Correspondence: more on web portal from Queen's IT

I have been setting up the web portal and exploring all the features of it for the past few days. Each student gets a "queen's faculty of business" e-mail account that is accessed through the web portal and has functionality similar to outlook. A few of the features this online resource includes are a list of resources for each class, assignment schedule, meeting room booking tools, online file storage, housing links, and a student roster. There are others items, but this is just a few. Most of them are blank since a lot of the web portal hasn't been setup.

Also, it appears as though I may have a second e-mail account associated with my registration as a student with Queen's "university" that is separate from my "business" e-mail account. From what I have read the university will exclusively use this account to communicate with students. You can forward it to another account, but all information regarding tuition, schedules, and other notifications will be sent directly to this account. Not sure if I have this correct, but I will find out for sure in approximately 53 days...not that I'm counting.

I had setup my "student roster", but wasn't seeing any other students. After e-mailing Queen's IT, I was informed that the web portal will not become fully functional until the program starts. I can see why they might do that, but at the same time I think it would be useful to put students in contact with each other prior to the program via bulletin board or chat group. That way they could assist each other or share information regarding housing or student visas/study permits. This wouldn't help me since I have housing arranged and I'm a Canadian, but for some of the other individuals that have contacted me through this blog it could be useful.

For now I will just have to focus on the pre-study material sent.

Correspondence: Official IT Requirements

Queen's replied to my e-mail inquiring about IT requirements and the delay in the web portal being opened up. The web portal is expected to be up and running by the end of this week. They also sent me the official IT requirements for the Full-Time MBA Program for the Class of 2009. Below is what they sent me.

Notebook Computer Requirements
A notebook computer is a requirement for the duration of your Queen’s MBA program. The attached table (edited into a bullet form list for this blog posting) outlines the minimum requirements for any notebook that you wish to use and also outlines the minimum specifications you should be seeking should you need to purchase a notebook.

If you plan to bring to the Program a notebook computer that you already own, not only should it meet our minimum specifications, but you should ensure that it can be serviced conveniently and quickly in Kingston. Nationally-known brands such as Dell, Lenovo and Toshiba HP should present no problem but it may be difficult to find service for lesser-known systems. You would be well advised to purchase extended warranty coverage for the duration of the program to avoid any unpleasant surprises. It is also wise to ensure that you have a copy of the original invoice should warranty service be required.

Queen’s School of Business Technology Helpdesk stands ready to assist you in any way possible with regards to any computer-related problems or issues that may arise throughout your studies. Our specialists are available from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Friday to help you with any of your computer-related needs for your various courses. Service is available by phone, email, website, walk-in or even team-room visits. We will act as a “first contact” point in troubleshooting system problems, providing simple diagnostic procedures and possible suggestions toward the fastest possible resolution. Should it be necessary to contact your vendor or manufacturer we can direct you to your nearest service depot as well as provide you, when possible, with the appropriate phone number or web address.

Should your notebook computer require service we maintain a limited stock of notebook computers that are available to you for short-term loan.

Our helpdesk staff members are fully trained in all of the software applications required for your studies including Microsoft Office applications, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Norton Antivirus, and Lotus Notes/Domino applications. We support Windows Vista and Windows XP Professional/Home operating systems. Unfortunately there is no support for MAC OS. We cannot guarantee full functionality of MAC computers with the Queen’s MBA portal or Domino-based email and collaboration services.

We will do our very best to relieve you of any worries or concerns surrounding the technological component of Queen’s MBA program allowing you to remain focused on the course material.

Minimum Notebook requirements

If you have purchased a computer within the last year or two then you can pretty much be guaranteed that it will meet at least the very minimum requirements for the Queen’s MBA Program.

