Rideshare Website: I have been working to discuss the design and setup of the future version of GSB’s rideshare project with the web development group of Iowa State’s Information Technology department. Iowa State Chief Information Officer Jim Davis agrees that the use of WebDev is the best design decision for long-term sustainability within an ever-changing student group like GSB. Thank you for supporting this project.

GSB Technology Reclamation: I recently sent a message to student groups looking for any groups interested in acquiring some of GSB’s old unused computers or monitors. I have received a great amount of feedback from this effort and hopefully most of GSB’s old technology equipment will go to good use within student groups while the remainder will be sent to ISU Surplus and be available for sale within their warehouse facilities.

ITS Faces Budget Cuts Like Everyone Else: In talking with personnel in Iowa State’s ITS (Information Technology Services) department I have learned that they will be facing budget cuts equivalent to the budget cuts across the university. While most of these cuts will be handled in the same fashion that they are being handled university-wide, ITS faces the extra challenge of finding money to replace damaged classroom technology equipment (projectors, screens, ELMOs, etc.) and to pay for the upkeep of the university’s wireless internet network. Many students do not realize that current funding sources for both of these services has currently run dry and ITS is searching for other ways to fund these services (see more info below).

Classroom technology devices were initially funded by the Iowa legislature and when this funding ran out, ITS began replacing damaged equipment with ITS office technology equipment if needed.

Iowa State’s central Wi-Fi network (residence halls are supplied by the Dept. of Residence) was initially funded through a CAC (computation advisory committee) grant, but as of next year this network’s funding will run out and CAC will not provide further funding because Wi-Fi is no longer perceived as an innovative new project, but is seen as an infrastructure investment.