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Strategic Plan for Student Computer Resources at SAHS

Revised - January 2000

Students in the SAHS need to have access to computing resources that are state-of-the-art with current healthcare practice in their professions and in the academic community. Notes on progress are in italics.

The SAHS Faculty Assembly accepted these three motions in March 1998:

 

1. The Assembly accepted the Strategic Plan for Student Computer Resources at SAHS.
2. The Assembly charged the Advisory Committee - Technology (ACT) to advocate for the implementation of the elements in the plan. In process.
3. The Assembly charged the UTMB Faculty Senators to propose a campus-wide plan to the faculty senate. The campus-wide plan would begin with a needs assessment. Not done.

    

These two motions were accepted by the SAHS Faculty Assembly on Jan 12, 2000:

 

1. The Assembly accepts the proposed Strategic Plan for Student Computer Resources at SAHS as revised January 2000.
2. The Assembly charges the UTMB Faculty Senators to propose to the UTMB Faculty Senate that a campus-wide plan for student computer resources be developed. The ACT will work with the senators to develop the initial proposal. The campus-wide plan would begin with a needs assessment.

    

Ranked Goals:

 

1. Support a UTMB policy to replace all student computers with state-of-the-art equipment either on a one-third per year basis, or total replacement every three years. Maintain software per UTMB Information Services standards to provide state-of-the-art capabilities in all student computers. This has been accomplished.
2. Have a student computer resources fee. Restricted to purchase and maintenance of student computer resources. Fall Semester 1998 - Forwarded a request for a computer resource fee of $20 per semester for the Class of '99. Student Fee was not approved.
3. Because computers are used in all programs, student ownership of an appropriate computer is strongly recommended. Guidelines for the purchase (lease) of an appropriate computer and UTMB standard software can be found at http://www2.utmb.edu/studentinfo.
4. Provide data jacks and access to power for students in classrooms, study rooms, and common areas. Develop a procedure to enable students to have access to the campus network/Internet from any data jack on campus. At least one activated data jack in every classroom and conference room, and some data jacks in common areas (lobby, LRC, etc.) for student use. Whenever remodeling is done, activated data jacks will be installed. A pilot project to test the mechanics of connecting students to the network and to estimate student usage is being conducted Jan - July 2000. Data jacks have been activated and installed in these rooms and areas: 4.622, 4.644, 2.206, 2.208 2.254, 2.250D, 2.202A, 3.1020, 3.1036, 3.206, 3.208, 3.210, 3.212, 3.920, 4.602, 4.402, 3.408, 1.802, 3 in 1.802H , 1.802A, 1.802B, 1.420, 3 in Lobby, and 2 in Cafeteria. The information gathered through this experiment will be used in planning the eventual implementation of steps 4 and 5.
5. Require the entering class of 2002 to purchase a laptop computer that meets certain minimum criteria, among which would be a network adapter and fax/modem capabilities. Student laboratories will provide data jacks and power for student-owned laptops. Further, campus units (e.g., the SAHS/SON LRC, UTMB Library, etc.) will provide other required computer hardware resources as needed. Revisit the timeline for this item in Fall 2000.
6. A policy for student computer purchases will be established. There are several options. Some are presented below.
   1. The university would publish the specifications of the required computer and students would be free to buy any brand they wish.
   2. The university would contract with a vendor for a laptop at an agreed cost, and students would be required to buy/lease that computer. The university develop a contract with a vendor (as in ii above), and students would buy the contract computer, or have the option of selecting their own vendor.
   3. Provide resources to enable every student the necessary level of computer access (financial aid, grants-in-aid, rental).

       

7. A UTMB computer purchase option is available as of March 2000 that will allow students to purchase a home computer at a very reasonable price. The purchase plan will include a selected computer with pre-installed software specifically for UTMB. See UTMB Purchase Option at the URL in new item 3.

    

Unranked Goals:

 

1. Computer-literacy training must be made available to all students. Hands-on e-mail training is a current critical need. Students also need to have basic word processing and Internet access skills. Information Services (IS) would provide this training at orientation, or at a point early in the student's program.
2. Enable all students to have dial-in remote access from off-campus. This has pretty much been accomplished. Students can have their computers set up for both dial-in access and on-campus network access at the Omnes Depot Center on the third floor of the Administrative Annex.
3. Support for dial-in is currently available via IS to anyone with an e-mail account, but needs to be better supported and easier to install and use. Support for dial-in usage has been simplified.
4. Provide MS Exchange server to all students as soon as possible - Exchange allows e-mail access from any Internet connected computer. This has been done.
5. Provide computer resource access for students with physical challenges.
6. Enable student access to UTMB business functions via the Internet (request transcripts, renew library book, registration, financial aid, pay fees via credit card).
7. Determine the most efficient mechanism for students to access/use required software (Server, library, purchase, etc.) When new classrooms are designed, and existing classrooms remodeled, incorporate features for multimedia teaching, and Internet/local network access for faculty and students. Provide data jacks and access to power for students at every student seat.
8. Adapt student computer laboratories by 2003 to meet residual needs for desktop computers once laptops are required so that there are sufficient numbers of state-of-the-art networked computers at convenient locations to accommodate peak student usage demands.

    

This strategic plan is maintained by the Advisory Committee - Technology, Rodger Marion, Chair.

Last revised: April 11, 2000