by Wes Abney
Business Manager

Plasmas and cameras and Wi-Fi, oh my! The student technology fee fund will pay for it all.

The best part is, these toys don’t lie at the end of a magical yellow brick road.

The process is simple, and it starts and ends with student funding and choices. Each quarter, every student pays $2.50 for every credit they take, with a maximum fee of $25. This money is dropped in the student technology fee fund, which is appropriated for new technology that benefits student needs.

“The program was initially established in 1998, and it was chosen by the students,” said Dorothy Cirelli, director of technology planning and client services. “It’s a way to extend new technology to students on campus.”

When the students first voted the program into existence, there were limited technology resources on campus. There were only a couple of small computer labs, none of which were regularly available for student use. Most had classes being taught inside. This made finding an open computer not just a challenge, but for many students, impossible.

“The students wanted an always open lab where classes weren’t held,” said Cirelli. “So they voted and chose to purchase a 100 computer lab.”

With just a small contribution from each student, the system created a way to bypass the general school budget and fund student chosen technology projects. The amount of money available is based on enrollment, which ensures that there are enough resources to help everyone who pays into the fund.

Just think of it as social security for the decrepit retiring computers.

“Over the years, a proposal system was developed for how the money is to be spent,” said Cirelli. “Once a year, requests are taken for technology in different areas.”

As any tech savvy person knows computers need to be kept current with updates and modern advancement. As part of the technology review system, every three years all of the outdated computers in the student-funded labs are replaced with new ones. Beyond the three-year changeover, students dictate how the rest of the money in the fund is spent.

“If the money isn’t used, it rolls over into the fund for the next year,” said Student Government Vice President Jessica Puckett. “The money is there for students who have ideas about the technology process, and the money is definitely in the budget.”

To submit a proposal for new technology, all that's needed is an idea that will benefit general student needs. Ideas like standing computer terminals in the library, plasma screen TV's in the PUB, or new Wi-Fi hotspots are all viable for technology fee funding.

"I'd love to see more proposals come from students," said Puckett. "The more student input we get, the more likely the technology will meet student needs and interests."

The proposal forms are available on the student government sub page at www.shoreline.edu, and they are due by March 21. Questions or ideas regarding proposals should be directed to Jessica Puckett at the Student Government Office in the 2900 building annex.