Summary of Recommendations

To achieve the goal of student computing competency, the subcommittee makes a number of recommendations. The following is a summary of the recommendations embodied in the above listed by the responsible office, department or committee.

Instructional Development Office (IDO)

IDO should take on the role of champion of computing in the curricula (even if it means hiring or seconding). In particular:

introduce a parallel grant programme for computing in the curricula
provide resources for faculty looking for support in integration of computing in courses and/or programmes
provide direct assistance in curricula development.

Faculty

Should actively promote student computer competency. In particular:

become computer literate if not already so
integrate computing into course curricula as appropriate
make students aware of potential uses of computers within their discipline
require, as appropriate, assignments, presentations and projects to be prepared using computer tools

Faculties/Deans/Departments/Chairs

Should support the principle of computer use in the programmes. In particular:

support faculty efforts in integration of computing in the curricula
establish budgets for computer hardware/software acquisition
consider recommendation of computer credit courses in the programme
provide seminars on computer use in the discipline
provide Faculty, Department and course information on-line (i.e. gopher) consider e-mail correspondence with students
establish recommendations for student computer hardware/software purchases (with reference to the CCCP standard suite)
Deans should strongly support faculty efforts when awarding merit rankings

Library

Should strongly embrace electronic information distribution. In particular:

continue to provide the library catalog on-line
provide as many other library resources (e.g. bibliographic databases) as possible on-line
continue to acquire CD-ROM and other electronic information sources in addition to or as an alternative to books and journals, and provide access to these on-line
provide support services for internet searching (non-credit courses, help)

Computing and Communications Services (CCS)

Should provide greater support for faculty and student computer use. In particular:

improve external dial-up access
wire all classrooms to the backbone
wire all residence rooms to backbone
provide open connection points for student computers in labs and library carrels
increase support for faculty, staff and student computer use (i.e. the Help Desk)
provide non-credit courses in computer use (coordinated with Library and credit courses) for faculty, staff and students
directly support the CCCP standard suite through non-credit courses and the Help Desk

Administrative Departments

Should embrace use of electronic medium and support staff in acquisition of computer competency. In particular:

provide the calendar on-line
provide the timetable on-line
provide on-line registration (in addition to BIRT)
make use of e-mail for faculty and student queries etc.
provide release time for staff to attend courses, seminars and workshops on computer use
support staff innovation in computer use
give consideration to staff efforts in acquiring computer competence and computer innovation in performance reviews

Bookstore

Should actively encourage and support student purchase of computers. In particular:

provide special pricing for student computer purchase
provide student computer purchase/lease plans
provide on-site hardware servicing
support the CCCP standard suite by stocking those items and providing appropriate hardware/software bundles

Committee on Computing and Communications Policy

Should continue to champion computing within the university. In particular:

provide appropriate support for efforts to achieve computer competency
continue to monitor the results of these efforts
develop a generic recommendation for student hardware/software purchase which should be included in the calendar
develop a statement regarding computer competence to be included in the calendar
annually update the list of standard hardware/software that is to be supported within the University (the standard suite)

Committee on Academic Policy

Should consider making some credit computing courses accessible as context courses (or introduce a new context category for computing or information technology).

Committee on Promotion and Tenure

Should consider courseware development and efforts towards integration of computing into the curricula as indication of meritorious teaching and scholarly activity.

Committee on Admissions

Should consider how entrance level computer competency can be determined in support of departments which may wish to require computer competency for entrance to their programmes.