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Educause Student Guide to Evaluating Information Technology on Campus

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The Guide to Evaluating Information Technology on Campus is Cecil's answers to the questions posed by Educause. It is designed to help students and parents learn more about the information technology environment in institutions they are contemplating attending. We hope you find this document helpful and welcome your review of the rich information technology resources at Cecil College.

Academic Experience

Active learning with technology: bringing students, faculty, and information together

You will be joining a community of people devoted to creating and sharing information-activities that can be enhanced by information technology. Finding answers to the following questions can help you understand how technology is used to support learning and collaboration in your areas of interest or possible major(s).

Coursework - in and out of class

How does the campus use technology to enhance teaching, learning, and access to information in your areas of interest? Examples include online syllabi, Web-based discussion groups and project teams, and electronic portfolios?

Many Cecil credit courses have an online site on Blackboard, our web-based course management site. Not all faculty use this facility. Many other courses use other forms of instructional technology as well, including CDROMs, presentation technology, Smart classrooms, or simulation equipment.

Are classrooms technology-enhanced?

Cecil has made a major commitment to classroom technology by installing projectors and instructor PCs in over 90% of classrooms at both the North East and Elkton Station campuses. We also provide support for faculty and students who use these resources.

In both introductory and specialized courses, what opportunities are there for you to collaborate with other students using technology on project teams?

Every course has an online site automatically set up on Blackboard, which includes group tools for collaboration. Not all faculty use this facility.

Does the school give credit for courses taken electronically (online/at a distance) from other institutions and sources of instruction?

Yes, as long as the course is from an accredited institution. The College's transfer credit information details how a student can transfer credits into the College.

Support services

How does the campus provide access for students to work with multimedia (audio and video)?

Cecil's Visual Communications Lab is open to students enrolled in Visual Communications courses to complete their assignments with excellent equipment and help from tutors. Students sign up for reserved lab times during their first Visual Communications class each semester.

Are library collections and resources-such as catalogs, research databases, special collections, course reserves, full-text electronic journals, books, and streaming media-available online and accessible off-campus?

The online catalog, research databases, and full-text electronic journals are available online and accessible off-campus. A selection of e-books are available through MDL's NetLibrary on and off-campus. Access to the research databases, full-text electronic journals and the e-books are available off-campus to current students, faculty and staff with library assigned userids and passwords.

Can the library deliver documents to you electronically, either via e-mail or through Web posting? Does the library charge a fee when information resources that you need are not available in its collections?

The library does not currently deliver documents electronically.

No fee is charged.

Does the library provide research assistance in a variety of ways, such as in person, by phone, by e-mail, and through Web services? When are these forms of assistance available?

The Library provides research assistance in a variety of ways. The reference desk is always staffed by a librarian during open hours. This person is specifically available to answer any manner of question about research (in-person reference). There is also phone reference, where a patron can call in and talk to a reference librarian, and email reference, where a patron can email a question to the reference librarians. The Library web site contains pathfinders to guide patrons to information on their research topics, tutorials on how to follow the research process, and links to various subscription and free resources such as databases of full-text newspaper, magazine, and journal articles. There are also in-person Library Instruction classes.

In-person, phone, and email reference services and Library Instruction classes are only available during the open hours of the library, but the resources on our web site, such as the catalog and the full-text databases are available 24/7.

Looking toward graduation and a career

Does the campus offer general or profession-specific training programs that will ensure you are fluent in current information technologies when you graduate?

In addition to both for-credit and non-credit computer courses, most of our courses have a technology component, so students learn computer skills as part of the course. Students are required to take CIS 101, Introduction to Computer Concepts.

One-on-one help is available in the Computer Lab at the North East campus during scheduled lab hours.

Administrative Experience

Taking care of business online

Your campus experience will include some time spent taking care of practical matters, such as registering for classes, requesting transcripts, and paying tuition. Find out which transactions and the services that support them can be handled online and at a distance.

Managing your personal information

What personal information can you view online-your contact information, grades, degree progress, financial status, or other information?

Currently enrolled students can access their contact information, grades, degree progress, financial status, class schedule, transcripts, payment information, and student educational plan online via Campus Web. More services are added on a regular basis

Can you update any of this information online yourself?

Students may change some personal details such as name, address, telephone numbers and email account. All changes are reviewed by the Registrar before the changes are made to our records.

Conducting business online

Can you check admissions status?

Not applicable

Can you pay bills?

Yes, via Campus Web, but only for current students.

Can you apply for and view financial aid awards?

Students can apply for a Foundation Scholarship online, but cannot view the results. All other scholarships cannot be completed online.

Can students register for, add, and drop courses?

Yes, via Campus Web, but only for current students.

