Guidelines for Contacting DBA for Enterprise Systems

We hear from a great number of people and we try to balance all requests in such a way that each member of DBA tackles approximately the same number of problems and issues.  We do this by rotating on a weekly basis the DBA staff member who handles incoming requests or issues.  While this doesn't always work perfectly it still provides some balance to the workload. It also broadens the knowledge base of our junior DBAs.  We need to do this so that each member of DBA handles a fair share of requests while still having blocks of time to focus on his or her own DBA projects and tasks.

For this to work I need you to contact DBA according to the guidelines that follow.

Data Administration requests should continue to be submitted by using AIS User Forms on the AIS website.  We hope to be able to offer improved request forms in the coming months.

To contact DBA via email send your message to this address: DAREQ@PSU.EDU.  All of us in DBA will receive your email and the person scheduled for support that week will handle the request.

If you are in Shields Building and need to visit us please note the following change.  On the vacation board just inside the Room 4 door we will provide the DBA Contact Person for the week.  This is the person to whom you should take your question or request.  This information will also appear on Rusty's white board which is easily seen as you walk toward our suite of cubicles.  Please direct your visit to the specified DBA staffer.  If that person is not at his or her desk please leave a note (unless, of course, the request is operation critical, in which case contact whomever is available).  Please note that the DBA contact person may refer you to another DBA staff member if assistance is needed.

Lastly, DBA can be reached by phone at 777-4321.  I want to encourage all of you to use the other methods of contacting DBA, if at all possible, before calling our phone.  There will be occasions when the DBA on call is not the DBA contact person for the week.  But, of course, if the need is urgent and the other means of contacting DBA are not possible or reasonable, feel free to call us.

So, let's review one more time how to contact DBA.

1.  Data Administration Requests to be submitted as usual using the AIS User Forms.

2.  Email requests are sent to DAREQ@PSU.EDU.

3.  For personal visits, meet with the DBA staff member whose name appears as the DBA Contact Person on the vacation board and on Rusty's white board in Room 4.

4.  By phone contact DBA at 777-4321.

Please take a moment and make note of these guidelines.  It helps us out while still enabling us to remain responsive to your needs.  And please feel free to forward this message to anyone you know who may have a need to see it and who may not have received it.

Thanks.

Bill