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COMPUTER FEEDBACK
MAY 2000
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CONTACT ummfeedback@hotmail.com

** As this page has grown we have decided to post the most recent **
contributions at the top of the page. Initially this may create some confusion,
so we have created a "Chronological" page for new readers and those who prefer it.

** Visit the Archives for earlier Computer Feedback. **

** As a service to the Student Senate we are posting their URL on our site **
http://www.umm.maine.edu/student.center/Senate/default.htm
** Note the Senate URL has changed **

In an attempt to keep this forum productive, we have compiled the following
from the feedback submissions.
Please review the Problems / Suggestions to determine if anything has been left out.
If it has, we encourage you to write to ummfeedback@hotmail.com
We will try to keep this updated as new suggestions come in so that
Academic Computing has a running tally of what needs to be done.
We will also omit what has been completed.
Updated April 15, 2000 pm

       PROBLEMS / SUGGESTIONS               POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS / COULD IT WORK?

Change to Macs

Equipment not working properly even if usable

"A" drive not readily accessible

Academic Computing uncommunicative

Often no printer paper/toner in computer labs

Residence hall hook-ups unreliable

Administration uncooperative

Labs closed when lab assistant doesn't show up

Residence hall rooms not connected for months

Student complaints ignored

Computer staff without technical expertise

Get into the Mac / PC debate

Untrained lab assistants

Lab assistants blamed for computer lab problems

Skilled lab assistants' talents ignored

Equipment of questionable quality

Low wages for computer staff

CLL fee misdirected

Unprofessional department

Inadequate amount of tech staff

Low enrollment and retention at UMM

UMM home page not updated

UNET needed to help out

Bad attitude toward UMM

              /

Scanners useless

Ghosting NOT complete in the computer labs

              /

Computer issues/problems remain

             "idle"--stagnant

Revamp the computer labs

Unable to get the administration's attention

UMM radio station has no Ethernet connection

Computer equipment inaccessible to many

Academic Computing hectic

No computer security

Maybe, but where would the money come from?

Fix everything--completely

Revert to old way / put instruction signs up

Keep us informed / respond to calls and emails

Keep supplies accessible to lab assistants

Repair or revamp residence hall connection

Start listening and ACTING on student concerns

Remove unreliable staff, have contingency plan

Hook them up

View students as consumers--not inconsequential

Hire technicians who are up to the task

Test a few Macs to determine which is preferred

Equip them for their job

Not good--realize they have no control or training

Utilize technical ability--Set up peer training (?)

Replace worn out with higher quality hardware

Raise the salary to attract quality applicants

Redirect that revenue to computer hardware

Academic Computing accountable/professional

Hire more techs until this situation is resolved

Make UMM more user friendly for students

Appoint/ask for volunteer/hire a web master

Don't use UNET as a permanent solution

Administration--fix problems causing bad

             attitudes / all cooperate toward that end

Connect them to printers in library & computer lab

If ghosting is the answer--ghost ALL labs the

             same

Let's get this resolved

              /

Ask for donations like UMM did for the CLL

"Organize a rally outside of Powers Hall"

Install it

Institute "Universal Design"

Hire enough staff and/or a secretary

Reinstitute the individual login and password

**PROBLEMS / SUGGESTIONS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS / COULD IT WORK?**
Change to Macs Equipment not working properly even if usable "A" drive not readily accessible Academic Computing uncommunicative Often no printer paper/toner in computer labs Residence hall hook-ups unreliable Administration uncooperative Labs closed when lab assistant doesn't show up Residence hall rooms not connected for months Student complaints ignored Computer staff without technical expertise Get into the Mac / PC debate Untrained lab assistants Lab assistants blamed for computer lab problems Skilled lab assistants' talents ignored Equipment of questionable quality Low wages for computer staff CLL fee misdirected Unprofessional department Inadequate amount of tech staff Low enrollment and retention at UMM UMM home page not updated UNET needed to help out Bad attitude toward UMM / Scanners useless Ghosting NOT complete in the computer labs / Computer issues/problems remain "idle"--stagnant Revamp the computer labs Unable to get the administration's attention UMM radio station has no Ethernet connection Computer equipment inaccessible to many Academic Computing hectic No computer security	Maybe, but where would the money come from? Fix everything--completely Revert to old way / put instruction signs up Keep us informed / respond to calls and emails Keep supplies accessible to lab assistants Repair or revamp residence hall connection Start listening and ACTING on student concerns Remove unreliable staff, have contingency plan Hook them up View students as consumers--not inconsequential Hire technicians who are up to the task Test a few Macs to determine which is preferred Equip them for their job Not good--realize they have no control or training Utilize technical ability--Set up peer training (?) Replace worn out with higher quality hardware Raise the salary to attract quality applicants Redirect that revenue to computer hardware Academic Computing accountable/professional Hire more techs until this situation is resolved Make UMM more user friendly for students Appoint/ask for volunteer/hire a web master Don't use UNET as a permanent solution Administration--fix problems causing bad attitudes / all cooperate toward that end Connect them to printers in library & computer lab If ghosting is the answer--ghost ALL labs the same Let's get this resolved / Ask for donations like UMM did for the CLL "Organize a rally outside of Powers Hall" Install it Institute "Universal Design" Hire enough staff and/or a secretary Reinstitute the individual login and password

