STUDENT NOTEBOOK REQUIREMENT The First 5 Years

Presentation Outline Introduction to the Mount Why Have a Notebook Requirement The Mount’s Initial Approach The Early Years: Notebook Program Review: 2003 Revising the Approach: Plans for the Future Questions USB Flash Drive: OHECC – Mount Notebook Program

The Mount Private Liberal Arts College Established by the Sisters of Charity (Catholic) in 1920 Enrollment of 2250 Students 450 Residential Students 39 Undergraduate Programs 5 Graduate Programs 12 to 1 Student/Faculty Ratio

Why A Notebook Requirement? Supports student learning Expense covered by student financial aid Every profession expects computer literacy Standard notebook & software –Aids faculty preparation –Aids technical support & maintenance –Aids student & parent decision on what to buy

The Mount’s Approach Implement Course Management System Standard notebook for every student Access specialized software via web & the wireless data network Phase-in campus-wide wireless data network Reduce / eliminate student computer labs

MEdia-Rich Learning INfrastructure 2002 EDUCAUSE Award for Excellence in Networking

The Early Years: Students Faculty Technical Infrastructure Support Organization

The Early Years: Students Notebook Requirement –Full-time traditional undergraduates –Phased-in with each new freshmen class –Optional for all other students Funded by Technology Fee –Year 1: $750 per year –Year 2: $750 per year –Year 3: $800 per year –Year 4: $900 per year

The Early Years: Students IBM ThinkPad selected –Single model notebook for all students –Began with a three year replacement cycle –Year 4: Changed to two year replacement cycle –Students return notebook upon graduation

The Early Years: Faculty Computers –Year 1: only desktop computers available –Year 2: limited notebooks available –Year 3: more, but still limited notebooks –Year 4: all faculty requests for notebooks filled

The Early Years: Faculty WebCT implementation –Year 1: 55 faculty, 1500 accounts Stipends for faculty summer training –Year 2: 50 faculty, 2000 accounts –Year 3: 65 faculty, 2500 accounts Greater use of functionality –Year 4: 65 faculty, 2800 accounts Summer stipends end

The Early Years: Technical Infrastructure Campus-wide wireless data network IEEE B Year 1: –Residence hall- Outdoor quad area –Several classrooms- Several study areas Year 2: –Completed all classrooms Year 3: –Residence hall changed to leaky coax from omni-directional antennas

The Early Years: Technical Infrastructure Central Software Server –Specialized software Available via wireless data network on campus Available via web from off-campus Available in the campus student computer labs –Consistent problems with accessing the central software server

The Early Years: Support Organization New/separate help desk/technical support –Year 1: Two support staff plus one student worker –Year 2: Support staff became A+ Certified –Year 3: Hired administrative support person 20 students trained as first line help desk support Increased use of depot repair –Year 4: Staff level remained constant Student workers helpful but limited 3 staff are overworked

Notebook Program Review: 2003 Significant events –New CIO hired in April –CFO requests financial analysis –Numerous student complaints About the notebook requirement Blaster virus hits first day of classes New notebook model, system board problems –Faculty were quiet USB Flash Drive: MERLIN Program Review Definition

Notebook Program Review: 2003 Student Complaints –Technology Fee increases each year –Freshmen have the newest notebooks –$500 charge per non-warranty repair –Service and support below expectations –Some faculty won’t allow notebook use in class Series of meetings with students –SGA MERLIN Task Force –Articles in student newspaper

Notebook Program Review: 2003 MERLIN Financial Review –MERLIN expenses are $1182 per student per year –Student Technology Fee was $900 per year Only full-time traditional undergraduates pay –Two year notebook lease fee was $720 / year –Notebook purchase price was $1550 Market value purchase option at end-of-lease USB Flash Drive: MERLIN Expense Summary

Notebook Program Review: 2003 Mount Lease vs. Student Purchase –Will notebooks last students 4 years? Needs vary by Academic Program –Mount Lease expenses Recovery of leased notebooks each semester Student notebooks never returned Hidden costs at end of lease –Student Purchase Larger initial cost for student Lower total cost over 4 years

Notebook Program Review: 2003 Notebook RFP Process –Began with RFP from Univ. of Dayton –Sent to major notebook distributors –Remained with IBM ThinkPads OSU contract prices USB Flash Drive: Mount Notebook RFP

Revising the Approach: Switched to Student Purchase –Phase-out of Mount Lease Existing lease obligations had to be met Obligation to current students had to be met –New student notebook order procedures Changed marketing approach Offered three notebook models for purchase BaseEnhancedApple Powerbook USB Flash Drive: Implement Student Purchase

Revising the Approach: Split the Technology Fee –Notebook Lease Fee of $750 per year –Technology Fee of $80 part-time / $250 full-time Applies to all on-campus students USB Flash Drive: Implement Student Purchase

Revising the Approach: Address Student Support Complaints –Separate support organizations 3 staff supporting student notebooks 1 staff supporting student computer labs 4 staff supporting faculty/staff computers

Revising the Approach: Reorganized support organizations –Single Help Desk with 4 staff –Single Technical Support with 4 staff –Designated peak periods –Emphasized student liaison function Continue to meet with SGA & students Appeals process in place –Monthly notebook cleaning sessions

Revising the Approach: Faculty –Emphasize faculty liaison function Revised Director, Instructional Technology position –Shift from media focus to instructional technology –Offer individual / “house call” training sessions WebCTPowerPointetc. –Allow faculty to chose from DesktopBase Notebook Tablet Notebook

Revising the Approach: Technical Infrastructure –Implemented Cisco Clean Access –Finished installation of leaky coax in residence hall –Removing central software server Specialized software purchased by students –Removing central student storage space Very limited use

Fall 2006 Notebook options BaseEnhanced/Multimedia TabletMacBook Pro Implementing web-based help desk & asset tracking software package “Hot spot” data wireless network being tested –Phasing-in B/G

Future Notebook requirement for all students –Faculty discussion Expand student notebook options –Personally-owned notebooks Formal and informal learning spaces –Make campus more notebook friendly –Learning Spaces Task Force

QUESTIONS ??? Joe O’Neil –Coordinator, Student Technology and Media Services Keith Weber –Chief Information Officer