their browser, and the submissions show up in SpeedGrader for instructors to review.

    It's been a busy year of improvements for Mediasite, thanks to the evaluation committee and survey respondents who helped OTDI prioritize enhancements that would make the biggest impact on teaching and learning at Ohio State.  

    Looking ahead to summer and autumn 2025, OTDI will continue to optimize the tool. Future plans include clearing out old and unviewed videos, encouraging use of the Mediasite LTI within Canvas for a better student experience, and surveying users again for their incredibly helpful feedback. 

    A student on a laptop watches a video her professor recorded with Mediasite
  • Tuition Assistance Key Dates Summer 2025

    This article shares information about key dates for Summer 2025 tuition assistance (or fee authorization) processing as well as links to more information about the tuition assistance programs at the university.

    Employee and Dependent Tuition Assistance

    More information about Faculty and Staff Tuition Assistance and Dependent Tuition Assistance, including eligibility and enrollment details, are available on HR Connection.

    Graduate Associate and Fellow Tuition Assistance

    Appointment dates: On or before 5/6/25 through 8/15/25. Refer to the Activity and Payment Dates for Graduate Associates by Semester for the specific dates that should be used when entering period activity pay.

    Target date for entering Summer 2025 Period Activity Pay: 4/29/25 - Refer to hrconnection.osu.edu for the complete timeline of Key Processing Dates.

    PAP can be entered later, when necessary. The target date is set to minimize questions and concerns from Graduate Associates and Fellows since tuition assistance is not reflected on their statement of account until the PAP is entered and approved. More information is available in the Graduate Fee Authorization job aid including details about costing allocations, period activity pay, and fiscal considerations.

    Target fee authorization posting dates (subject to change):

    • Encumbrances: by 5/20/25 (usually third week of the term)
    • Actual expenses: by 7/1/25 (usually ninth week of the term)

     

    You may also refer to hrconnection.osu.edu for the complete timeline of Key Processing Dates.

  • New Media Player in CarmenCanvas with Improved Accessibility and Usability

    The media player for recordings created or uploaded to CarmenCanvas has been updated, with increased accessibility, adaptive streaming, and new privacy features. The media player is best used for short (1-3 minute) videos.

    These changes include:

    • The ability to upload and delete a caption file.
    • Keyboard accessibility is improved with the addition of a hidden shortcut icon.
    • Video quality automatically adjusts based on available bandwidth.
    • Privacy measures are enhanced to ensure secure playback.
  • Buckeye UX (BUX) Theme Coming to CarmenCanvas May 1

    As part of a larger initiative to create a cohesive digital experience at Ohio State, the Buckeye UX (BUX) theme will be applied to CarmenCanvas on May 1. Functionality for the learning management system will remain the same, but the look and feel will shift to the BUX style. Explore the BUX project website to get a sneak peek of what to expect in Carmen going forward.

    Applying this new style will move the university closer to providing a consistent experience for students, faculty and staff. However, there are some caveats to be aware of that may impact your Carmen courses.

    After the change on May 1, courses that include custom HTML or CSS code may experience unexpected formatting. Because the BUX theme increases padding in various places, custom code that also includes padding could affect content alignment. Special formatting like tabs, columns, and accordions that were created with custom code may also display differently after the change.  

    When designing courses, it is always best practice to use the functionality built into the tool, like style and format options available in the Rich Content Editor (RCE). Vendors can make changes to their tools that disrupt custom HTML and CSS styling.  

    After May 1, please review any of your courses that include custom code, as you may need to make adjustments. You could recreate content using the RCE or adjust your code. If you are using a template, please reach out to the creator of the template for assistance in making updates. If you experience any other issues that are not related to custom coding, you can reach out to carmen@osu.edu.  

    The Office of Technology and Digital Innovation (OTDI) understands there is no ideal timing that will work for all programs and situations, but May 1 was chosen for this change because it falls between semesters so as not to disrupt active courses. It also allows more time for instructors to review courses they will teach in autumn.  

    If you need help adjusting or building course content, be sure to explore instructional guides in the Teaching and Learning Resource Center. This could also be a great opportunity to make improvements for accessibility, review and remove any old files you are no longer using, and ensure you are prepared for University Libraries’ catalog migration.

    a collection of websites with consistent Ohio State branding and scarlet accents

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