School of Engineering Criterion 3.8.3
Appendices
School of Engineering IT Staff
David R. Linn
Title: Computer Systems Analyst III
Education
* Master of Science in Computer Science, Vanderbilt, 1999
* Graduate work in Electrical Engineering, Vanderbilt, no degree
* Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering (minor in Biomedical
Engineering), Vanderbilt, 1982
Continuing Education
* Various 1-5 day training courses, many with CEU credit
Related Experience
* 20 plus years (1983-present) of system management/administration
experience, Vanderbilt
* 25plus years (1978-present) of computer programming experience, Vanderbilt
William Andrew Richter, Jr. (Andy)
Title: Computer Systems Analyst III
Education
Master of Sciencein Computer Science, Minor:Mathematics,1986,Vanderbilt University
Bachelor of Arts, 1984, Lipscomb University Double Major: Mathematics and Computer Science
Philip Vermeulen
Title: Computer System Administrator III
Education
BSET, Electrical Engineering Technology, Minor in Computer Science.
Middle Tennessee State University, 1999
AAS, Electrical Engineering Technology Nashville State Technical Institute, 1982
Anthony J. Costi
Title: Network Technician III
Education
A.A.S. Communication Technology, Nashville State Technical Institute,, 2001
Continuing Education
Certificates
Certified Novell Administrator
Novell Network Technologies
CompTIA A+ Certified
Microsoft MCSE Networking Essentials
Micrsoft Certified Professional
3Com Certified Network Telephony Specialist
IBM Desktop/Warranty Support
Dell Dimension, Optiplex Desktops, Precision Workstations, Notebooks, PowerEdge Servers
Linda Hurst
Title: Media Center Operator
Education
Pontiac Central High School in Pontiac, Michigan, 1971
Continuing Education
Certificates
Complete MCSE program on Saturdays from fall of 1999 through spring of 2000, here at Vanderbilt.
Currently have 23 student workers in the Media Center and Print Shops and 4 student workers in the Laptop Service center.
APPENDIX 1
Help Desk Survey
Closed Tickets by Technician
from 01/10/06 to 05/01/06
Administrator, Administrator 0
Albert, Hampton 170
Costi, Tony 158
Huckabee, Matt 49
Kashdan, Lee 24
Morgan, Neal 13
Sullivan, Reid 15
VerMeulen, Phil 109
Total Tickets 538 Average Open Time 26.9 hours
Help Desk Report 8/1/06 thru 12/11/06
465 tickets closed
30 tickets open
495 total tickets
Hardware=396
Software = 51
Virus = 21
Wireless = 14
Deleted = 10
Email = 3
495
Closed Tickets by Problem Type
from 08/01/06 to 12/11/06
E-Mail Report 0
Hardware 386
Software 0
Software • Software 44
Virus 21
Wireless 14
Total Tickets 465
Response time 27.9 hours
Open Tickets by Technician
from 01/10/06 to 05/01/06
Administrator, Administrator 0
Albert, Hampton 6
Costi, Tony 0
Huckabee, Matt 0
Kashdan, Lee 0
Morgan, Neal 0
Sullivan, Reid 0
VerMeulen, Phil 6
Total Tickets 12 Average Open Time 19.1 hours
APPENDIX 2
Laptop Review Committee Report
Prepared for Dr. Kenneth Galloway
Dean, Vanderbilt School of Engineering
November 1, 2006
Submitted by VUSE Ad Hoc Laptop Review Committee
______
Robert J. Roselli, Chair Kenneth A. Debelak
______
Knowles A. Overholser A. B. Bonds
______
Sanjiv Gokhale Greg Walker
______
Clare McCabe Chris Rowe
______
Matthew M. Huckabee
I) Purpose and Strategy
IA) Purpose
The Ad Hoc Laptop Review Committee was charged by the Dean of the School of Engineering to review the effectiveness of the School's TransIT laptop program. The current policy requires that all entering freshmen purchase the same laptop computer and software package. The Dean specifically requested that we carefully and objectively determine the extent to which our curriculum depends (or should depend) on the current program and to address the question:
"Can our curricular needs of the present and of the next five years, be met without requiring every student to purchase the same computer?"
