Vice President News from Jackie Clark
- It appears that I missed fall, as lately it feels more like winter - brrrrrr!! In any event, the fall colors here ARE rich and beautiful, and nothing beats the crisp air!
- Homecoming week was spectacular, and I thank all the members of the A&F team who work very hard to ensure that these events continue to be just that, spectacular.
- Happy Halloween to all!
- Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Take time to enjoy this wondrous weather before we batten down the hatches for the winter ahead. I know that I have much to be thankful for – and I hope that you do, too!!
- “I am falling in love with autumn, the smell of warm cider, the orange color leaves, pumpkins everywhere, and the crisp breeze.” — Charmaine J. Forde
Departmental News
Brockport Information Technology Services (BITS)
Is ChatGPT Blocking Brockport?
BITS has received a number of reports of ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer) not working at various times on campus, with the question “Is BITS blocking ChatGPT?” While the University is not blocking ChatGPT, ChatGPT may be rate-limiting connections from the campus or may be experiencing times of high demand.
ChatGPT is an open source service that can control how, and from where, people have access to the generative AI chat service. OpenAI, the publisher of ChatGPT, may choose to only allow so many simultaneous connections to their service from a single location, or give preference to paid subscribers. Some suggestions for troubleshooting ChatGPT technical issues from OpenAI are:
- Browser or Device Issues: A white screen could be a browser-related issue or a problem with the device being used. Users should try accessing ChatGPT using a different browser or device to see if the issue persists.
- Network Connectivity: Sometimes poor or unstable internet connectivity can cause a white screen or difficulty loading the webpage. Users should check their internet connection and try refreshing the page.
- Ad Blockers or Privacy Extensions: Certain ad blockers or privacy extensions may interfere with the functioning of ChatGPT. Users can try disabling these and reloading the page.
- Cookies and Cache: Clearing browser cookies and cache may help resolve issues related to webpage loading. Users can clear their browser’s cookies and cache, and then try accessing ChatGPT again.
- Server Load: During times of high demand, ChatGPT servers may experience heavy load, causing delays or difficulty accessing the service. In such cases, waiting and trying again later may be the best option.
- Browser Updates: Ensuring that the browser being used is up-to-date can be important for compatibility and proper functionality. Users should check for any available updates for their browser.
For more information, please see the ChatGPT help articles.
Human Resources (HR)
The State University of New York Human Resources Association (SUHRA) Fall Conference was a great success! Becky Gagne, Kristin Hartway, and Tammy Gouger represented SUNY Brockport’s HR team. Our campus was asked to participate in a presentation and roundtable discussion on the topic of HR Automation and the Paperless office. We received positive feedback about the work being done in our HR department. Kudos to the entire HR team!
Christiana Ortiz, Diversity Recruitment and Retention Specialist, will be attending a conference with our Chief Diversity Officer, Damita Davis, at The Institute on Teaching and Mentoring. The Institute on Teaching and Mentoring is the largest gathering of underrepresented minority Ph.D. scholars in the country. She will have the opportunity to meet with potential faculty candidates in various disciplines/programs and provide them with an overview of SUNY Brockport.
Kudos to Serena Starr, Holly Cunningham, Sonya Flynn, Sue Clase, and Michelle DeMonte for their outstanding work calculating and processing the UUP contractual increases. This takes a great deal of time and effort, and we sincerely appreciate all of their hard work!
Upcoming Events
- November 3 (4:00-5:30 p.m.) – First Friday at the Alumni House!
- November 16 (12:45-1:45 p.m.) – Budget Town Hall in Edwards Hall, Room 100. Please join us!
- December 5 (3-5 p.m.) – Campus-wide Holiday Party in Cooper Hall’s New York Room!
If you have an item you’d like included in a future issue, please send to Laurie Smith (lausmith@brockport.edu).