|
Information Technology Services
Educause Guide to Evaluating Information Technology at
SUNY Brockport
Students and their families interested in technology support at SUNY Brockport will find well equipped labs, up-to-date software, a high speed campus network and faculty who are pioneers in integrating technology to enhance student learning. The questions below were developed by Educause, the higher education organization devoted to information technology. Responses were provided by Information Technology Support Services, SUNY Brockport as of 2007.
Academic Experience
- How does the campus use technology to enhance teaching, learning, and access to information in your areas of interest? Examples include online syllabi, Web-based discussion groups and project teams, and electronic portfolios.
Over 90% of Brockport courses make some use of electronic information to enhance the learning experience through webpages, e-mail discussion groups (or listservs), on-line course management systems, electronic reserve readings, etc. This number grows every semester as new faculty arrive and new software tools are acquired.
- Is there technology in the classrooms?
All campus classrooms have at least one Internet port. Most include enhanced technology instructor stations. Several buildings have hands-on student PC classrooms. Wireless capabilities are available in all academic buildings.
- Will you use technology to collaborate with other students in both your introductory and advanced courses?
ANGEL and SUNY Learning Network (SLN) are course management systems that allow collaboration on group projects. Instructors may elect to use them for both introductory and specialized courses.
- Does the school give credit for courses taken online from other institutions and sources of instruction?
Both online and face-to-face courses are evaluated the same way for credit transfer.
- Does the school have multimedia labs you can use to work on projects? Is there help available?
The multimedia Mac Lab in Holmes Hall, Dailey Hall Computing Center, the Library’s Learning Commons, and Visual Studies facilities all have some ability to work with audio and video. In addition, there is someone staffed in each location to aid students with difficulties they may encounter.
- Are library collections and resources - such as catalogs, research databases, special collections, course reserves, full-text electronic journals, books, and streaming media - available online and accessible off-campus?
See the library home page. It is all there: Library Catalog, Online Resources, A-Z.
Most library services are available from anywhere on campus or from off campus via a proxy server and password.
- What technology resources and help are available to students with special needs?
Large screen magnification utilities are available in the labs. Other adaptive solutions are available upon request.
- Can the library deliver documents to you electronically, either via e-mail or through Web posting? Does the library charge a fee when information resources that you need are not available in its collections?
Yes. Electronic reserves have been available since 1999 and are very popular with both students and faculty.
Fees are not charged without permission from students and faculty requesting the information.
- What kind of help does the library provide for research assistance, and when is help available?
Personal assistance and phone, email, and web services are all available for library research assistance when the library is open.
Looking toward graduation and a career
- Does the campus offer general or profession-specific training programs that will ensure you are fluent in current information technologies when you graduate?
All students are required to pass a computer literacy exam. See: http://computerskills.brockport.edu/
Coursework - in and out of class
Support Services
Administrative Experience
- What personal information can you view online - your contact information, grades, degree progress, financial status, or other information?
Students can view information in the Banner System regarding grades, degree programs, financial status, and other information.
- Can you update any of this information online yourself?
Certainly. The campus information system is available on the Web. Students need a pin number to access.
- Which of the following can you do online?
- check admissions status – Yes
- pay bills – Yes
- apply for and view financial aid awards – Yes
- register for, add, and drop courses – Yes
- learn course grades (online or by phone) – Yes
- view and print unofficial transcripts – Yes
- check progress toward completion of degree requirements –Yes
- make campus bookstore purchases – Yes, Students can access the campus bookstore online at http://brockport.bkstore.com
- What campus and community services are covered by debit cards, smart-card or one-card systems?
The campus E-Z money debit system can be used at the bookstore, campus eateries, parking office, vending machines, many campus copiers, in the library, as well as some local businesses, e.g., Domino's Pizza. Campus smart card IDs are also used to provide access to residence halls.
- Is the school catalog – including course descriptions, degree requirements, academic policies, and the semester/terms schedule of classes?
- Yes, for catalogs, please see http://www.brockport.edu/catalogs
- Interactive Course Schedule: http://www.brockport.edu/bounce/coursesearch
- Your Right to Know" contains many college policies: http://www.brockport.edu/publications/yrtk
- What security and privacy policies are in place to protect student information?
See web page for privacy policy at http://www.brockport.edu/privacy.html
- How does the campus educate students about and protect them from identity theft?
User authentication and user education. Or visit: http://www.brockport.edu/its/safe_computing.pdf
- How does the campus notify students of their rights under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)?
"Your Right to Know" Academic Policies Handbook is available on the web at http://www.brockport.edu/publications/yrtk/rights.html. The document includes FERPA information.
- How does the campus manage e-mail spam and spyware?
Firewalls, filtering, and user education.
