With fewer students and faculty on campus and a corresponding reduction in technology support needs, Information Technology plans to complete a number of initiatives this summer. Among them are projects designed to improve e-mail performance and MetroConnect capabilities; reduce the amount of paper and postage used on campus by increasing the use of e-mail for certain mass communications; improve access to and technology available in campus computing labs; and protect the college's information systems in the event of disaster.

"We do a lot of this work year-round, but in the summer we're able to focus even more on new initiatives," said Yvonne Flood, interim assistant vice president of information technology.

Here are some of the IT initiatives:

Application Services
Students will soon receive their tuition bills only by e-mail to save postage and mailing costs. "We'll pilot this during the summer and go live in the fall, eliminating the mailing of bills," said Rick Beck, director of application services.

Another project is a detailed analysis, in concert with financial aid, the registrar's office, student accounts and other key departments, of the new College Opportunity Fund program, which will start in fall 2005. Stipends, representing general funds that previously have been provided to higher education institutions, will be given directly to eligible college students. Students will still be responsible for paying tuition. The analysis will focus on what changes will need to be made to the college's information system to handle the change in the way funds are received. "This will require significant changes," Beck said.

Work will also begin on a new tuition payment system called E-check in which students will be able to pay tuition online through their checking account. Beck expects the option to be up and running for the spring semester.

Web Services
Among the upgrades planned for MetroConnect is a new e-mail interface that will improve e-mail speed. "We're expecting that users will experience a decreased delay in e-mail processing," explained Ben Zastrocky, director of web services and development. With the new interface, e-mails can be sorted by subject, date and sender. Other enhancements planned for MetroConnect this summer include the ability for faculty to group multiple sections of the same course together within "my courses," allowing them to post messages, files and other communications to multiple course sections a single time.

Academic Labs
Several initiatives are planned this summer to improve access and equity to campus computer labs. Several labs—SS 119, WC 243 and Pl 305—will be remodeled, with additional seating and new equipment. The lab reservation system for faculty will be revised to provide access to a greater number of classes. In addition, IT will work on providing students with a way to save files to the network, rather than to a disc. Students who aren't using network applications will be encouraged to use wireless labs.

Server Support
IT plans to take several steps regarding disaster recovery risk mitigation that were outlined in last year's IT Disaster Recovery Plan. These changes involve creating a redundant system that will be used in the event that the current system in the Administration Building is unable to operate. The redundant system will be located in the Central Classroom. To pull this off, network outages will be scheduled on weekends and evenings in June and early July. Advance notice of the outages will be given.

Help Desk
IT plans to "Web enable" the Help Desk by the middle of the summer. "Users will be able to access the Help Desk on the Web to enter a help call, check on the status of their help call and see the history of all of their help calls," Flood explained.

Networking
Wireless computer access will continue to be expanded. In addition to West Classroom student lounges on the first and second floors as well as the bench areas outside the lounges, access is now available in the atrium of the Administration Building. On July 15 the entire Science Building will gain wireless access, including the open patio areas on the building's east side. "Wireless usage in West Classroom increased from 76 single log-ins on March 25 to 246 log-ins on June 3," said Sharon McGee-Canady, director of desktop and network services. "We are very excited about this increase and look forward to the Science Building project."

Desktop Support
New desktop computers will be delivered to various campus offices this summer.