At Gulu University, located in northern Uganda, solar panels are used to power computer laboratories. Some 50 desktop and 26 laptop computers allow students to access content online.

A couple of weeks ago, I spoke to a first-year class in the Telfer School of Management. When I asked for questions, one of the students made the point that it is too difficult and complicated to get Internet access to web-based information about courses and related material. The student pointed out that she had used a service called Blackboard at another postsecondary institution, and wondered why it was not available here. It’s a program that allows "one-stop shopping" where students log on only once to get access to all of their courses, professors’ notes and other relevant information. Our Web team reviewed this tool, but determined it was not suitable in our bilingual environment.

However, the Web team has been hard at work on a similar application that will be launched in the very near future. The University is about to introduce the first phase of a new student portal called uoZone. This new application will allow students to access a variety of online services already provided by the University. A single login to uoZone will give students direct access to InfoWeb, Rabaska, My Financial Portfolio, uOttawa email and Virtual Campus. The Virtual Campus already provides you with access to online course web sites as well as other e-learning resources, such as course material, discussion groups and exam marks.

The portal will also provide a new personal student calendar containing your schedule as well as a means to receive instant messages that our specific to you, your studies, your Faculty and your professors.

See you on uoZone starting at the end of October. I hope it provides simple and ready access to all the information you need.