Introduction Edit

Proposal ID	To be assigned
Submitted	Not submitted
Owner	kole
Department	Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs
Category	Collaborative & Portable

Contacts Edit

Primary	Name Title Email Phone Mailbox	Kole Kantner Evans School Technology Director kole@uw.edu 206-616-6972 353055
Budget	Name Title Email Phone Mailbox	Linda Lake Assistant Dean of Finance and Operations lake@uw.edu 206-616-1624 353055
Dean	Name Title Email Phone Mailbox	Sandra Archibald Dean sarch@uw.edu 206-616-1648 353055

Descriptions Edit

Abstract

Collaborative and Portable Equipment

Evans School students actively engage in the community beyond the university as a part of their education. Technology plays a key role in effective public engagement. Upon graduation, the government agencies, nonprofit organizations and companies that employ our students expect them to be able to: 1.) Create multimedia presentations, 2.) Communicate policy and influences stakeholders and policymakers; 3.) Analyze large data sets to extract information to inform policy decisions; and 4.) Find new ways to better inform and interact with the public. To help our students maintain a technological edge we are asking for funding for 5 Macbook Air laptop computers running Windows and Mac OS, 2 widescreen HDMI/Displayport high brightness projectors, and two wide area portable microphones. This equipment will provide collaborative and portable equipment services to the 509 registered students at the Evans School.

Category Justification

To help students gain the technological skills they need in their professional careers, the Evans School established a computer lab in 1988. Since that time, both the lab and the school have grown. The Evans Computer Lab now has 25 Windows workstations, 3 Apple Macintosh workstations, 1 black and white high-capacity laser printer, 1 high-quality color laser printer, and 1 high speed digital sending scanner. To aid in information gathering and multimedia presentations for public affairs projects, the lab also has 9 laptops, 1 digital video recorder, and 2 data projectors available for checkout.

Checkout system records indicate heavy use throughout the quarter with peak usage around mid-terms and finals for project presentations. Mac equipment and bright widescreen projectors compatible with new laptops are the most requested items. We usually do not have available Mac laptops and currently lack good compatibility with newer widescreen laptops. Wide area microphones for recording rooms and groups in addition to the primary speaker are another highly requested item.

The portable equipment sees heavy use, particularly during project presentation periods. Most checkouts are very short duration, often several times per day for the same equipment. The laptops have specialized softare including SPSS, Stata, Stat Transfer, ArcGIS, Tegrity course recording software, most or all of which are not available on the Classroom Support Services checkout equipment.

The resolution of the new projector matches the wide-screen format of the new Macbook computers for trouble-free setup and crystal clear full screen presentations. Most student laptops now use display port or HDMI to output video and these new projectors support those formats, unlike the existing older models. The new projectors are also over twice as bright at 4200 lumens as our older models, which is very useful for some of the challenging lighting situations in Parrington Hall that Evans School students have to deal with. The current Evans checkout projectors are over 10 years old and becoming less useful for many presentation needs. New replacement projectors are urgently needed by the students.

Background

The Evans School of Public Affairs is ranked nationally in the top tier schools of public policy and management. By its nature, the MPA program is multidisciplinary. Our graduate students develop analytical and management skills and apply those skills to a substantive policy area such as education, health, natural resources management, international affairs, nonprofit management, or urban and regional planning.

To help students gain the technological skills they need in their professional careers, the Evans School established a computer lab in 1988. Since that time, both the lab and the school have grown. The Evans Computer Lab now has 25 PC workstations, 3 Apple Macintosh workstations, 1 black and white high-capacity laser printer, 1 high-quality color laser printer, and 1 high speed digital sending scanner. To aid in information gathering and multimedia presentations for public affairs projects, the lab also has 9 laptops, 1 digital video recorder, and 2 data projectors available for checkout.

The Evans Computer Lab consistently experiences high use. Since the 2008-2009 school year, the lab is now open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help meet the needs of the growing student body and increased demand for computer lab services.

