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BU must embrace new technology

I feel like I'm running a race I can never win.

Technology, specifically information technology, is an ongoing race that never ends. When something new comes out, 20 minutes later there is something better to replace it. The problem is, while some universities are at least in the running, Bloomsburg University hasn't even shown up to the race.

Academic Computing and Computer Services have done their part to try to push technology onto our campus, but they can't do it alone. Many times they fight an uphill battle because administration, faculty and students alike simply don't understand the need for technology, and consequently, don't see a need to fund technological ventures.

Residence Life has stepped up though, and I think things are finally moving in the right direction, technologically speaking. The residence halls were originally supposed to networked at the rate of one dorm every two years, according to Residence Life. Luckily though, Residence Life recognized a need for all the dorms to be networked sooner and has drastically pushed the timetable up, at the expense of other items in their budget. I'm glad to see that at least a few people on this campus recognize the need for technology and its recent rate of growth.

There are a number of things that Bloomsburg University could be doing to upgrade this campus as a whole to the information age in which we're living. The first, and easiest, thing to do is to start requiring all the professors to have their syllabi available on the Internet. This simple tactic accomplishes much more than you might expect. Not only does it potentially cut down on printing costs, but it also allows students to see what is really expected in a class before they sign up for it. Probably the best reason to do this is so that parents can see what their children are getting out of their education at Bloomsburg. And while I know that a syllabus isn't the gauge of a student's learning experience, it at least takes the first step to start making information free to everyone.

The first response to an increase in technology on campus is that are so many professors just don't understand how to use computers. My response: tough. I didn't know how to make a web page when I got to Bloomsburg, but I learned and everyone else can as well. Most students know so much more now than when the came to Bloomsburg. I don't think it's too much to ask to have professors start contributing a little. With the number of web tools available today, anyone with little or no technical knowledge can put a simple Microsoft Word document on the web with very little effort.

Every academic department on this campus should have a web site. If someone in the department doesn't want to learn the skill, there are plenty of work-study students who can handle that task. Web sites are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can give students nearly all the information that the department office can. As a department, you can virtually eliminate the necessity for phone calls to the department office. If your department web site is kept updated as it should be, students can be trained to go there for information first and then to the department.

The university, as a whole, needs to take a stronger techno-savvy stance. The Internet is where almost all business are moving, and Bloomsburg, as whole, is sorely behind the curve. All non-confidential material should be on the Internet for students to view. Systems should be run off the Internet and the Internet should be running the university. For example, if you need to book a conference room, put the system on the Internet so people can see what's available, instead of having to call someone to find out.

Make registration for residence hall rooms solely on the Internet. Show the available rooms and allow students to log in to pick their room for the following semester. This process would save a ton of hours in the long run because people wouldn't have to fiddle with all the ridiculous paperwork that comes with room assignments.

Professors need to give the Internet a place in the classroom. In almost every aspect in the academic community, there is additional information on the web. Nearly every industry will use the web in the future, if it doesn't already. By not focusing on technology and the Internet, students are being deprived of learning about an extremely valuable resource necessary to their jobs in the future.

The question at this point is always "where can we get the money/resources for this?" The answer is easy: make the money available. Sure, there may not be money currently available for this technological advances, but that is simply because technology is not seen as a priority on this campus. If it were, we'd blow the rest of the state system away with the web-based system we'd use. If the campus wants to put in a new building, administration will budget for a new building and it will be built. The same doesn't hold true, unfortunately, for technology building on campus. Instead, we are doomed to use antiquated systems because we haven't focused on technology as a priority.

The best example of putting technology first is Residence Life. They recognized a very quickly growing need for networked residence halls and they fixed it. And they should be commended for it. Everyone should take a look at how forward thinking Residence Life has been on this issue and how they can apply it to their particular area of the university.

Put on your jogging shoes, Bloomsburg. We've got a long way to go.