The Ohio University's Office of Information Technology held a second open forum to discuss the advantages of a Student Information System and Next Generation network upgrade with students, faculty and other network users.
As of the beginning of the forum, 17 people were following an online stream and were able to ask questions. Forum questions ranged from the transparency of funds used for the upgrades to the timeline for completion.
A benefit that will come from this fee is the clear accounting of that fee
so students will be able to monitor and track exactly where that fee is going said Brice Bible, chief information officer.
The upgrades come with a $22 quarterly student fee that awaits approval from the state's top higher education official Eric Fingerhut, who chided OU officials for not properly educating students about the fee.
Two weeks ago Fingerhut said he will not wait for a May 14 student referendum to decide the fee. If approved by the state, students would start paying the fee Fall Quarter 2009 and continue doing so for 10 years.
OIT expects to have the new SIS system in place by December 2010, while the university-wide network upgrade should be finished sometime in 2012.
The new network upgrade timeline is not as definitive; it depends on how fast we can install the hardware. We would move from building to building according to the highest density of users starting in the residence halls
Bible said.
The IT department and SIS construction team hopes some of the difficulties encountered in student scheduling and other time-sensitive activities will be eased by 24/7 access.
Deadlines for registration will still be in effect
but you will naturally have more available hours to complete it
Bible said.
In addition to briefing the nearly 70 attendees about 24/7 access to systems, the ability for students to complete multiple transactions from a single Web page and real-time updates, Bible asked the public for their input.
Director of Information Technology Shelley Ruff elaborated that the department would be working to form a student advisory body to evaluate components of the new systems.
The university will continue to keep students and faculty up to date on the progress of the upgrades with a series of events in the coming months, Bible said.
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Emily Willis
