News & Events
City Tech's Technology Fee: An Investment that Works for Students
It's always satisfying to realize that an investment you made is paying dividends. And that's just what is happening with the $75 student technology fee, which was implemented starting with the fall 2002 semester.
Since then, new Open Computer Labs for all students have been created, departmental labs have been upgraded, "smart classrooms" have been implemented, the latest software has been purchased and the tech support staff has been increased to provide more individual help to students. In addition to building on those initiatives, this academic year will bring more innovations to enhance students' education here, according to Tech Fee Task Force members.
The fall 2002 semester brought the opening of three new Internet-Access Open Computer Labs for students in Namm and Voorhees Halls and the College's library. The largest of the three, located in Namm Hall 420, can accommodate 75 students on both PCs and Macs and has modern recessed desks, ergonomically crafted chairs and glare-free lighting. The 25-station lab in Voorhees Hall 811 and the 20-station lab in the library provide similar facilities.
The latest versions of such software as Visual Studio, Photoshop, Quark, SPSS, MS Office, Blackboard and Illustrator have been installed, better serving the varied informational, technological and other needs of all City Tech students across the disciplines.
"The technology fee enables us to replace on a regular cycle all student computers -- which currently number 1,500 -- in every lab," said David Miller, computer center director. "Also, we have been able to get rid of some antiquated equipment in the departmental labs and replace it with state-of-the-art computers."
Just as important, the Office of Instructional Technology has been able to hire staff for the Open Labs to help students master the software programs they need to use. "The Open Labs have really reduced the wait for Internet access," said Karen Lundstrem, director. "Students can now get online, and they can get the technical help they need." The staff also provides much needed technical support to some of the academic labs within the College.
In the Learning Centers, director Elaine Maldonado reports that two-thirds of the 125 computers have been replaced, all of which were at least five years old. Moreover, she was able to purchase a license for Data Skills software, which is being used to help prepare students for part two of the CUNY Proficiency Exam.
"The tech fee is also picking up the cost for our self-paced computer literacy program, which satisfies the computer literacy requirement for graduation," she said. "We offer it during the academic year, intersession and in the summer. Last year about 125 students completed it."
Plans for This Academic Year
In addition to building upon the hardware, software and tech support staff accomplishments of last year, initiatives on the drawing board for this year include investigating hardware and software options to establish e-mail accounts for students, creating more "smart classrooms" and the implementation of a degree audit system.
Featuring plug-ins for laptop computers with wireless connections to the Internet, smart classrooms also include such tools as interactive Smartboards and Numonics whiteboards. "We're in the process of adding up to 10 multimedia carts with laptops and projectors with document cameras to be used and housed by individual departments for their students," Lundstrem said.
Registrar Jerry Berrol enthusiastically explained how the degree audit system would give students access to academic program information whenever they want it. "Students will be able to go on their e-SIMS account and find out what courses they need to take the following semester," he explained. "If they want to change their major, the system will show them which courses they have already taken that will count towards their new major and which ones they will lose.
"It will lead to academic advisement that is more accurate and accessible," he added. "Students won't have to wait until the middle or end of the semester to receive an advisement sheet; they will be able to look at it whenever they want to, and they won't have to search through the college catalog to see what courses they should take. The new system will let us custom-tailor academic advisement for each student."
"The new system will free up the faculty to meet with students who really need 'one-on-one time' with an advisor." he added, "Everyone will be using his or her time more efficiently."
In addition, the degree audit system, which is expected to be launched in spring 2005, will help with graduation certification, a process that is now done manually. Diplomas will be turned around faster and students will be able to be checked out more quickly for graduation, according to Berrol.
Student Input Needed for Tech Fee Task Force
Recommedations for how the student tech fee is to be spent in a given academic year are made by members of the Technology Fee Task Force, composed of faculty, administrators and students. The task force, which accepts recommendations from the entire college community -- especially students, has been chaired by Professor Darrow Wood, the College's chief librarian.
Other members of the task force, as of September 2, include: Jerry Berrol, registrar, Karen Bonsignore, co-director, Title V programs, Professor Zhao Chen (Mathematics), Daniel Fictum, director of student life & development, Professor Russ Griemsmann (Computer Information Systems), Professor George Guida (English), Professor Carrol Lasker (Humanities), Karen Lundstrem, director of instructional technology, Elaine Maldonado, director of the Learning Centers, Professor Joel Mason (Advertising Design & Graphic Arts), David Miller, director of computer information services, and Professor Marcia Powell (Human Services). Students for this year's task force have not been chosen yet.
"It's very important to have students involved in the Technology Fee Task Force so that they have a say in how the money is allocated," Wood said. He emphasized that the task force is not in charge of actual expenditures; it makes recommendations to President Beaufait.
Students who are interested in serving on the task force should contact Daniel Fictum at ext. 5391. You do not need to have computer expertise to serve, just a commitment to attend a couple of meetings each semester and to actively participate in the discussions about how the fees you pay should be spent.