1B) Strategy
Our approach was to gather as much information about the effectiveness of the program as possible by reviewing the use of laptops in our courses, developing and conducting student and faculty surveys, and organizing student focus groups. We added a student member to our committee. We also gathered information about the computer requirements of our peer institutions and other institutions that are recognized for innovative uses of laptops.
II) Recommendations
The Laptop Review Committee unanimously recommends that the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering should continue to require that all undergraduates have a laptop computer. A significant number of courses make good use of student computers in the classroom and in the laboratory, while many others require the use of computers for homework assignments. Results from both faculty and student surveys indicate that personal computers are important to our educational mission, and laptops are overwhelmingly favored over desktops by students.
Our curricular needs can be met without requiring every student to purchase the same laptop computer. However, the committee believes that abandonment of the TransIT program would be a serious mistake. A program in which all students must bring their own laptop that meets the School's standards over a four year period would be virtually unworkable and unenforceable. The committee reviewed four potential models for implementing the VUSE laptop computer program, and recommends two: Model (1) Continue with the current program which requires that all students purchase the same laptop computer through the TransIT program, and Model (2) Offer the TransIT laptop to all students, but allow students to opt out of the program if they already own a qualified laptop computer or wish to purchase a different laptop, as long as it meets a minimum set of requirements. The committee, by a vote of 6 to 1, prefers that VUSE adopt Model (2) over Model (1). In both options, the committee recommends changes to the TransIT program that hopefully will improve the program. Both cases are discussed below in more detail along with the advantages and disadvantages of each, and suggested improvements to the TransIT program.
IIA) Model (1) with Suggested Improvements.
A survey conducted by the committee indicates that students are reasonably satisfied with the current TransIT program. The computers selected by the IT group have adequately met the student's needs. Students indicated that the most popular features of the program are the four year warranty and the availability of service within the School. However, there was a perception that the computers were overpriced and there were many complaints relating to service, including rudeness of the staff, limited operating hours, and time required for repair.
In response to these student comments, the committee provides several recommendations which we believe will improve the TransIT program.
· Planning. We recommend that the IT group review computing needs each year for all of the engineering programs and recommend a minimum set of technical specifications and software packages judged to be adequate for laptop use during a student's four years of residence at Vanderbilt.
· Purchase. We recommend that the IT group select a computer and software that meets those specifications with quality, durability and economy in mind. The cost of the computer should continue to include a full 4 year warranty with on-site service. The price of computers is dropping, but the cost of the TransIT program has not gone down. The price of the TransIT program should be dictated by the cost of the computer, rather than the current policy of first setting a price, and then selecting computer features to match the stated price. Finally, there is a misconception shared by a large fraction of our students that the cost of their laptop computer is $2850, rather than the actual cost of $1685 plus tax. The committee recommends that the computer cost be completely separated from the technical fee and software costs, and that an itemized receipt be provided to the students and to their parents.
· Service. The committee further recommends a reorganization of the TransIT service structure. The current service model is underfunded and understaffed. None of the technicians are dedicated full time to the program. They report not only to the IT Director, but to a departmental supervisor as well. Two full time technicians are justified by the 150 student service requests per month. Adequate staffing and reorganization should go a long way towards countering student complaints about TransIT service. Student help should be retained, but student helpers cannot be expected to work during heavy repair periods which often occur during midterm and final examination periods. The committee has also learned that some of the most qualified potential student workers are lost to other repair facilities on campus, such as the Owen School, where they are compensated at a higher hourly rate.
· Computing Facilities. Some faculty are currently asking students to run specialized software packages, such as Pro E, which run very slowly and sometimes unpredictably on the student laptops. These faculty members encourage the TransIT program to purchase more powerful machines to improve performance. The committee does not believe the specialized needs of a few courses should dictate the technical specifications of the TransIT program. This would unnecessarily drive the cost up for most students who will probably never need that capability. Instead, specialized software and/or hardware should be made available at either a departmental or a school-wide computing facility. In some cases this facility could consist of a server licensed to run specialized software. The goal would be for students to connect their laptops via a wireless connection as clients, and run specialized software on the server. Most departments currently have such a facility, but not all. Some software cannot be run in the server-client mode, and terminals or multiple computers are necessary.
