OVERVIEW

Each year the College receives an allocation of funds from student technology fees (STF). These funds are managed by the iSchool Technology Office and are used solely to purchase or obtain technology in support of teaching and learning at the College. Strategically, the College joins the university in experimenting with innovative teaching methods including the use of new and established technology.  STF funds have been used to equip teaching and learning spaces, support ongoing technology expenses in classrooms and student areas, and to meet specific course or program related technology needs.

PROCESS FOR ALLOCATION

The College Technology Officer has primary responsibility for the process.  Faculty and students have input into the process at any time during the planning phase.  Any member of the College community may submit a proposal for technology purchases.  Proposals are reviewed, evaluated, and assessed against a matrix of weighted criteria as follows:  

• Relevance to iSchool current or planned program studies
• Resolves an existing deficiency
• Percentage of iSchool students who will benefit the first year
• Estimated life cycle of the technology
• Cost
• Recurring cost
• Ease of use

Student group representatives, College Assembly Student representatives, and individual students may and do request meetings with the Technology Officer to discuss technology related needs for the College. The Technology Officer also holds formal meetings at least once per semester for the College student body.  These meetings provide an avenue for open discussion about technology needs, desires, and deficiencies.  Input from these meetings is used in both daily operations and in strategic planning for technology at the iSchool.  

The most recent meeting was a focus meeting attended by iSchool students representing the MLS and MIM programs.  Comments about technology needs closely aligned with the needs raised by College faculty in similar focus meetings and informal discussions. The newly drafted iSchool IT Strategic Plan incorporates input from these meetings.  

In addition to input from students, the Technology Officer solicits input from faculty prior to each academic year, and prior to each semester on their projected technology needs.  Typically, the needs identified through this particular process are for software licenses, minor hardware and hand-held devices, or other small purchases related directly to a particular course. Whenever possible, technology which is purchased for a particular course is made available to the entire iSchool student body through the College computer lab or through the College resource reservation program

RECENT STF-SUPPORTED IMPROVEMENTS

The following improvements are being made in 2009 though the support of the student technology fee.

• Teacher workstations upgraded in three college classrooms
• Electronic whiteboards installed in two classrooms
• Upgraded classroom projection screen in one classroom
• Ceiling projector replacement in one classroom
• Added one student printing station to second floor; upgraded student printing station on fourth floor
• Increased number of software licenses available for data analysis
• New student project and presentation practice room equipped with computer and projector
• Development of a student server and equipment room in support of student projects
• Purchased notebook computer for student course-related conference use.