The advancement of a modern university and the success of its graduates require that
the institution maintain pace with technological developments in instruction and learning
and involve all students with technology.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The Student Technology Access Plan (STAP) is dedicated to the acquisition, installation,
maintenance, and appropriate use of state-of-the-art technology solely for the purpose
of supporting and enhancing student life and learning so that, upon graduation, ULM
students are prepared to assume meaningful and useful positions in the workplace of
the 21st Century.
DEFINITION:
For the purposes of the Student Technology Access Plan, the term "technology" or "technologies"
shall be taken to mean computer hardware and software (and the networking and supporting
computer and telecommunications infrastructure, including the costs of renovations,
upgrades, or preparation of existing facilities), laboratory instruments, and discipline-specific
equipment.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:
Authorization
Funds for the Student Technology Access Plan will supplement and not replace existing
funds allocated for technology, in accordance with the provisions of Act 1450. The
Student Government Association of the University of Louisiana at Monroe adopted the
STAP at its regular meeting on September 17, 1997. Under the provisions of the enabling
legislation (House Bill 2339; R.S. 17:3351.1), assessment of the Student Technology
Fee may be terminated by a two-thirds vote of the members of the governing board of
the Student Government Association and a majority vote of the Board of Supervisors.
Fee Assessment (Revised Oct. 2019)
Each semester or term, the Student Technology Fee shall be five dollars ($5.00) per
credit hour but shall not exceed $100 in any semester. This maximum ceiling limit
was adjusted during Summer 2019 and effective for Fall 2019 and beyond after approval
from both SGA and STAP committee was conducted in Spring 2019.
Administration
Oversight of the Student Technology Access Plan shall be granted to the Student Technology
Access Plan Committee which will include representatives of the students, the faculty,
and the administration and have a majority of the membership being students. The Information
Technology Director or his/her designee shall chair the Committee with the Student
Government Association (SGA) President serving as co-chair. Additional members shall
be the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, a representative from the Controller's
Office, one faculty member (appointed by the SGA President in consultation with the
Faculty Senate President), one graduate student (appointed by the SGA President in
consultation with the Director of the Graduate School), and four undergraduate students
(appointed by the SGA President). Business will not be considered at any Committee
meeting unless at least five members (four students and one non-student) are present.
The Committee shall keep a formal record of all actions taken in conjunction with
the Student Technology Fee by providing a detailed history of fee usage and application.
The Chair of the Committee or his/her designee shall maintain minutes and records
for purposes of audits of the fee, as well as for providing accountability to ULM
students. These documents shall be made available to the Student Government Association
at their request and they shall be filed as a matter of public record.
The STAP Committee shall be responsible for:
a. reviewing expenditures for essential items such as infrastructure, software maintenance,
and electronic communications as described by the Information Technology Director;
b. reviewing, rating, and recommending for funding other projects that propose the
expenditure of STAP funds;
c. responding to student concerns regarding the usage of the Student Technology Fee;
d. making recommendations to the SGA regarding the amount of the Student Technology
Fee, in accordance with House Bill 2339;
e. providing to the SGA a biannual budget summary of the Student Technology Fee (by
the fifteenth of November and the fifteenth of April), including all collections and
disbursements; and
f. Updating and modifying the Student Technology Access Plan.
The Information Technology Director may move up to 10% of a STAP account's funds to
another STAP account with the approval of the Vice President for Information Services
and Student Success and with notification to the STAP Committee.
Support Areas STAP funds can be assigned to one or more of three broad categories,
the priority of which will be determined by the STAP Committee
1. RECURRING INFRASTRUCTURE
a. General
Student access to the Internet, email, records, library holdings and other information
require hardware and software that spans units within the University and must be maintained
and upgraded regularly in order to be effective. Hardware such as cabling, routers,
and switches and software such as operating systems, security systems, and class management
systems will be provided and maintained for this purpose. Support will be provided
for University Information Technology to perform the tasks related to student matriculation and instruction,
including programming for a broad variety of student records, student evaluations
of teaching, and general support of instructional needs. Support will also be provided
for the Technology Users Support Center to provide students and faculty with technical
assistance in learning how to utilize new technology (e.g. how to develop their own
Web page, use e-mail, search library holdings, etc.). Assistance will also be provided
in installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting equipment.
b. Student laboratories Open access student laboratories strategically located across
campus, including dormitories, will be provided and equipped with PCs, accessories,
appropriate software, and basic furniture. In some instances, minor building renovations
may be necessary (e.g. moving walls, installing/removing doors/windows, raising/lowering
ceilings, adding electrical outlets, constructing access ramps for mobile chairs,
etc.). Additionally, supplies and support in the form of graduate or undergraduate
student workers will be provided.
c. Classroom instructional multimedia upgrades Selected classrooms will be upgraded
and equipped with the latest multimedia instructional facilities. Here, too, minor
building renovations may be required.
