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THE ENGINE THAT KEEPS THE COLLEGE MOVING

Cris Porter Cris Porter, College of Engineering director of technology services, was a major asset for engineering faculty, staff and students as the College transitioned to distance learning and working. Learn more about him in this Q&A.

CE: What do you do as director of technology services? How big is your team? Porter: Technology services involves supporting all the hardware and software needs for all College of Engineering faculty, staff and students. In addition, we operate The Cube, the College’s additive manufacturing — 3D printing — space. Our team consists of myself, three system administrators/ desktop support specialists and a 3D printing specialist who manages The Cube. We also employ student workers to assist other students when they need help with 3D printing or installing software needed for classes.

CE: How does your job support the College of Engineering faculty, staff and students? Why is your job important to keeping the College successful? Porter: The College of Engineering relies heavily on technology both in research and in the classroom. In addition to maintaining faculty and staff office computers, we also support high-performance computing for research and help students install engineering software on their personal laptops. My department is involved in the complete life cycle of technology, from sourcing new equipment and installing new operating systems and applications to maintaining and troubleshooting over 2,000 computers throughout the College.

CE: What is something you wish people knew about technology services and/or the UA College of Engineering? Porter: The College of Engineering technology services department is available to assist our users regardless of their location. I have assisted students who were in Japan and Kuwait and faculty members traveling in Europe and doing research in Antarctica. So, users across town or across the country shouldn’t hesitate to contact us.

CE: What did you have to do to facilitate distance learning in the College of Engineering? How did it go? Porter: We were lucky in that we were already moving in the right direction before the pandemic and the move to limited business operations and distance learning. As a College, we transitioned from campus computer labs to a BYOD — bring your own device — model over the last three years. So, students were already using their own laptops instead of relying on PCs [personal computers] on campus. We also invested in remote support tools last year that enable us to install software remotely and allow us to log onto users’ PCs remotely so we can assist them.

CE: What was most challenging in the transition to distance learning? Porter: Technically, the biggest challenge was introducing a lot of users to VPNs [virtual private networks], remote desktop connections, Zoom and other tools for working remotely. Everyone in my department had been using these tools for years, so we took them for granted, but I think a lot of people were surprised to find out how much could be done remotely.

CE: What did you learn from this experience? Porter: I learned that we have a capable team in place to handle the variety of issues that come up. Jordan McGee, Dennis Rath and Ben Hurst have resolved hundreds of support requests over the past months, and Sam Andrus has led a group of volunteers across campus to print, assemble, and deliver over 3,500 face shields to health care professionals and first responders across West Alabama.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

DEAR ALUMNI & FRIENDS,

This has certainly been a year of change!

Things look and feel very different this fall. Yet, the spirit of UA still shines through. Regardless of any uncertainties, the commitment to excellence remains. I have witnessed such strength and determination in light of what has undoubtedly been a very challenging year.

To our graduating seniors, we are proud of you. It is my hope that you will stay connected to the College of Engineering and the people you met during your time at the Capstone. Commencement celebrations did not resemble what I am sure you had envisioned, but I hope you still feel celebrated. I am confident the skills you were forced to hone during 2020 will serve you well in your lifetime. This is a moment in time you will never forget.

To our alumni, some of you are thriving and seeing higher profit margins than ever before, while many of you have lost jobs, and others of you like Clara Robbins at St. Petersburg Distillery are working creatively to face the challenges COVID-19 has thrown at us. In all scenarios, it is apparent you are problem solvers and full of grit.

To our faculty and staff, it is a privilege to work alongside people who embrace change and adapt to new challenges. The shift to remote teaching was swift and new for many. While nothing can truly replace the in-person experience, you have kept the safety and wellbeing of our students a priority.

The Capstone Engineering Society is committed to continuing to develop our students into wellrounded professionals, and providing opportunities for alumni to remain involved with the College in meaningful ways. I am looking forward to the upcoming CES Golf Tournament on Nov. 9, as we implement new ways for individuals to contribute to the CES Endowed Scholarship Fund, continuing to build upon a strong foundation of philanthropy. I hope you will consider joining us in person or in the new virtual platform.

As always, we are honored to be a resource for you and a place where you can come home. On behalf of the Capstone Engineering Society, stay safe and healthy.

Roll Tide,

Liz Moore Manager, Capstone Engineering Society Assistant Director for Alumni Engagement