Department Interviews - 1997

Interview with:  Ed Alfonsin, Chair
                 Mark Coleman
                 English Department

Interview date:  3/27/97




Questions:

   
1. How satisfied you (and your department) are with technology support and 
   services?

     Getting very good service from the DC/TM Helpdesk (Paula and Romeyn).
     The follow-up calls from Paula are very helpful.



2. What services and support could be improved?
   
     Would like to see more enthusiastic student helpers who would be able
     to come to the department to assist as needed.



3. Is your department considering any new technology initiatives for the 
   next  year?
  
     Upgrading faculty computers is very important.  Faculty have computers
     that won't access the web and cannot take advantage of current software.

     Need a new color scanner for the faculty workroom.

     Put the Writing Center on the campus network. [NOTE:  There is a network
     faceplate in the room and it will require a daisy-loop to connect the new
     Macs to the network.]

     The Writing Center server is still being used by Modern Languages.  Mark
     will check to see if the server is really needed.  If not, it could be
     "retired".

     The department has a student working on a new departmental web page.

     Tony Tyler is still in need of software which supports collaborative
     uses in the classroom.  He wants students to be able to comment on any
     given student paper that he may select to present for comment.  The
     software solutions he has looked at (Timbuktu and CommonSpace) apparently
     will not provide him with what he wants to do.

     Mark Coleman wants to develop a web page for his coursework.

     There is a need for a computer for adjunct instructors (5-6), but it
     possible for them to share access to one since they have shared offices.

     The department supports the idea of a regular replacement cycle for 
     faculty computers and believes that support for end-users should remain
     a high priority.
     


4. What are your most important concerns and priorities for the next
   year?
   
     1) Writing Center computers installed on the campus network.  Support the
        Director of the Writing Center's needs.  (New director in Fall '97)

     2) Replace Tony Tyler's computer and meet his instructional needs (see
        above - #3)

     3) Color scanner for faculty workroom.

     4) Replace old faculty computers.

     5) Computers for new faculty.