The following chart will give you an idea of what specs to look for when evaluating either your current notebook computer or purchasing a new one. Although Microsoft has minimum requirements both for their Windows operating systems and Microsoft Office suites, you would do well with at least meeting if not exceeding the recommended requirements. The main concern for the purposes of the Program is that your system runs well with the following:

• Internet Explorer 6 or 7
• MS Office Pro 2007 (which will be supplied to you)
• Windows XP Home or Pro or Windows Vista

To achieve this we would suggest at least the following computer
Configuration

• Processor of at least 1GHz
• 1GB of RAM memory (2GB if running VISTA)
• A hard disk with at least 10GB of free space
• Video of at least an XGA resolution (1024 x 768) and 256MB of video
memory if running VISTA

If you have any questions or concerns regarding either your current notebook computer or wish advice on purchasing a new system please do not hesitate to contact the QSB Technology Helpdesk.

1.866.622.2667
helpdesk@business.queensu.ca

(Attached table edited into a bullet point list shown below to facilitate posting)

Feature: Processor

• Minimum: 1 GHz
• Recommended: 1.8GHz or better
• Comments: The processor is the "engine" of the computer. Intel has three types of processors currently available, The Celeron, the Pentium M or Centrino and the newly released “Core Duo”. The larger the
  number (GHz), the faster the processor within each specific type. Choose the Celeron if there are budgetary concerns. If your interests tend to anything involving multimedia applications, web authoring, games etc. then the Pentium M or Core Duo would be better suited. They offer faster processing technology and allow for much longer battery life in a smaller, lighter package.

Feature: Hard Drive

• Minimum/Recommended: 20 GB AVAILABLE FREE SPACE
• Comments: Hard drives currently range anywhere from 40GB to 160GB in size. You should have available for the Program at least 10GB of free space to be devoted solely for program purposes. Generally a 40GB drive is more than enough for general applications but if you do wish to save any type of multimedia files then the larger the drive the better. The cost between an 80GB drive and a 100GB or 160GB drive is not significant when compared to the overall cost of the system.
  

Feature: Memory

• Minimum: 1GB
• Recommended: 2GB
• Comments: Memory (or RAM) is very important in determining system performance. The more memory, the better the performance. Memory allows you to have multiple applications open concurrently and reduces the frequency that the system needs to access the hard drive. Again, as memory is fairly inexpensive at the moment, seriously consider going with at least 1GB. Microsoft recommends a minimum of at least 512MB for its soon-to-be released Vista operating system but advises 1GB and even 2GB is preferable.
  

Feature: Screen

• Minimum: Your Preference
• Recommended: 14” ACTIVE (TFT)
• Comments: As the user interface with the computer, this choice is critical to a user's satisfaction, and long with processor speed is a major determining factor in the cost of the notebook. Screen sizes range from 12.1” to 17”, but sometimes it is difficult to find cases for notebooks with larger screens and they are relatively heavy and fairly power intensive limiting battery life.

Feature: CD ROM

• Minimum: DVD/CD-RW
• Recommended: DVD-RW
• Comments: Traditionally the CD ROM was solely used to load programs, the higher the speed, the faster the load time. Now there are options to include DVD players (Digital Versatile Disk) or CD-RW's (CD riters or "burners"). A DVD allows you to play DVD movies and software on your computer or TV (with the necessary connections). A CD-RW or DVD-RW will allow you to save large amounts of data (700MB-7GB) to a CD or DVD for back-up in addition to creating music CD's or photo albums etc.
  

Feature: Portable Storage

• Minimum: 1GB Memory Key
• Recommended: 4GB Memory Key
• Comments: The traditional 3.5" floppy is largely not available any longer on new computer systems. Many will find the very economically priced USB memory keys much more convenient with far greater capacity for storing and sharing files. They are useful for backing up information and for porting presentations to other computers.

Feature : Modem

• Minimum/Recommended: 56Kbps V.92
• Comments: Most modems are internal in notebooks and are included as a standard component. This is the fastest connection you can achieve on a regular dial-up connection and is necessary if you do not have an Internet connection using DSL (eg. Sympatico) or cable. It is also required if you are traveling for use in hotel rooms where high speed is not available.
  

Feature: Ethernet

• Minimum: 10/100 BASE-T PCMCIA
• Recommended: 10/100/1000 BASE-T Internal
• Comments: Also known as a NIC (network interface card) and is standard on all, but the most very basic systems. It allows connection to corporate networks as well as DSL and cable modem connections.
  

