By David R. Kazak

The first meeting Friday between student leaders and SIUC Information Technology officials, designed to get students more involved with implementing new IT computer systems, lead to a discussion about how the new programs will be funded.

Although the IT officials and students said they thought the forum was beneficial, concerns were raised when the funding issue was brought up.

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Budgeting and Resources Executie Director C. Michael Williams, along with Computer Lab Director Patty Cosgrove and the new Help Desk Director Mike Schwartz, spent nearly two hours speaking with student leaders, including USG President Duane Sherman and Student Trustee Jason Ervin.

The IT officials brought survey information gathered on students’ feelings about computers and IT, but Williams said the reason for the forum was because the information was old.

We need to know more about the students and how they feel, Williams said at the meeting. It’s a more competitive world out there. I’m here to show information and share what we know. If I’m wrong let me know.

Williams was criticized over the last month-and-a-half for his decision to close the Help Desk, which gave aid to faculty and student computer users with questions about SIUC’s computing system.

The closing came at a time when IT did not have enough money to complete the staffing needs of a new Customer Service Center, which was taking the place of the old Help Desk. The center has since opened with a staff of eight, a smaller staff than the 17 Williams said he originally wanted.

The question of money arose among the group members after Williams described many new ideas and systems IT wants to implement over the next several years.

IT proposals include more computer labs on campus and in residence halls, computer rental for students who live in dorms, longer computer lab hours for labs other than the Faner Hall lab and a fiber optic computer infrastructure.

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The student leaders all agreed the programs were good but said they wanted to be sure student fees were last on the list of funding considerations.

I think before there is any serious discussion whether student fees are raised or not, every other possible avenue for funding should be exhausted, Sherman said.

The best way to accomplish that for now, Sherman said, is to give the students the choice on what they think they need, rather than trying to do everything at once.

We do need to get on the ball, he said. We are competing with students from all over the state and the U.S. What we need to do is take all these great ideas and let the students prioritize them. These focus groups are a good example of how that can be done.

Then we are spending money on what is important and not everything, Sherman said.

Ervin agreed that student fees alone should not fund the new programs. He said the new programs will benefit the whole campus, not just the students.

This is a campus-wide initiative, Ervin said. It doesn’t involve just students, like the mass transit system. Therefore there shouldn’t be a reliance on student fees for these new systems.

Ervin said the programs will benefit the University and are needed, but he said he is not sure where the money will come from.

Williams said the administration cannot force students to pay for the systems through fees because such a proposal would have to go through a referendum. He said the administration is discussing many other ways to raise money for the systems, including revenue bonds.

He said to Sherman that SIUC President John Guyon, whom Williams reports to, is the one to speak to about whether student fees were a serious consideration. Guyon was not present at the forum and was not available for comment.

Williams ruled out the possibility of getting money anytime soon from the state because of recent funding decisions by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

If you look at the funds IBHE has distributed, you begin to question whether IBHE is an advocate or an advisory of new technology that is needed.