In the midst of discussing the approval of its annual computer replacement cycle for the 2012-13 school year, the board discussed ways to improve technology on campus with the community, including for staff and faculty members of the college.
The replacement cycle allows for the office of technology services to replace 175 desktops and some laptops with newer ones. Yet, the college actually has more than 1,000 Gateway computers that need to be replaced since the company went out of business and no replacement parts became available.
Shelley Amator, assistant CIO for the office of technology services, explained to the board how far behind the college is in replacing older hardware. It is now the third year in a row during which the college was unable to replace older computers.
"There are over 1,000 computers on campus that are four or five years old this fiscal year," Amator said.
When board member John C. Thompson suggested buying fewer computers and expanding the wireless network, new issues arose as to the age of the wireless network at the college and its security. The wireless network is six years old and does not have the capability to support multiple devices from one user or securely monitor the wireless network. In response, Thompson pushed for further communication between the office of technology
services and the board."Come to us with some options," Thompson suggested. "This is a real problem."
The board also heard about other steps taken by the office of technology services to deal with the overage in the budget caused by more than 9,000 calls into the help desk at the college. According to Russell Litke, vice president for administrative services, the overage costs come when the help desk exceeds 9,000 calls.
"For overage we pay $11 per call," Litke said. "The current bill for last year was $13,000 in overage for use of the help desk."
Litke has asked for reports on the help desk calls and estimates that many come from students. By looking at the help desk reports, the office of technology services and office of administrative affairs hopes to lower the amount of costs and cut down overage costs.
Amator added that many of the calls dealt with password problems. To solve this, the office of technology services implemented a web form, which allows for faculty and students to reset their password rather than make a call into the help desk and have it done there. This is one of many steps their office is taking to resolve technological problems at the college.
"We're also going to implement a web form where it's easier to submit a ticket online rather than having to call, but increasing enrollment means we could go over again," Amator said.
By the end of the discussion, the annual computer replacement cycle for the 2012-13 year was passed by the board, and many ideas were brought forward by the board and members of the community to further advance technology at San Juan College.
Other items that were approved by the board included the redistricting plan for the San Juan College Board, the freshman 2014 service projects rankings and contract renewals for technology and copier services.
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