The President’s Advisory Committee on Technology met during the Spring 2004 semester to recommend to the President a set of technology-related projects. These projects were intended to make the best use of the funds generated by the student technology fee to meet instructional and other student-related needs for the upcoming academic year.
As a result of the work of the committee, the President approved implementation of the following projects:
1. Extend the areas that have wireless Web access on campus to include the open plaza on the second floor, the main lobby, the third floor plaza, the new student commons, the cafeteria, the gym, and the Learning Resource Center (LRC)
2. Increase the number of instructional labs
3. Enhance the multimedia capability for distance-learning and Web-enhanced courses by upgrading software, e.g., Impatica and Real Networks
4. Modernize the data networking infrastructure in the LRC, including all wiring, power, and equipment
5. Enhance the college’s ability to distribute live video streaming to off-campus locations, e.g., commencement and other college events
6. Implement a system of enhanced Web-based admissions and financial aid application and inquiry services (SIS) to improve services for all students
7. Undertake a pilot laptop loaner project within the BMCC Library
8. Implement an internet-based solution that will enable students and faculty to build their own e-portfolios and participate in a central BMCC online forum for community discussion. In this connection, the college will investigate whether the”Communities” feature of Blackboard can meet this need
9. Purchase calculators as loaner equipment for students
10. Consider establishing a fund to support technology-related research projects conducted by students working under the supervision of a faculty member
11. Continue the multi-year project to redesign the Library, its network, and digital reference infrastructure to increase its service capacity
12. Continue to expand the Media Center student loaner program to ensure that students have access to various types of equipment for short-term loan to work on class assignments that can benefit from technological enhancement
13. Continue to upgrade the student e-mail system in order to give students improved communications, control, and management of their e-mail accounts
14. Continue to fund technological support staff such as technicians, a technology training coordinator, and a support services coordinator
15. Continue to fund faculty development initiatives to assist faculty in effective integration of technological enhancements in the classroom.