Feature: Wireless LAN

• Minimum: IEEE 802.11b
• Recommended: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g
• Comments: Queen’s School of Business in Goodes Hall offers a wireless Local Area Network as a supplement to the wired Ethernet. Wireless LAN capability is commonly offered as a standard feature on current notebook computers. If your notebook does not have built-in wireless then a wireless PCMCIA card can be added to most notebook computers.
  

Software: Operating System

• Minimum/Recommended: Windows XP Home , Professional or VISTA
• Comments: Keep in mind that if you intend on using your notebook in a corporate environment Windows XP Home edition does not allow connecting to a domain and therefore you will not be able to join the company network.
  

Software: Office Suite

• Minimum/Recommended: Office 2007 Professional (Supplied free of charge by Queen’s)

Software: Web Browser

• Minimum/Recommended: Internet Explorer 6 or higher

Software: Viewer

• Minimum/Recommended: Adobe Reader 8 (Supplied via free download through Queen’s)

Software: AntiVirus

• Minimum/Recommended: Symantec AntiVirus (Supplied free via Queen’s Packman)

(Note: After the first MBA821 Finance Fundamental class in late August we discovered a financial calculator is a requirement for this course. The professor recommends the Texas Instruments BA II Plus since it is the one he is familar with and can assist the students with using it, but any financial calculator will do.)

(Update: Checkout what the requirements are on this Queen's 2010 Candidate's blog)

Correspondence: Pre-study material arrived from Queen's

Today I received a package from Queen's. It wasn't exactly a surprise since I had been sent a notice by FedEx that it was enroute. Contained within were the much anticipated pre-study materials.

Items included:

1. Memo outlining payment of fees and a copy of my registration that has my student number. (This was the only document with my student number)
2. Memo from the registar concerning my student ID card. I am required to complete the form and mail it back with a "passport" style photo in the pre-paid envelope included.
3. Sessional dates showing all the start and finish dates of the upcoming classes I will be taking as well as the very few days I will have off.
4. Estimate of living expenses for the next year.
5. Memo from the Career Manager outlining several assignments to be completed through the "web portal". Appears to be self administered personality testing, brain dominance testing, and career direction assignments. This will probably play a big part in the selection of teams we are being place in as well as assisting the Career Centre to get a better understanding of where the students may want to try to find employment. It also requires students to create an on-line resume through the "web portal".
6. Perp material for the Finance and Accouting class including a very thick workbook.
7. Prep material from one of the professors comprised mainly of "selected" readings. Basically, from what I can tell at a glance, just copies of articles or other material they want us to read.
8. Off-campus housing website info and info concerning University residenses and accomodations. (See comment on this by a current student. They are recommending this residence http://www.science44co-op.com/ and say the meal plan is great!)
9. Info on food service plan, which is manditory for residence.
10. Guide to some Kingston activities.
11. Guide on relocating to Kingston and a map showing approximate walking times for the area immediately surrounding the University to assist with selecting potential accomodations.

The introductory letter was signed off by the Associate Director who is looking forward to welcoming the incoming MBA students at 9 AM on Monday May 5th with a continental breakfast in the atrium of Goodes Hall!

Correspondence: More from Queen's on IT

After shopping around I noticed that it would be cheaper to purchase a laptop/notebook with the software bundled with it than to purchase it separately. So, I decided to ask Queen's what software was going to be provided.

After a little back and forth I have been told that at the start of the program students will be given a copy of MS Office 2007 professional, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and Access. I'm not sure if this copy is downloadable off of a server or if hardcopies will be distributed (A comment made on this entry has informed me that you will recieve a hardcopy disc). This software is for the students to keep and use indefinitely. However, it has been licensed through an academic license, which means it is not to be used in a business or "for-profit" setting.

At this time I think I will utilize the software provided by Queen's, since I don't anticipate needing a fully licensed copy on my personal laptop for a business setting after completing the program. If that changes I can upgrade later and turn it into a "business expense".

