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The Student Technology Initiative

History

Purpose: To “dramatically improve” technology facilities and services for students on our campus

Intent: To build an infrastructure to offer the students the highest quality learning environment

Funding: Part of this initiative was funded with a technology fee—other funding sources included SCAP (statewide Student Computing Access Program), residence hall room rate, telecomm, and regular state budget funds.

From the Original proposal for the Student Technology Initiative

"A technology fee will greatly increase the computing and information technology available to students, enhance student services, and add to the services already available at the Milne Library. The expenditures will be made in concert with a comprehensive plan to address a set of needs not adequately provided for by existing resources. Students will have direct oversight in the distribution of the funds. All expenditures will be made toward improving the student learning environment and other experiences with the College. "

A couple of years into the STI, the initiative merged with the UnCAS plan—Universal Access for Students, based on the belief that computers were as essential to college life as text books—beginning in the fall of 1999 the college committed to the assumption that all students would have access to a computer, and that faculty could make assignments and conduct their classes based on that assumption.

A transformational moment in our history

Along with the changes already started with the STI, the college also made a significant commitment to faculty training and facilities upgrades.

STI was a seed that helped the rest of the technology plan on campus to develop together these two programs have really made a huge difference in the way we think about and use technology.

What has the Student Technology Initiative provided for you compared with 1996

Compare where we were in 1996 to now

1996

2004
200 Public-use computers    700 Public-use computers
No help desk    Help desk open 93 hours, 7 days a week
No remote access    196 remote access connections
No training for students    Student training available
A few technology enhanced classrooms    88 technology enhanced classroom
No online services    Online students can register for classes, get grades, transcripts, pay bills and update personal information
Library offered a couple of online services    Library now offers over a hundred online information services
Internet connection 56 kilobytes / second    Internet connection 45 megabytes / second (over 800 times faster)

Rough allocation of the budget

Category    Percentage    Uses
Professional Staff    27%    Technology support
Classroom Technology    18%    Equipment in classrooms
Infrastructure    13%    Servers, security
Telecommunications    9%    Internet, remote access
Student workers    10%    Help Desk, residence hall and lab support
Labs    6%    Equipment in labs
Software     5%    Microsoft and other software in the labs
Student Services     4%    Banner web
Library    4%    Subscriptions to online subscriptions like Lexis Nexis, FirstSearch, etc
Miscellaneous    4%

Student Technology Advisory Committee

A broad-based group that represents the various constituencies involved in the academic use of technology on our campus administration, faculty students and the technology units on campus.

Charge

The Student Technology Advisory Committee charge is to review and recommend to the College President on an annual basis a plan for the expenditure of funds generated from the mandatory Student Technology Fee.

Who’s on it

Chaired by the Vice president for student development
Vice president for Finance and Administration
Director of Telecomm and Computer Services
Associate Provost for Library and Information Services
3 faculty members and
4 students: 2 appointed by the president of the Student Association and 2 appointed by the RSO

How are we doing?

Survey every year to gauge student needs and satisfaction. If you have any questions please contact Steve Perry.