Computers play an increasingly important role in education. However,
as anyone who owns a personal computer can attest, the pace of technology
often outstrips the ability to pay for it.
Keeping up with technology is especially important for IT if we
are to maintain our position as a world-class educational institution.
Our students expect—and deserve—access to state-of-the-art
computing facilities.
In the early 1990s, it became clear that the funding and support
that the University provided to all its colleges for computing services
was no longer adequate to meet the special demands of educating
students in science, mathematics, and engineering.
In response, IT brought together students and faculty from each
of its programs to find a way to address the problem. This fall
marks the fifth anniversary of their innovative, democratic solution.
The group decided to assess a fee to all IT students and to students
from other colleges who take computer-assisted IT courses. The funds
collected through this fee are supplemented by existing allocations
from the IT dean's office and from central University funds.
In keeping with the democratic process that led to the fee assessment,
the dean's office established a representative body of students
and faculty—the IT Instructional Computing Committee—to manage
and allocate the funds.
This year, as part of a three-year plan adopted in 1998, the funds
raised from fees assessed to freshmen and sophomores are being used
to introduce computers and computer-based tools into the calculus,
physics, and chemistry courses that all IT students are required
to take. All told, these courses serve more than 3,000 students
each year.
The funds raised from fees assessed to upper division and graduate
students—roughly $1.3 million—support five computer labs equipped
with 348 state-of-the-art PCs, Macintoshes, and other workstations,
as well as the technicians who maintain the labs and provide user
support for more than 8,000 student accounts each year.
In addition, a portion of the upper division funds is allocated
to individual departments to meet their unique computing needs.
In geology and geophysics, for example, the funds have been used
to purchase computers and software that aid in the visualization
of geological formations.
Of course, more and more students are purchasing their own personal
computers, and we support that trend. However, the specialized hardware
and software required for many courses—such as computer-aided
design tools—are not available to individual students because
of cost, platform, and licensing restrictions. The public labs ensure
that all students have access to these important tools.
Although controversial when first proposed, the fees—and the
democratic process that governs their use—have won widespread
support from students and faculty alike. The fee implementation
is a remarkable success story and a fine example of how our students
and faculty are working together to keep IT at the forefront of
educational excellence.
On the subject of innovation, sever-al new programs are forthcoming
or underway. This fall, IT will launch a new environmental issues
course for undergraduates that is expected to have broad appeal
across the University.
At the same time, IT will introduce a new minor in information
technology designed to increase the number of people entering the
workforce with some skills in information technology.
The digital technology initiative is moving along well. Alexander
Grosberg, a world-renowned biophysicist, has become the first hire
for the Digital Technology Center. Two other offers are pending.
The renovation of Walter Library is proceeding on schedule. The
dean's office will move into a temporary location in August 1999.
The science and engineering library collection will be relocated
in December. Recent volumes will move to temporary space in Norris
Hall, and older materials will be relocated to the new Minnesota
Library Access Center on the West Bank. The library is expected
to reopen in 2001.
As always, we will keep you apprised of these and other exciting
new developments in the pages of Inventing Tomorrow.
