UCCS

Welcome to the 36th annual SIGUCCS 2008 Fall conference in beautiful Portland, Oregon. At my school and alma mater, Texas A&M University, we use the word "Howdy" frequently and proudly as a greeting to all... students, faculty, staff and visitors alike. Yet the word means so much more to an "Aggie"... it embodies the spirit of unity, community and camaraderie. Rarely will I walk across my campus and fail to meet the eye of a fellow Aggie and hear that familiar and treasured greeting, proudly proclaimed.

So, with that preface, I say to each and every one of you, HOWDY! We, as IT professionals in the academic world, come together from colleges and universities around the globe to share our knowledge, experiences and friendship. For a few short days we are given the opportunity to step outside of our daily lives and realize that we truly are not alone in the arena of user support. There are others with similar challenges, successes and frustrations. In the ever changing landscape of technology, it is our common goals of advanced knowledge in teaching skills, customer service and technical support that keeps us surveying the horizon while keeping an eye on the trail we've just cleared.

As you read this letter, stop to think of some of the trails that have been blazed since we were last together in Orlando. The insurmountable task that Microsoft laid before us has, for many institutions, been conquered. Vista and Office 2007 are now the standard for some and the near future for others. Social networking (Facebook and MySpace) is no longer simply a way for young adults to connect but the norm for people of all ages. From smart phones to iPhones to mobile web interfaces, we are an increasingly connected society who depends on the knowledge of user support services to keep us connected. And, as if our world doesn't change fast enough, we have Second Lives and other virtual worlds in which to live and find application in.

So, together we meet; managers, trainers, developers, technicians or one of the hundreds of other roles that make up educational computing support. With the wide range of topics presented at this SIGUCCS Conference, there WILL be something for you to learn and to share. You WILL take something back that will enhance or change the way you conduct business. Your presenters for the technical program and poster session are fellow IT professionals who took the time to share their own ideas and experiences with you and work with diligence and perseverance to produce a product that is worthy of being a part of ACM.

To this year's authors, it is an honor to work with you to help bring your best efforts to the conference. I extend my sincere appreciation for your time, effort and knowledge. It is a burden you accept, in addition to your busy lives, to share your skills and stories with your fellow SIGUCCS members. I truly hope that your experience in both publishing your work and presenting it will be pleasant and rewarding.