This year, the Computation Advisory Committee (CAC) is emphasizing student-initiated proposals to help increase hardware and software availability in the computer labs around campus.

At the beginning of the school year, students are assessed a $49 computer fee that is distributed to various departments and colleges. It also is distributed to Parks Library, the Computation Center and the student-initiated proposals.

“[Right now], we are deciding how the money should be spent,” said Ann Thompson, chairwoman of the CAC. “We evaluate and rank [the] proposals based on six specific criteria.”

Thompson said the criteria focus on whether the proposal provides use of the technology.

More than $2 million is collected from computer fees every year, but only $500,000 is being allocated for the student-initiated proposals.

Victor Bekkum, professor of agricultural and biosystem engineering, said he informed his classes that the committee is looking for student-initiated proposals.

“[Students should] be proactive in contacting perspective departments in bringing in ideas for hardware and software that we should be getting for the labs,” he said.

Bekkum said his department in the College of Agriculture always has encouraged students to generate ideas.

“In our department, we have a computer committee that includes faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students in an advisory role to determine departmental needs,” he said. “This is more of a conservative effort to try and get more input from students. That is the way it should be, since they are paying the fee.”

The proposals for Bekkum’s committee include adding projection equipment for the classrooms, expanding the open lab and looking at some of the software needs such as graphic applications.

“We also are looking at updating our Web server capability so we can get more course material on the Web,” Bekkum said.

The CAC, which is composed of both faculty and students, is working hard to collect student input.

Thompson said Director of the Computation Center Peter Siegel visited with students earlier this week to find out their views on computing.

“Students have always had a strong voice in deciding what computing needs should be met,” she said.

In the past, the fees have been used to develop the computer labs around campus. They also have made software and hardware available to students.

“All of the projects have to relate directly to student use of computers,” Thompson said. “We couldn’t buy computers for faculty out of CAC funds.”

Proposals were due Monday to the individual colleges. The dean of each college then must bring the proposals to the CAC by March 15.

“Awards are going to be announced on or before May 3,” Bekkum said.