The MPA program requires and highly encourages students to engage in the community beyond the university through internships and degree projects. Community collaborators expect students to be able to use technology to effectively communicate policy through presentations and publications; use statistical data to inform decision-makers; and conduct quality research to aid policy formation.

Agencies and organizations that employ our graduates expect them to be confident and competent computer users and to possess a diverse array of software and communication skills. Consequently, providing a level of technology that is commensurate with these market expectations is of paramount importance to the Evans School. Providing our students with the technology they need to acquire the skills employers demand drives technology decisions at Evans and is at the core of this proposal.

Benefits to Students and the University

Technology has progressed a great deal since we purchased our older laptops 5 and more years ago. Quality is equated with up-to-date technological capabilities. Some of our current laptops are limited in their ability to run the latest GIS, statistics, graphics, and economic modeling software. The 5 new Mac laptops loaded with software available to the students using the lab desktops (such as arcGIS, Dreamweaver, SPSS, Crystal Ball, Stata, etc.) will ensure that laptops do what the students need them to do. The portability and flexible checkout times of the laptops will allow the students to use this technology for internships, degree projects, conferences, and group projects. In addition, as mentioned previously, the lab faces increasing demand but has limited space. The laptops can serve as overflow computers when the lab gets too crowded. They also allow groups to work together without disturbing the rest of the students in the lab.

Checkout system records indicate heavy use throughout the quarter with peak usage around mid-terms and finals for project presentations. Mac equipment and bright widescreen projectors compatible with new laptops are the most requested items. We usually do not have available Mac laptops and currently lack good compatibility with newer widescreen laptops. Wide area microphones for recording rooms and groups in addition to the primary speaker are another highly requested item.

The portable equipment sees heavy use, particularly during project presentation periods. Most checkouts are very short duration, often several times per day for the same equipment. The laptops have specialized softare including SPSS, Stata, Stat Transfer, ArcGIS, Tegrity course recording software, most or all of which are not available on the Classroom Support Services checkout equipment.

The resolution of the new projector matches the wide-screen format of the new Macbook computers for trouble-free setup and crystal clear full screen presentations. Most student laptops now use display port or HDMI to output video and these new projectors support those formats, unlike the existing older models. The new projectors are also over twice as bright at 4200 lumens as our older models, which is very useful for some of the challenging lighting situations in Parrington Hall that Evans School students have to deal with. The current Evans checkout projectors are over 10 years old and becoming less useful for many presentation needs. New replacement projectors are urgently needed by the students.

Departmental Endorsements

This proposal is endorsed by the Evans Student Organization and the Evans School Computer Support Staff. The Evans School's generous contributions to the student computer lab through providing a secure facility, software licensing, equipment, and technical support staff time offer further endorsement for our continued efforts to improve student technology resources.

Installation Timeline

Upon receipt of the Tech Fee funds in July, computers and software will be ordered and installed. All installation and support will begin immediately, to be completed before the start of school in September 2014.

Resources Provided by Department

The Evans School supports the salaries of all lab staff and will continue to do so. This includes .75 FTE for lab network administration, .5 FTE for computer technicians and .75 FTE for undergraduate tech support. Our new computer lab located in the Underground of Parrington Hall provides with more space available than our previous 1,000 square foot space. The Evans School provides supplies for the computer lab and maintains all equipment. Students are expected to produce professional quality work, and therefore need professional quality equipment. The Evans School recognizes that an up-to-date computer lab is essential to this mission and thus provides consistent additional funding for student technology from its general funds. The computer support staff will provide necessary technical assistance for installing and maintaining hardware and software, formatting new machines, and connecting the lab computers to the school network.

Lab usage is tracked through Keyserver usage data, periodic student surveys, personal interviews, helpdesk ticket tracking system, and printing usage through a print usage accounting system.

The existing Evans Computer lab has extra work tables and a lounge area with wireless access that provides additional access to mobile internet device users. Mobile internet device users can print to the lab printers.

Access Restrictions (if any)

Evans School students have first priority for checking out equipment. Any student enrolled in an Evans School course, including university undergraduate students, may also check out equipment. Other UW students may check out equipment, with Evans School students receiving first priority.

Student Endorsements

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