2. NEW INFRASTRUCTURE
Technology evolves at a rapid pace, as do the needs of the students. Support will
be provided for new initiatives in the above areas when they directly benefit the
students. These projects span unit boundaries and generally will require funds exceeding
$10,000. Examples of such items include conversion of area access from standard keys
to electronic fobs, the development of information kiosks, and the establishment of
new laboratories or other specialized facilities.
3. STUDENT AND FACULTY INITIATIVES
Projects that do not meet the above criteria because they benefit smaller groups of
students and are less costly will be supported as funds allow. Such projects may be
proposed by student groups, individual students, faculty or staff members, or administrators.
Proposals
1. SUPPORT AREAS 1 AND 2
During the fall semester of fiscal years in which the Committee has allocated funds
for such proposals, the Vice President for Information Services and Student Success
will solicit requests from the other Vice Presidents, the Director of Information
Technology, and the Deans. Each request must be identified as originating with a budget
unit and must include a project description no longer than two pages, a detailed budget,
and a one-page budget justification that clearly identifies how the project benefits
students. Projects that seek to upgrade student laboratories supported by STAP funds
must also provide a summary of those items previously purchased. Each academic dean
will submit to the Vice President for Information Services and Student Success a prioritized
list of department/school/college projects. The Vice President for Information Services
and Student Success will then prioritize these requests. The other Vice Presidents
will be responsible for providing the Vice President for Information Services and
Student Success with similar information from their reporting areas. The Vice President
for Information Services and Student Success will distribute these lists and the proposals
to the Committee.
2. SUPPORT AREA 3
As funds allow, the Committee will meet in the fall to determine priorities for the
year and will issue a request for proposals conveying this information to the Vice
Presidents, the Deans, and the SGA President, who will see that this information is
broadly distributed. Each academic dean will submit to the Vice President for Information
Services and Student Success a prioritized list of projects. Each project must be
identified with the individual or group initiating the request and must include a
description no longer than two pages, a detailed budget, and a one-page budget justification
that clearly identifies how the project supports the purpose of STAP and the priorities
specified for the year. The Vice President for Information Services and Student Success
will then prioritize these requests. The other Vice Presidents will be responsible
for providing the Vice President for Information Services and Student Success with
similar information from their reporting areas. The SGA President will have this responsibility
for requests originating from individual students or student groups. The Vice President
for Information Services and Student Success will distribute these lists and the proposals
to the Committee.
Expenditures
During the fall semester, the Committee will meet to review expenditures proposed
for Support Areas 1 and 2, make recommendations for funding those proposals, and authorize
the expenditure of STAP funds. All proposals will be rated using the following criteria.
- Student benefits [30 pts]
- Number of students impacted [15 pts]
- Frequency of student use [15 pts]
- Duration of benefits [15 pts]
- Cost [10 pts]
- Potential to be self-sustaining [10 pts]
- Extent to which existing systems are augmented [5 pts]
The Committee will also meet in the fall semester to review expenditures proposed
for Support Area 3, make recommendations for funding those proposals, and authorize
the expenditure of STAP funds. All proposals will be rated using the above criteria.
During the spring semester of each fiscal year, the Committee will meet to consider
and approve a budget allocating the anticipated revenue from the Student Technology
Fee for the next fiscal year.
No expenditures of funds generated by the Student Technology Fee will be authorized
except by a majority vote of the STAP Committee. With a vote of at least two-thirds
of the Committee members and the approval of the President of the University of Louisiana
at Monroe and the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors, up to 40% of the annual
Student Technology Fee may be used to secure credit arrangements. All recommendations
for expenditure of funds are subject to approval by the President of the University
of Louisiana at Monroe.
Auditing and Evaluation
All Student Technology Fee revenues shall be placed in a restricted account. Expenditures
shall be limited to those projects in full compliance with the Student Technology
Access Plan. ULM's Internal Auditor shall provide annual fiscal and compliance audits
of the Student Technology Access Program. The STAP Committee shall evaluate the Program's
effectiveness at least annually and report the results of these audits and evaluations
to the SGA, the Faculty Senate, the President of the University of Louisiana at Monroe,
and to the University Of Louisiana Board Of Supervisors. Any non-compliance finding
shall be reported to the President of the University of Louisiana at Monroe and to
the President of the University of Louisiana System.
Revisions
The Student Technology Access Plan may be revised upon a two-thirds majority vote
of the STAP Committee and a majority vote of the Student Government Association.
IMPLEMENTATION DATE:
Fall 2004
STAP