UMBC SGA

Last semester SGA used a free hour to go and find out what students thought of UMBC’s technology.  The feedback was passed onto the IT Steering Committee, and now we have their response: 

More Macs in the Library

·       This is a part of the vision for the student learning center.

·       DoIT supports finding ways of adding more machines and labs in the library, subject to continuing to meet the mission of the library.

WiFi is too slow, especially in ITE

 ·       Based on this complaint, we investigated and found this to be an issue in lecture halls. Therefore, we’ve added additional access points.

·       We encourage students to let us know when they find problems so that we can investigate.

·       We will survey students this spring to find out how regularly they use wireless in addition to their satisfaction with the wireless on campus.

We need more computers available

 ·       We need more specific information on where. Our data does not show a shortage during free hour.

·       Given that most students have laptops, we wonder where this ranks on the list of students’ priorities.

·       We will survey students in the spring to gather more information.

·       Here is a helpful link to determine how many computers are available for use on each floor. You can always ask a librarian to look this up for you: http://aok.lib.umbc.edu/kiosk/

There is no wireless in the Apartments

·       We know. We have a multi-year plan we have been implementing in ResLife to manage the cost. These will be implemented over the next few years.

·       We have focused on the areas with the highest density and lower per square foot expenses

myUMBC and the UMBC web site are difficult to navigate

·       We have done numerous focus groups on myUMBC and it has a much higher positive rating than negative.

·       It is hard to create an interface in which transfers are familiar with since there is no common approach used elsewhere.

·       As a part of our student survey, we will ask students about satisfaction with myUMBC and the campus web site.

AutoCad should be on every computer

·       AutoCad has restrictive licensing and hardware requirements, making this difficult. The real issue is that the Mechanical Engineering lab in Eng 114 has limited hours.

·       We will suggest to Engineering to consider providing 24 hour access as in 019.

Why do we spend money on computers, but not on security?

·       Prior to the theft this fall, there have been two thefts over the past four years. Every dollar we spend on security is a dollar we can’t spend on computers.

·       However, because of the thefts, we spent $10,000 revamping security in the Fine Arts building and we are now working on other labs. Enhancing security in a lab can easily cost over $5,000 and must be phased in.

Add outdoor power outlets at the Commons and library

·       DoIT will pass this on to facilities. However, this is quite costly. In the current budget situation, this is not likely to happen next year.

Computers in the library should be Windows 7

·       DoIT makes major changes in the summer. We are prepared to use Windows 7, but many of the computers in the library are at least four or five years old, meaning Windows 7 cannot be put onto them. We’d either have to put Windows 7 on all the computers or none.

Registering for classes is difficult. Faculty don’t have experience

·       This is a result of the transition to SA. As students and faculty gain more experience and improve training, this issue will lessen.

·       We will survey students this year and next to track how we are doing over time.