Outdated College Computer Lab Systems

Historical Background for the Policy

Colleges and universities have been in the forefront of the Information Technology "revolution," offering students and faculty access to state-of-the-art computer technology, usually in the form of both computer laboratories and person computer systems in faculty offices and libraries (Smith, 2000). Determining a school's needs for computer labs and related systems (including software programs and placement of labs and equipment) depends in part upon their intended use, their level and/or frequency of use, the availability of financial and technical resources for acquiring and maintaining such facilities, and issues regarding system or enterprise architecture, platforms, networking and Internet/Intranet access, and so forth (Smith, 2000). A related issue that influences policy in this area is focused on the fact that Information Technologies (IT) and both hardware and software systems and programs are continually being enhanced, improved, and re-engineered to meet emerging needs and reflect new technological capabilities (Sturgeon, 2003).

Because this is the case, college and university administrators, especially Chief Information Officers or the managers and administrators of the institution's technology department, are often confronted with the need to determine when the institution's computer labs must be updated or aging equipment replaced (Sturgeon, 2003). The issue gains

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and its programs, apply online for admission or register for courses and check grades, and participate on-campus and at home in distance education programs. The average age of the PCs in the main campus computer lab is 3.2 years û an age at which many low cost computer systems begin to show signs of wear and to experience frequent service and maintenance problems (Olson, 2003). Consequently, the cost to the campus IT operation for maintaining computers to facilitate use and ensure access has increased in terms of both time and money. Further, students and faculty have begun asking for access to newer, faster, and more efficient computers that enable them to complete database research using both the school library databases and the Internet more rapidly and effectively. Others have requested new software program options that are not widely available on the computers in the labs. Some students have requested access to a larger number of non-PC-type systems (i.e., Macintosh) for use in graphic arts projects. These needs necessitate, as noted by Smith (2000), that the school design and implement a new IT plan û a "master plan" that calls not only for staging in new acquisitions to update or enhance existing facilities, but to di
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Approximate Word count = 1480
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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