2008 Woodie Awards
IT Services provides up to $525K in technology grants
Hannah Poturalski
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: Campus
In an effort to increase technological innovation on-campus and better use student technology fees, Information Technology (IT) Services has created a grant program for Miami University students and faculty members.
Anyone with a project that would benefit the technology and learning environment of Miami is eligible to enter. Those who submit proposals will be drawing from a pool of $525,000, said Cathy McVey, director of communications for IT Services. The monetary amount of each award is dependent on how much is needed to complete the project.
McVey said the funds from the technology fee, which every student in Oxford pays as part of the student fees, had always been used to promote student technology initiatives, but had been controlled by IT services for the past two years. According to IT services' Web site, the technology fee is $102 per semester for on-campus students. The 2007-08 academic year will be the third year that Miami has had a student technology fee.
Senior Sean Weaston, co-chair of the Student Technology Advisory Council (STAC), said the change was made to give students more of a say in how the fees are spent.
"(IT services) didn't want to make all the decisions," Weaston said. "They wanted students and faculty to be part of the process."
By having students submit proposals, the university will be able to give them exactly what they need to efficiently utilize their technology needs, Weaston said.
"This fund needs to be devoted to the best technology for students," McVey said.
This includes better classroom experiences and more efficient internet service in residence halls, according to McVey.
The application process will be done electronically, with the application found online at www.muohio.edu/techfee. According to this Web site, applicants will have to describe their project, its relevance to Miami students and the budget needed to accomplish the goals. Any student, faculty member, staff member, group or organization can submit a proposal.
Anyone with a project that would benefit the technology and learning environment of Miami is eligible to enter. Those who submit proposals will be drawing from a pool of $525,000, said Cathy McVey, director of communications for IT Services. The monetary amount of each award is dependent on how much is needed to complete the project.
McVey said the funds from the technology fee, which every student in Oxford pays as part of the student fees, had always been used to promote student technology initiatives, but had been controlled by IT services for the past two years. According to IT services' Web site, the technology fee is $102 per semester for on-campus students. The 2007-08 academic year will be the third year that Miami has had a student technology fee.
Senior Sean Weaston, co-chair of the Student Technology Advisory Council (STAC), said the change was made to give students more of a say in how the fees are spent.
"(IT services) didn't want to make all the decisions," Weaston said. "They wanted students and faculty to be part of the process."
By having students submit proposals, the university will be able to give them exactly what they need to efficiently utilize their technology needs, Weaston said.
"This fund needs to be devoted to the best technology for students," McVey said.
This includes better classroom experiences and more efficient internet service in residence halls, according to McVey.
The application process will be done electronically, with the application found online at www.muohio.edu/techfee. According to this Web site, applicants will have to describe their project, its relevance to Miami students and the budget needed to accomplish the goals. Any student, faculty member, staff member, group or organization can submit a proposal.
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