Author: Richie DeMaria
Information Technology Services (ITS) representatives discussed with students the possibility of a student advisory group on October 11. Director of Networking, Operations and Systems Ethan Bearman and Vice President for Communications Pam McQuesten proposed the committee and answered any questions students had regarding it.
Bearman said the advisory committee would serve as a source of student input on existing services and as a forum for students to express their needs.
“The first purpose would be to simply get feedback on things we’ve been planning, to find out if it meets student needs,” he said. “Second, as a general forum for discussion, [it would be helpful] to see what kinds of things you need.”
An advisory committee would allow ITS to understand students’ technology needs. “We are well aware computing is completely different now,” McQuesten said. “As of now, we don’t really have a good way to look at that.”
So far, ITS has had to rely on the number of students who use their services as a means of measuring their success. “We can only determine what’s beneficial by how many times students log in, which is not always accurate enough,” Bearman said.
Specifically, the advisory committee would provide student input on services such as the new printing policy. “We made printing free this semester, but what we didn’t do was think green,” McQuesten said. “We need to think of ways to tell people not to go out and print a forest of trees.”
Other topics could include the implementation of an emergency system and a refinement of policy on downloading music. “We need to deal with the nasty parts,” she said. “We need to figure out the answers in this complex world.”
In addition, Bearman discussed the recent website migrations. “The website migrations are nearly completed,” he said. “We’re trying not to spam the campus with informational emails about it. We’re searching for a better way to do that.”
He also touched on wireless coverage at Oxy. “Wireless has an interesting history at Oxy,” he said. “We have coverage in all residence halls and teaching spaces, but it was last looked at several years ago. We’re hoping to get campus-wide, 100 percent coverage, in every room, every building and outdoor areas where anyone would conceivably be sitting.”
Bearman said the new residence hall, Rangeview-as well as the three renovated halls-will come with the new service upon their completion. Campus-wide coverage will be proposed to the Board of Trustees in December or January, he said. The GA will not meet again until October 25.
This article has been archived, for more requests please contact us via the support system.
