Whether they’re going green or going frugal, many University faculty members are opting to use computer-based tools like Moodle and the Computer Testing Center for classes this semester. And with midterms less than a month away, thousands of students will pass through Testing Center doors. David O’Brien, assistant director of computing operations in the Center for Assessment and Evaluation, said he has seen an increase in Testing Center use this semester. “I wouldn’t say [professors] are having to do it, but some of them are choosing to do it,” O’Brien said. “They’re looking for ways to save money, and printing tests is expensive.” O’Brien said increased Testing Center usage has not yet made overcrowding an issue. The University had to cut about $20 million from its operating budget this summer after a rocky legislative session. Slumping state revenue and the national recession caused nearly every part of the state government to tighten its belt. “Printing less is certainly a way we’re trying to address budget cuts,” said Marcia Newcomer, chair of the Biological Sciences Department — one of the largest on campus. “It’s one of the easiest ways to cut back.”Newcomer said she has requested faculty members print less as a way to save money. Funding for academic units was cut by an average of 3 percent and non-academic budgets were cut by an average of 5 percent for the 2009-10 fiscal year. Al Burns, Marketing Department chair, said his unit spends nearly $10,000 on copies each year. He said while the Marketing Department isn’t forcing faculty members to cut back on printing, it is encouraging increased use of Moodle. He also said faculty members are experimenting with using the Testing Center for the principals of marketing class and the market research course. Both previously didn’t use the Testing Center. “The idea is to see if we can do it in a more efficient way,” Burns said. “We hope it will work.”Drew Lindemann, biology freshman, said half of his classes this semester use the Testing Center. “It’s all right — I’ve never been a big fan of taking tests on a computer,” Lindemann said. “It’s just a change — I’m not used to it yet.” The Communication Studies Department is also becoming more Testing Center- and Moodle-focused, said chair Renee Edwards. “Next year, [the University is] facing the possibility of bigger budget cuts,” Edwards said. “I want people to get used to it now.” Federal funding that helped ease some of the cuts to higher education this summer will be used by 2012, meaning the University’s budget situation may worsen. Edwards is using the Testing Center for the first time in her non-verbal communication class this semester and though the program used for making the test was difficult to use at first, she said it will be beneficial for the department in the long-run.Erin Dunning, creative writing senior, said she has noticed more professors using Moodle this semester. Four of her five classes this semester utilize the tool. “I don’t mind it. But at the same time, Moodle gives me problems,” Dunning said. “A lot of people complain about it.” Dunning, who prefers to have hard copies of notes and assignments, said Moodle sometimes doesn’t load very quickly, and she sometimes has trouble downloading PDF documents.- – – -Contact Kyle Bove at [email protected]