Increased access with new FileUP
Newly improved FileUP allows students and faculty to access files from off campus
Clare Shreve
Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: News
Friday, April 3 marked the launch of FileUP, the University's online system that allows students, faculty and staff to access their personal UP files from off campus. As finals week quickly approaches, FileUP will become a valuable resource for students to access final papers, PowerPoints and study guides from any computer.
This was not feasible several years ago with frequent system crashes. FileUP has been problematic for more than three years, with unreliable service, a cluttered appearance and questionable security. But Jenny Walsh, Web and administrative systems director, and her team saw the problems and began investigating it. Now, the system is more reliable, has a cleaner look and is much safer.
The new version of FileUP expands the capabilities of those affiliated with the University to access files, Chief Information Officer Jim Ravelli said.
The goal for FileUP, Walsh said, was to make all of the folders available and not just the U and P drives. The options that Walsh initially looked at when working toward this change were too expensive. But the software she chose in the end was free of charge. The software was free because it is community-developed, rather than through a larger company.
"It's not only more stable, but it's going to save the University some money," Walsh said.
Stability has remained an issue since FileUP first made its debut. During the spring of 2006, the U and P drives were put on a group drive, making them both accessible off campus. This system lasted three years but it provided little help to those who used it. Walsh said the site was going down eight to 10 times a day, and sometimes completely shutting down on Friday nights and on the weekends.
"Most people stopped using it because it wasn't dependable," Walsh said.
But now with the promise of a reliable system, FileUP aims to fix the previous problems. Students and faculty tested the new site before its launch and relayed positive feedback to Walsh and her team.
This was not feasible several years ago with frequent system crashes. FileUP has been problematic for more than three years, with unreliable service, a cluttered appearance and questionable security. But Jenny Walsh, Web and administrative systems director, and her team saw the problems and began investigating it. Now, the system is more reliable, has a cleaner look and is much safer.
The new version of FileUP expands the capabilities of those affiliated with the University to access files, Chief Information Officer Jim Ravelli said.
The goal for FileUP, Walsh said, was to make all of the folders available and not just the U and P drives. The options that Walsh initially looked at when working toward this change were too expensive. But the software she chose in the end was free of charge. The software was free because it is community-developed, rather than through a larger company.
"It's not only more stable, but it's going to save the University some money," Walsh said.
Stability has remained an issue since FileUP first made its debut. During the spring of 2006, the U and P drives were put on a group drive, making them both accessible off campus. This system lasted three years but it provided little help to those who used it. Walsh said the site was going down eight to 10 times a day, and sometimes completely shutting down on Friday nights and on the weekends.
"Most people stopped using it because it wasn't dependable," Walsh said.
But now with the promise of a reliable system, FileUP aims to fix the previous problems. Students and faculty tested the new site before its launch and relayed positive feedback to Walsh and her team.