Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 10/19/99
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple  

Editors: Photos accompany release
SLU STUDENT TECHNOLOGY FEE FUNDS COMPUTER LABS
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University students recently snipped a ceremonial
green and gold ribbon on a new computer lab in the War Memorial Student Union. Located in
space once occupied by the campus barbershop, the 10-computer lab provides a place with all the
high tech amenities where Southeastern's more than 100 student organizations can design
banners and flyers, type meeting minutes, and take care of all kinds of business for their groups.
     While they snipped the ribbon and smiled for the camera, however, the students,
representatives of Southeastern's Student Government Association, were wishing they had the
time to repeat the performance in nine more locations. 
     The new Student Union computer lab is just one of 10 new labs, including labs in all eight
residence halls, that have been established over the past two years through a $50 per student fee
dedicated to upgrading campus technology. And its one of more than two dozen labs on and off
campus that are supported by Southeastern's Student Technology Fee.
     "We really wanted to do ribbon cuttings at each of the dorms, but it wasn't practical," said
SGA President TiJean Rodriguez.
     The Student Technology Fee, authorized by state law and approved by Southeastern
students in 1997, generates approximately $1.5 million annually. Rodriguez and Assistant Vice
President for Technology Mike Asoodeh said $2.5 million has been spent to date to establish and
upgrade computer labs, pay student workers as lab assistants, buy supplies, and create a
"technology-rich" classrooms with computers at each desk in the Garrett College of Business
Building, Tinsley Hall and the Charles E. Cate Teacher Education Center.
     The fee, assessed each semester, also supplements a discount Internet service provider rate 
                            (MORE) 
STUDENT TECHNOLOGY FEE   Add One
for students through an agreement with I-55 Internet Services of Hammond. With I-55 accounts,
students can register for classes, check their grades and e-mail, access a variety Library online
services, even apply for admission, all from their home computers. 
     Approximately 100 student workers are manning and maintaining the labs this semester
under the supervision of  Student Productivity Services Coordinator Clarissa Schiro, whose full
time staff position is funded by the fee. The students staff a lab in McClimans Hall 24-hours a
day
during the week and until 4 p.m. on Fridays and 6 p.m. on Saturdays. The McClimans lab is one
of 11 "open" labs, including the residence hall labs, that are not used for classes and are available
to all students. The open labs each boast at least one "super workstation" that includes a scanner,
color printer, multimedia PC and color copier.
     Another 18 labs  are jointly operated by academic departments and can be used by students
at least 20 hours a week. Sixteen other "closed" campus labs are operated exclusively by
departments and are not supported by the Student Technology Fee.
     The Student Technology Fee budget is administered by a special committee, made up of
SGA members and administrators and headed by Asoodeh. The committee decides where and on
what funds from the fee should be spent, recently approving, for instance, another $50,000-plus
technology-rich classroom for D Vickers Hall. Other projects under consideration include a
system that will allow students to rent or check out over night items such as laptop computers
and digital cameras. 
     "The Student Technology Fee committee wants to make sure that students have all the
technology they will need to be prepared when they go into the workforce," said Director of
Academic Services Paul Riggs, a committee member.
     The committee, Rodriguez said, is also dedicated to making sure the current students know
what they are getting for their money. It maintains a webpage (www.selu.edu/stf), has distributed
special brochures detailing labs and their hours, and has set up informational booths in the
Student Union mall.
     "They paid for it! We want to make sure they know about it," Rodriguez said. "The more
technology there is the better it is for the students, plus its great for recruiting."
                             -SLU-
Press release available on the World Wide Web:
www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsf99.htm