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robust software



Let me tell you what it's like at my institution (Catawba Valley
Community College, Hickory, NC). Our IT guys have the authority to
dictate what software is appropriate for a given instructional purpose.
I am NOT exaggerating. Our math department currently uses Maple in the
calculus and ODE courses. If, for ANY reason, IT decides that Maple is
no longer appropriate for instructional use, it's use will be
disallowed. I currently use Matter & Interactions, which requires
VPython. I was VERY NEARLY not allowed to use VPython because IT wasn't
sure whether it would cause any "network problems". If for ANY REASON
our IT guys suddenly decide that VPython is not appropriate for
instructional use, I will not be allowed to use it. Faculty are not
allowed to install ANY software on desktop and lab computers. Certain
faculty (including myself) are given "poweruser" status under Win2k but
even then, computer use is hobbled beyond reasonable functionality. The
chairman of our science department isn't even allowed to install any
materials from cd's that accompany textbooks without the permission of
IT, who may install it upon request ONLY if they deem it appropriate
for instructional use.

For the past three years, students in my second semester intro astro
course have done a project that includes either a digital presentation
or a web page designed for www publication. I have traditionally used
Netscape Composer, as the current version generates relatively clean
HTML markup. However, this semester my request to have Netscape
installed on my lab machines was denied three weeks after my request
was made (requested at beginning of semester, denied AFTER first
intended use), with the only reason given being "Deviation from the
campus standard, IE, is not allowed." They also advised me to use Word
to create web pages. Administration upheld this decision. In the middle
of this semester, last week, I was forced to rewrite my syllabus to not
include this project. When I approached my supervisor (the other
physics person) and told him that I was doing this, his reply was
"Fine."

We are planning a new math/science building. Our computer science
faculty have absolutely no say so in what computer equipment will be
used in the comp sci labs, no say so over hardware or software. UNIX
classes will be using Win2k and Linux won't be allowed.

Last summer, I wanted to be able to connect my iBook (personal
property) to the wireless network in my lab so I could connect to the
web and display web pages to the whole class on a multimedia projection
screen. I was told by IT that I don't need this capability and my
request was denied on the grounds that using personal equipment isn't
allowed. They offered me the opportunity to request a new computer for
the coming year or they would move one of the desktop computers in the
lab up to the front, which still wouldn't give me the functionality I
originally needed. Complaints to both my supervisor and other
administrators went ignored.

Our secretary has used ExP, a LaTeX based document processing program,
for generating tests for years. IT told her she wasn't allowed to use
it because they "wouldn't support it" and that "the equation editor in
Word provides all she needs". She threatened life and limb and ExP got
installed.

I am currently gathering documentation and exploring the possibility of
legal action on the grounds of infringement of academic freedom. The
choice of what tools are appropriate for instructional purposes lies
squarely with faculty and not with associate degree technology
students. The REALLY sad part is that our IT staff consists of our very
own current and past IT students. I'm trying VERY HARD to get away from
this institution.

Cheers,
Joe Heafner

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If Mr. Sterling is anything close to realistic, it's no wonder our
government is the atrocity that it has become.