University Information Technology Services and the Office of Assessment and Evaluation will receive nearly $300,000 of Student Technology Fee funds for projects and equipment updates.
At a meeting of the Student Technology Fee Oversight Committee on Monday, members voted to open up $489,785 of leftover funds for use by ITS and OAE. Originally, only about $350,000 was unallocated, but members voted to suspend a $140,000 program that allots $5 of free printing to each University student.
David O’Brien, assistant director of computing, said OAE requested $148,000 of tech fee money to replace computers in its testing center. One-fourth of OAE computers are replaced each year on a staggered basis because they have a four-year life cycle, O’Brien said.
O’Brien noted the importance of having up-to-date computers that can handle current versions of software students use when taking tests, such as MyMathLab. He said only half of the computers in the testing center currently run Windows 7.
“The old computers that we’re trying to replace are still running Windows XP,” O’Brien said.
The $148,000 would pay for 120 new computers and leave $4,000 for maintenance of the lab, O’Brien said.
ITS submitted several proposals, including $58,500 to purchase and set up Kaltura, a streaming media infrastructure that would be used on Moodle. Pam Nicolle, director of Academic Technology Services, said Kaltura would allow instructors to embed videos on their Moodle pages and students to post video responses to questions.
“We are seeing an ever-increasing request for streaming media,” Nicolle said, explaining that Kaltura would help with online learning initiatives.
Nicolle said some instructors currently embed videos from sites like YouTube to Moodle, but that slows the site down.
Michael Smith, director of Technical Services, said ITS also requested $7,200 for 48 widescreen computer monitors for classrooms outfitted with widescreen projectors and $31,500 to upgrade two classrooms in Williams Hall to have dual projection screens.
Smith said ITS proposed spending $10,200 for an iPad checkout pilot project that would be managed by Middleton Library. ITS would purchase ten iPads and supporting materials.
A program currently in place at the library, Gear to Geaux, allows students to check out laptops. The 70 laptops in the pool are almost constantly checked out, Smith said.
Smith noted many students regularly use newer technologies like the iPad for schoolwork. He said the pilot may expand to a full checkout program if enough interest is shown.
“When students go to check them out, they’re going to find out if that’s a useful replacement for a laptop,” Smith said.
Members also voted to purchase five more charging stations for mobile phones for $17,500. The stations would be set up in Patrick F. Taylor Hall, BEC, the Design Building, the Student Union and the new bookstore.
ITS requested to spend $26,250 to replace 25 computers in the tutorial center operated by the Center for Academic Success in 141 Middleton.
“The machines in there have reached their useful life, and it’s a very heavily used space,” CAS Director Melissa Brocato said. “Students need the softwares that they’re using to complete their homework, and the machines in there are running slow, causing a lot of frustration for students.”
Of unallocated tech fee funds, $190,935 remain. Potential uses, including an Adobe campus software license agreement, will be discussed at a meeting in November.
