Kevin E. Smith

kesmith@mtsu.edu

Ed Kick

Sociology/Anthropology

N/A

Peck Hall 320

Replacement of Existing Technology

Six lab PC stations will be seven years old by 01F. They are increasingly unreliable and cannot be further upgraded. One laser printer will be seven years old by 01F and is nearing its maximum predicted printing lifespan.

PH320 LAB/CLASSROOM UPGRADE. PH320 currently serves as a computer lab/classroom shared by the Departments of Political Science, Social Work, and Sociology/Anthropology. The lab includes 18 student workstations and an instructor station. This proposal represents Year 3 of the PH320 Maintenance and Upgrade Plan (funded in Years 1 and 2 by TAF). The three departments regularly offer seven-eight technology-based classes in PH320 each semester (ca. 150-180 students/semester). In addition, based on sign-in logs, several hundred department majors and minors use the lab each semester during open hours for wordprocessing, web-based applications, and email. Replacement of the last six remaining "old computers" in the lab is critical for continued use of the classroom. These computers and one laserprinter will be seven years old in Fall 2001 and are barely functional. The proposal also includes license fees for software and installation of new software. The proposed new software is maintenance software that will permit the Lab Director to keep the stations working reliably for student use. Finally, the proposal includes a request for a central server to be purchased. By shifting where possible to server-based software, maintenance and installation will be simplified. In addition, we would then be able to make large datasets and some programs available for student use from anywhere on campus (and potentially off-campus) through the campus network. While we are unable to keep the lab open 24-hours/day and on weekends, installation of the server would in essence permit students to do homework and conduct research outside of open hours.