Managing your personal information
Conducting Business
Privacy, security and usage rules
Student Life
- What public access for computing is available to students? Examples include computing labs, cyber cafés, residence hall computers, and wireless access.
Over 700 public PCs to 6751 undergrads or roughly 1 PC for every 10 students. Wireless access is available in academic buildings including labs, student union, library, and dining halls.
- Does the campus provide institutional e-mail accounts for all students and use e-mail as an official medium of communication?
Yes, campus email is provided for all currently enrolled students.
- Does the campus provide and support electronic space for personal student Web pages?
Yes, each student receives 50 MB of personal file space for e-mail and personal webpages.
- Is network bandwidth limited for peer-to-peer software, gaming, Web cams, or other programs requiring high levels of network resources? Are Web pages filtered?
Campus uses packet shaping software to control network intensive applications. Web pages are not filtered.
- Is there a campus code of behavior about using computer resources?
- Does the campus have policies addressing peer-to-peer file sharing, virus software, and copyright?
Yes, student PCs must have virus protection software installation and peer to peer file sharing must be turned off. Copyright must be adhered to or student, lose or face loss of network connection and/or other sanctions.
- Is contact information for students, faculty, and staff readily accessible electronically?
Faculty and staff information is available through an online directory. Student information is currently not available online for privacy and security reasons.
- Does the campus make online communities available (for example, forums, bulletin boards, and so forth)?
The Web is available to students for any social activities and services they choose to participate e.g., campus radio (89.1 FM The Point), student government, Stylus campus newspaper, recreation and club sports, leadership and community development, Women’s Center, etc. See the Student Life and Services web page at http://www.brockport.edu/life
- Are there Web sites for student organizations and clubs, and are these linked to the campus home page?
Yes, websites are available for student organizations and clubs and are linked to the campus home page.
- What technology-supported career-planning services are available to students?
The office of Career Services provides Career Track and other specialized software includes web based Job Shop. See for more information at http://www.brockport.edu/career/jobshop-student.htm
Accessing computer services
Connecting with others
Services and Costs
- What, if any, technology fee is charged by the campus and what does it cover?
The technology fee is $226 per year. It covers costs associated with staffing and maintaining student labs, purchasing hardware and software updates and equipment upgrades as well as networking and administrative costs for the campus information system, servers and services.
- Will you be required to purchase their own computer?
Students are not required, but are strongly encouraged to bring/buy a PC. Discounts are available for individual student purchases from major vendors (e.g., Dell, Gateway and Apple).
- Does the campus make computing and network access financially accessible? Is special student pricing offered for computers and peripheral equipment?
Dailey and Drake computing labs are open an average of 105 hours per week when classes are in session. Network access is also provided in residence halls; off campus users must connect through an ISP at their own cost.
- What hardware and software standards, if any, does the campus require, recommend, and/or support?
Information Technology Services can assist with recommending minimum suggested hardware standards and network cards, but does not repair student computers. Assistance using general software applications, however, is available in Dailey Hall Computing Center.
- What kinds of support services (help desk, training, troubleshooting) are provided by the campus, and during what hours of operation?
Students can seek staff assistance in Dailey Hall either in person, via e-mail or phone.
- Does the campus have a plan for keeping the hardware current, and, if so, what is the replacement cycle?
The campus has implemented a three to five year equipment replacement cycle.
- If you bring my own computer equipment to school, what kind of support can you expect from the campus?
Students can seek staff assistance in Dailey Hall either in person, via e-mail or phone. See Dailey Hall hours of operation, http://www.brockport.edu/its/itss/dailey/hours.html.
- How does the campus support printing for the students, and is there a charge for this?
Currently, there is no charge for printing; however, students are strongly encouraged to print on both sides of the paper, review drafts online and not print multiple copies to conserve paper. The campus is exploring methods of cost recovery, such as a quota system, to help keep paper and printing costs under control. Under a quota system students can print a generous amount per semester and additional copies at a per page cost.
- Does the campus provide wireless network coverage? If so, how much of the campus has wireless connectivity?
Yes. Majority of student/academic buildings have wireless access as of spring 2007.
- What security measures are provided by the institution’s IT department and what will be the student’s responsibility (for example, antivirus software)?
ITS provides McAffee anti-virus software to all off campus students and Apogee provides software for students in the residence halls. The campus provides a firewall for network users on campus.
- Does the campus include the cost of non-technical (for example, a technical-enabled note-taking pen that provides an interface to a CMS) in its technology fee, or are students required to purchase these items separately?
Peripherals, such as clickers, PDAs, etc., are not included in the tech fee.
- Does the campus support the purchase and use of e-textbooks? Do the baseline hardware and software standards support this technology?
Computer Technology supports e-textbooks although they are not mandated for purchase or use at this time.
Fees and expenses
Technical Support
Other Services
Last Updated: February 2007
