Spring 1998 Technology Fee Awards

Press here to view Fall 1997 Technology Fee Awards
Press here to view Fall 1998 Technology Fee Awards
 
Submitted by Project  Amt Requested Amt awarded 
GE / Turner Upgrading & Expansion of GE Dept Computing Laboratory  $23,000 $6,600
MME / Perry, Gentry, Barrett, Van Tyne Enhancement of Computer Facilities in Met & Mat Engineering 5,556 4,900
CEPR / Baldwin Matching Funds for Acquisition of IBM SP-2 Supercomputer 50,000 50,000
CC / Wilson Replacement of Slate / Unix Improvements  30,000 31,837
MACS / Navidi, Misra, Long Advanced Student Computing Laboratory in MACS  33,959 33,959
CH / Daniel, Pavelich, Wildeman, Dickerhoof, Horan, Timian Computer Integration of Chemistry Labs  34,276 28,608
PE / Miller Petroleum Engineering Network - Efficient Computing  31,209 4,900
EG / Hoff Electronics Lab Computer Upgrade  24,725 18,600 
PH / Wood Incremental Modernization of Physics Computing Lab  7,633 7,633
MN / Dagdelen Extend and Upgrade Student Computer Lab  48,120 19,600
CC / Wilson Express Modem Pool  17,363 17,363
EG / King Engineering Division General Student 
Computing Facility
53,270
0
Totals....  359,111 224,000

  

Summary

A technology fee was instituted in the Fall of 1996 as a way to partially fund improved instructional technology resources for students. The revenue generated by the fee (appx. $230,000 for FY97/98) is matched annually by the institution, providing a total of appx. $460,000 available for allocation. For the Spring semester of 1997, $224,000 was available for allocation.

A Technology Fee Committee, consisting of five students, five faculty, and a faculty chairperson that votes only in the event of a tie, solicits, reviews and selects proposals to fund. Proposals are submitted each semester by academic departments/programs and recognized student organizations on campus. Documents relating to technology fee guidelines and proposals are available through the technology fee web page (CSM Home Page->Academic Affairs->Technology Fee Committee) or from the Computing Center.

Twelve proposals were submitted requesting a total of $359,111 for Spring semester, 1998. Eleven were approved for full or partial funding totaling $224,000 as listed above. Many awards were reduced to reflect the reduced cost of acquiring most Microsoft products due to a new state contract. Any student or faculty member wishing to read the proposals submitted through the current semester may do so weekdays between 8am and 5pm at the Computing Center by making arrangements with Marge Arnold (x3433; marnold@mines.edu).

#01 Geology requested $23,000 to upgrade and expand the department computing laboratory. Three specific projects were identified with priorities assigned to each. The committee felt it was appropriate to fund the highest priority need identified at this time which was upgrading 10 existing lab computers with additional memory and new hard drives. The committee recommended a total of $6,600 be allocated to purchase memory upgrades and 4GB disk drives.

#02 Metallurgical and Materials Engineering requested $5,556 for a new server and software to migrate to Windows NT. This was "fully" funded at the reduced amount based on costs in the Microsoft contract.

#03 CEPR requested $50,000 in matching funds to help support the recent acquisition of the IBM SP-2 supercomputer. The department has an ambitious and creative vision about their computing environment and the role of computing in their academic program. They have been very aggressive and successful in obtaining external funding. This proposal was fully funded.

#04 The Computing Center requested funds to replace the slate cluster to provide better e-mail service and a more robust and upgradable Unix environment. The system will be ordered when the faster processors for the specified system become available sometime in the next 60 days. The committee added some funds ($1,837) to help support the anticipated increased cost of the newer processors, making the total funding $31,837.

#05 MCS requested $33,959 toward the implementation of an advanced student computing laboratory in MCS. The department has invested funds to acquire four systems and upgrade parts of the network in Stratton Hall. Committee felt this was a good investment that would especially benefit students in upper division and graduate classes. Department seems committed to support and pursuing other funding sources. This proposal was fully funded.

#06 Chemistry requested $34,276 to establish a full implementation of a computer integrated chemistry lab. There was some confusion about the number of some units and the need for some pieces of software. The committee recommended funding for six portable computers at $1,500 each and 12 Pasco scientific chemistry workshop systems at $1,634 each, totaling $28,608. The committee suggested that the department needs to pursue other sources of funding to insure that all labs can be implemented and upgraded in the future.

#07 The Petroleum Engineering Department requested $31,209 to improve computing capabilities for the department's computer laboratory. The committee recommended limited funding of $4,900 be allocated to address some specific issues as followd, the committee decided to try to keep ahead of the curve for the moment and awarded full funding for this proposal. This funding includes some operating funds for the first year which will need to be funded in future years in the Computing Center operating budget. These modems should be installed later in the Spring semester but will depend on installation of telephone lines.

#11 The Engineering division requested $53,270 to enhance the general student computing facility within the division. This proposal was not funded at this time due primarily to concerns about the availability and operation of the labs.

#12 Mining requested $48,120 to extend and upgrade their student computer lab. The committee awarded funding of $19,600 to purchase a reduced number of Pentium II computers (7) to help upgrade the lab.