· Transfer Students and non-Engineering Students. The committee recommends that all transfer students consult with the IT Director concerning their computing needs. If the student already owns a laptop with the minimum VUSE specifications, it is left to the discretion of the IT Director to decide if the student can use it in place of a TransIT machine. If not, the student will be asked to participate in the TransIT program. Non-VUSE students who register in engineering courses that require the use of laptops are responsible for providing their own laptop computer. This computer does not need to be an official TransIT machine, but must be able to perform all functions required in the course in which they are enrolled. A limited number of loaner computers will be available through the IT Director for those students who do not own a laptop.
IIB) Model (2), the 'Opt Out' Model
According to our faculty survey, faculty members are not concerned if students have identical laptops in their classes. They indicated that students should be able to purchase their own laptop computers, as long as they are capable of running all the necessary software. Similarly, our student survey suggests that if given a choice, many students would prefer to purchase their own computer to specifications set by the School of Engineering. In some cases students already owned a perfectly qualified laptop computer before entering Vanderbilt, but were required to purchase the company machine. The TransIT laptop is usually the only computer students bring to Vanderbilt, and consequently students would like it to be capable of some non-academic computing tasks such as playing video games, or perhaps they would like to purchase a computer with a faster processor, larger capacity disk drive, faster DVD drive, larger screen, or a graphics tablet with high resolution graphics. It is more economical for students to purchase a machine with these options than it is to modify a TransIT computer with the standard minimum configuration. We therefore recommend that a second laptop purchasing option be considered by VUSE, which provides some flexibility in the choice of a student laptop computer.
· We recommend that students be given the option to purchase the TransIT laptop described above in Section IIA or to bring their own laptop, as long as it meets the minimum specifications set by the School of Engineering.
· Students who bring their own computer will be required to purchase the entire TransIT software package.
· Students who opt out of the TransIT computer program must also opt out of VUSE onsite service.
· Students who opt out of the TransIT program will not have the cost of the TransIT computer plus tax appear on their student accounts bill.
Students at Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati are given a similar option, and this year only 12 of 328 students actually brought their own computer. We estimate a larger fraction of engineering students will choose this option. Perhaps 15% - 30% of our students might select the 'opt out' option. The committee has considered the advantages and disadvantages of the two plans:
Issue / Current TransIT Model / 'Opt out' ModelStudent Satisfaction / Students are reasonably satisfied with their current laptop computer, but indicated that they would prefer to have had the option to bring their own. / Selecting this option should increase overall student satisfaction with the laptop program, since it caters to both students who know little about the correct computer to bring and those who know exactly what computer they need.
Service / Onsite service for all laptop computers is appreciated by the students, but is currently a burden on the IT staff, who are responsible for servicing over 1200 student computers. / This program could reduce the burden on the IT staff by as much as 30% after four years, but places the responsibility for those who 'opt out' to find service elsewhere on or off campus.
Computer Discount / We currently receive a discount of about 30% from the manufacturer. / With fewer machines ordered, the discount would be slightly less.
Date for Decision / This doesn't apply for the current program. / Freshmen must decide by the next to last week in June if they are to opt out of the TransIT program. They must sign and return a form to opt out of the program. By default, the TransIT computer will be provided unless this form is returned. Computers will be ordered during the last week of July.
Student Accounts / All students will be charged for a laptop computer, software and lab fee. / All students will be charged for software and lab fee. "Opt out" freshmen will not be charged by Student Accounts for the laptop+tax. This will reduce the 'sticker shock' for those selecting this option. The list of 'opt out' students will be submitted to Student Accounts by the end of June.
Financial Aid / The cost of attendance will include the cost of the computer, software and lab fee. / Same. The cost of attendance will include the cost of the TransIT computer (not the actual cost of the student computer), software, and lab fee.
III) Other Models Considered by the Committee