Can students learn course grades (online or by phone)?

Yes, via Campus Web, but only for current students.

Can students view and print unofficial transcripts?

Yes, via Campus Web, but only for current students.

Can students check progress toward completion of degree requirements?

No.

Can students make campus bookstore purchases?

Yes, via the Campus Bookstore website.

What campus and community services are covered by debit-card, smart-card, or one-card systems?

All of the services for which there is a charge are payable via credit card on Campus Web, but only for current students.

Are the school catalog-including course descriptions, degree requirements, and academic policies-and the semester/term schedule of classes available on the Web?

The college catalog, which includes course descriptions, degree requirements and academic policies, is available in PDF format.

Credit and Non-Credit course schedules are also available in PDF format, or can be accessed interactively through the course search. Cecil's website also lists the available programs of study with interactive course descriptions and class schedules.

Privacy, security, and usage rules

What security and privacy policies are in place to protect student information?

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

How does the campus protect students from identity theft?

Personal information is never given to unauthorized parties. Student Social Security numbers are not printed on any report except as required by governmental agencies. Social Security numbers are not used as the student id.

How does the campus notify students of their rights under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)??

FERPA information is available online, and is also distributed at student orientation.

Is network bandwidth limited for peer-to-peer software, gaming, Web cams, or other programs requiring high levels of network resources? Are Web pages filtered?

Students are expected to use all computing resources, including bandwidth, responsibly, but we do not limit bandwidth or filter the web.

Is there a campus code of behavior about using computer resources?

Yes, this is covered under the Technology Policy

Students are required to accept this policy each time they log on to the college network.

Does the campus have policies addressing peer-to-peer file sharing, virus software, and copyright?

Yes, this is covered under the Technology Policy

Students are required to accept this policy each time they log on to the college network.

How does the campus manage e-mail spam?

The college does not manage e-mail spam.

Student Life

Enriching your extracurricular experiences with technology

Whether you will be a full- or part-time student, the school's social, extracurricular, and career services activities will be an important part of your educational experience. Find out about the technology tools that facilitate different communities on campus, allowing for communication, personal development, and getting together (in person and virtually).

Accessing computer services

What public access for computing is available to students? Examples include computing labs, cyber cafés, residence hall computers, and wireless access.

Public access is available in the library and student labs. An account and password has been set up for guest access which may be obtained by the staff member on duty at the library or lab. Wireless access is available throughout the North East and Elkton Station campuses.

Does the campus provide institutional e-mail accounts for all students and use e-mail as an official medium of communication?

All credit students are given an e-mail account that they may use at their convenience. These email accounts are not used as an official medium of communication. Accounts are deleted at the end of the summer semester and new accounts issued to students enrolling in the fall semester.

Does the campus provide and support electronic space for personal student Web pages?

No.

Connecting with others

Is contact information for students, faculty, and staff readily accessible electronically?

Yes, the following is available:

What social activities and services are available online?

A schedule of all student activities, sports events, and cultural affairs events are posted on the web.

Are there Web sites for student organizations and clubs?

The following student organizations have a presence on the web:

Services and Fees

What you pay for and what you get

There is a strong connection between the quality of technology services and the associated costs. There is also a wide variation in the ways campuses charge for these services. To evaluate the benefits you will receive and to compare costs, you'll need answers to these questions.

Fees and expenses

What, if any, technology fee is charged by the campus? What does it cover?

No separate technology fee is charged.

Will you be required to purchase your own computer?

Students are not required to purchase their own computer.

Does the campus make computing and network access financially accessible? Is special student pricing offered for computers and peripheral equipment?

Computer access is available to all current Cecil students. Discounts are available for Microsoft Office software.

Does the campus assess extra fees for network connections in residence hall rooms or for off-campus access?

The college has no extra fees for network connections.

Technical support

What hardware and software standards, if any, does the campus require, recommend, and/or support?

The college supports Microsoft Office software as standard.

What kinds of services (help desk, training, trouble-shooting) are provided by the campus, and when are they available?

Students may receive help at the Computer Lab.

Does the campus have a plan for keeping its hardware and software current, and if so, what is the replacement cycle?

The college attempts to replace all student computers every 4-5 years and the Viscom computers every 3 -4 years. All software is replaced with current versions at the start of each fall term.

If you bring your own computer to school, what kind of technical support can you expect from the campus?

Students are responsible for maintaining their own computers.

Other services

How does the campus support printing for students, and is there a charge for this service?

Students have access to laser printers in all computer lab areas. Currently there is no charge for printing.

Does the campus provide wireless network coverage? If so, how much of the campus has wireless connectivity?

Wireless connectivity covers approximately 100% of the North East and Elkton Station buildings.
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