Technology at Washburn University, or
Why Is There Still A Chalkboard In My Classroom?

In a Capital Projects report issued by the administration several years ago, technology was listed second on its list of priorities. Administrative computing was listed as the fourth priority. The administration seemed to acknowledge in this document that continual improvements and enhancements to the computer network were essential to support technological teaching in the classroom.

"We not only have the resources to address technology in a reasoned and progressive way, we also have the resources to dream program improvements that move the university forward in dramatic ways."

Jerry Farley
March 7, 2000
Report to Board of Regents

Academic & Administrative Computing

In 2000, the University's Resource Planning Committee (RPC) recommended classroom enhancements, including mediation technology. RPC also recommended combining the Academic Computing with Administrative Computing in order to "most efficiently coordinate the campus computer, telephony, and video services" and to provide for "one administrative head being responsible for these services."

This recommendation was made in spite of reports issued earlier from a subcommittee of the Electronic Technology Committee (ETC) that warned of the dangers of merging academic and administrative computing. In fact the report indicated the following:

"The most important question to ask is "Would the merger of ACC and ADP benefit students?" There is no evidence to suggest it would benefit students, and the fact that there would no longer be an entity such as the ACC dedicated to academic computing would suggest that the merger might adversely affect students."

In spite of this warning, Academic Computing and Administrative Computing were combined effective July 1, 2000. The consolidation of these two areas was to "create a stronger and more efficient technology system providing information and services to the campus community."

The goals of this combined area were:

  1. Achieving long-term savings through economies of scale.
  2. Providing more efficient and timely information to the campus community.
  3. Enhancing distance learning programs and instructional technology.
  4. Creating an infrastructure to ensure the successful identification, evaluation, and implementation of new, integrated administrative software.

However, in spite of the Board action in 2000, separate budgets indicate that there has in fact been no real consolidation of ACC and ADP. Perhaps the legacy of the RPC recommendation is the amount of resources sucked out of ACC to support the new Administrative Information Systems and the disparate pay scales that now favor administrative computing personnel over academic computing personnel.

Computer Information Science

The Computer Information Science program was identified as a "Hallmark program" in 2000 by the University's Resource Planning Committee. This designation made the program a candidate for additional funding. In FY02 CIS did in fact become a "budget priority" with an additional $150,000 allocated for salaries, but no increase in operating expenses. Although the staff level increased, no other significant resources have been added for that staff to use. One can only guess at what the 10 faculty members can do with the $10,687 allocated on an annual basis.

So, let's look at three different areas of technology in Washburn University's budget to see how the University is addressing this priority.

Academic Computing (ACC)
  FY02 FY05 Increase %
Salaries $1,048,890 $1,150,625 $101,735 10%
Operating Expenses 398,864 508,864 110,000 28%
Administrative Computing (formerly ADP, currently AIS)
  FY02 FY05 Increase %
Salaries $269,115 $642,909 $373,794 139%
Operating Expenses 55,500 413,171 357,671 644%
CIS Academic Department
  FY02 FY05 Increase %
Salaries $503,484 $609,109 $105,625 21%
Operating Expenses 10,687 10,687 0 0%