Correspondence: more from Queen's

More on my phone conversation from Lori Garnier, the MBA Associate Director at Queen's, who called today in response to my e-mail regarding the status of scholarships, laptop requirements, and the study package.

I have already discussed the scholarship information here.

The only information I confirmed was that the laptop had to have a current windows operating system and that it could be either Windows XP or Vista. I didn't have the presence of mind to inquire about other software that may be included. The webpage for Queen's School of Business Commerce Program students laptop/notebook requirements states that MS Office 2007 professional will be provided to students once they are on campus. I don't know if that applies to MBA students, but I have written to Lori to ask and will post the answer should I get one. I'm sure the packages to be sent to the students will contain this information.

The packages containing the study material to be completed prior to starting the program should be sent near the end of February. These packages will contain login information for the online resources and materials Queen's is assembling.

Furthermore, it looks like approximately 30 students have been confirmed for the upcoming program. Apparently this is inline with admissions from previous years. There is still ongoing admissions and they expect to fill the class up this year.

Finally, the percentage of placements for the current students is ahead of where they have been in previous years. This is encouraging since it looks like I am leaving the work place while the economy slows. If companies are hiring MBAs now when things are looking like they are slowing down, then it is likely they will be hiring MBAs when it picks-up again, which will hopefully be when I'm graduating.

Correspondence: Feedback from Career Centre

After writing a follow-up e-mail the Queen's Career Centre replied with the sample material they mentioned during my phone conversation with them. It was comprised of 5 job posting from this past year for various "finance" and "strategic consulting" positions. This material was quite helpful and in line with what I had discovered before from the websites of the top firms involved in these industries.

I still don't know how these options might suit myself, but at least I have some idea what they might be like if I should be presented with the opportunity to pursue a career in one of these directions. I won't really know until I get into the material at Queen's.

Correspondence: Talking with the Career Centre

David Edwards, the Director of the Career Centre for Queen's School of Business, called me today. I had requested someone from the Career Centre contact me so I could find out where a Canadian professional engineering with oil and gas experience could ended up after the program. I wanted this information for two reasons:

1. To find out if there were any career possibilities I could research now to ensure I was better informed to make a decision should one present itself while I'm in the program and busy with course work, and

2. Find out what type of compensation I might expect after graduation so I could see if I would be able to pay off the massive amount of debt I'm about to take on. Especially since it will add to the debt I'm still carrying from my first degree. (i.e. will I be able to afford a spacious fridge box or just a small computer box to live in afterwards...)

David mentioned that most graduates either head to finance or consulting. Neither of these mean too much to me. He tried to explain, but it all seemed very high level and vague. No specifics. He mentioned it was hard to get into specifics since most of the answers I wanted I could only get by taking a class on "finance" or the such. I agree with him, but that still doesn't help me with my anxiety concerning the uncertainty that is my future.

He did mention that they like all students to "keep an open mind" and to consider all the possibilities that present themselves. He also mentioned that from day one in the program the staff at the Career Center work with the students to help them find what they might like and to assist them with finding a job.

Overall I was still left with a lot of questions, but I am encouraged that I will have a strong support network from the Career Centre. Also, David said he would send me some literature to try to help give me a better feel for a few of the opportunities I might be presented with. I'm looking forward to what he sends.

Correspondence: Queen's sent me a chirstmas card

Received a christmas card from Queen's today! The entire MBA office staff took the time to sign it. I'm sure they pump these cards out, but it was nice to receive it. It was a pleasant reminder of my upcoming adventure!

Focusing at work has been difficult lately. Not only have we been extra busy, but I have had to keep working on all the paperwork to get things ready. This combined with the anticipation of starting the program in 4 months and the excitement of not knowing where I could be in 2 years from this date makes my day to day tasks seem rather dull.

On another note I got a reply to my e-mail inquiring as to why I hadn't been re-imbursed for my trip out as promised and why my cheque for my deposit on tuition hadn't been cashed yet. Turns out I was just lost in the paperwork and they will process my re-imbursement immediately. Also, the cheque has found it's way to the bank finally. It just took time for it to be processed on their end.