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STUDENTS
LOCAL
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Computing and Technology
Technology funds to be distributed
Eight departments asking for new student equipment will get answers
in March.
Contributor to The Shorthorn
Departments and organizations that made requests for technology funds
this semester will receive an answer by March, said Jeff Sorensen, director
for the Student Initiative Fund for Technology Committee.
Eight departments submitted grant requests to the committee on Feb.
1. The committee, composed of student representatives from each college,
approves funding for technology needs that directly benefits students,
such as new computers. This semester, the committee has a little over
$250,000 in available funds, Sorensen said.
“Projects like the wireless Web connection on campus, the computers
in Ransom Hall and the laptops that students check out in the library
were paid for by this fund,” Sorensen said.
Committee Chair Josh Sawyer said the money from the Student Initiative
Fund for Technology come out of the Library and Information Technology
fee that was increased about five years ago.
“It’s a fee that is set aside for the colleges to obtain
per request,” he said. “Recommendations will be based on
the amount requested and student need.”
Sorensen said grant approvals will be decided the first week of March.
The decision process considers the amount requested and student need.
The Office of Information Technology gives its opinion, and the final
decision for the funds is made by the Office of the Provost.
“They are the experts, and they help evaluate the applications,”
Sorensen said.
Graduate student Manoj Sharma submitted a request for $75,000 for the
College of Business and Administration. If approved, he said part of
the money will be spent on video conferencing equipment and for business
students to check out laptops.
“The video conferencing equipment will allow us to have guest
speakers communicate with us from remote places around the world without
them having to be there in person,” Sharma said.
Graduate student Jennifer Schnell submitted a proposal and petition
on behalf of the Modern Languages Department, requesting a little over
$67,000 for technology upgrades in Trimble Hall. She said ceiling projectors,
electronic screens, computers with Internet access and DVD and VCR combo
players will help improve student learning and give teachers a different
medium to teach with.
“Linguistics and the English Language Institute will benefit as
well because we share our classrooms with them,” she said. “I
have 450 to 500 signatures from students who would like to have more
technology in their foreign language classrooms.”
For now, Schnell said she is waiting and hoping that the department
is approved for the funding.
“I’ll be happy even if we only receive part of the funds,”
she said. “Watching movies, commercials and slide shows greatly
increases a students ability to learn a foreign language.”
Correction
The article should have stated that Jeff Sorensen is the director of Student Governance and Organizations.
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Jennifer Schnell
Graduate student |
