Computer Services Committee
Annual Report 2000/2001

Membership:
Allen, Adelman, Barrett, Chen, Darden, Greim (Chair), Heisser, Hoyle, Kessler, Kuzenski, Moody, Silver, Simmons; Welch (non-voting)

Activities:

During the school year 2000/2001, the full committee met three times physically and had several exchanges and votes by e-mail. In addition, a subcommittee on CDF-supported faculty PCs was established and submitted a report to the full committee.

In its first meeting, the committee received the annual report from ITS.

CDF-funded new PCs for faculty offices:
The committee received 15 applications for new PCs and approved all requests for faculty office PCs (after requesting and receiving more detailed information in some cases). Requests for departmental PCs or upgrades were recommended to ITS to be considered for other funding. (This program is limited to faculty PCs.)

Technology for Teaching proposals:
The committee solicited and received proposals for (computer-related) innovations in teaching with technology. The total amount requested was about $150,000, three times as much as was available. With advice from Rod Welch, who pointed out which projects could be realized using different funds, the committee recommended that two additional multimedia rooms be created, one in Bond and one in Capers Hall, that an electronic whiteboard be installed in the new Capers lab and a portable one be acquired for the MACS department. All software request for use in teaching were approved by ITS. All requests for additional equipment in existing labs were referred to ITS. Requests for new labs and other major investments were returned with suggestions where to apply for funds.

The committee considered the issue of mandatory personal computers for cadets and asked ITS to conduct a fact-finding study in the Fall.

The committee received information abut experiences with on-line courses at The Citadel.