MAY 6, 2000
Two students write:

I just read the minutes of the meeting with Student Senate. You mentioned how some positions
get paid $7/hr, like the telecounceling and hatcheries. I worked at the Beals Island Hatchery over
last summer. It was work study related, and I didn't make anywhere close to $7/hr. I was curious if
you were referring to a different hatchery, or if the school finally got off their butt to pay the workers
what they deserve.
Thanks,
Nate Clark
** Editor's Note **
We believe that Dr. Kemp made that comment, so perhaps you should contact her for clarification
on that. We tape recorded that meeting, but were unable to ascertain what hatchery she was
referring to--if indeed there is more than one. U. Machias Online would like to know
what you find out. If there is only one hatchery, when did this raise go into effect?
It should be noted that while some jobs pay more than others, financial aid limits the award.
When all is said and done you end up with the same amount, but having to work less hours for it
is indeed an advantageous position.

As a Senator and a student at UMM let me congratulate you on your official
status as a UMM student organization. Not only does this reflect your hard
work and interest in UMM, but also gives us, the student body, a voice.
Keep up the good work, and I look forward to joining your club in the fall.
Reid
** Editor's Note **
Wonderful! Nice to hear there is some interest. Did everybody hear that?
Plan on joining the club this fall. Many hands make the work light.
Wait a minute, didn't you say you were graduating?
Unfortunately I won't graduate until December. [Reid]

May 1, 2000
A student writes:

Like Dorothy Barker, I have also been a student at both UMM and USM. In the computer labs at USM, they
always have two lab assistants on duty. One is there for technical problems and the other is there to print
off papers. Yes, it sounds stupid that they have someone printing off everyone's papers. But it's actually
very effective. You type out your paper, hit Print, and go to the lab assistant at his/her special computer that
is only for printing documents. You tell them what computer you're at, and they look up the printing job on
the schedule they have, and print it out. This cuts down on porn and other documents being printed that shouldn't be using school funds. It's all very fast and they're friendly and knowledgeable. Here at UMM, we
don't know what people are printing off. Some people don't know how to print properly. There was someone
in the lab the other day who wanted to print just one page off of a 73 page Internet site, but she didn't know how to do that, so she printed the whole thing. So 72 pages got wasted so she could have that one page of information. Obviously, this was not her fault because she didn't know what she was doing. This could have been prevented if we had a system like USM's. Anytime someone wants a small amount of information from
a website, I tell them to copy and paste it into word.
The lab assistants here do not get any training. I have been one all year and people get upset with me for
not knowing certain things, like how to use PowerPoint. People assume that because I work there, I know everything about every program on the computers. Morale is a problem for lab assistants. It would be so
easy to show up for a day shift, sign in, and leave and get paid for it. No one would know. I'm not endorsing
that idea, of course, just stating that the heads of academic computing never seem to be around, especially when they're needed.
I hope some changes are made for next year. I'm just glad that I won't be working in there anymore.
Mike Colucci
** Editor's Note **
Perhaps a list of simple instructions on how to cut & paste from the web that could be permanently
posted in the computer labs would be in order.
Posted instructions on what to do for certain printer foul ups, etc. couldn't hurt either.
Some of the rest of you have attended other colleges, what were the computer labs like where
you have been?

** As a service to the Student Senate we are posting their URL on our site **
http://www.umm.maine.edu/student.center/Senate/default.htm
** Note the Senate URL has changed **

** As of March 24th we have started to add the names of those who give their permission to do so. **
All others will be listed as they direct, by initials only or anonymously.

** Spelling errors have been corrected, but content has not been altered without notation. **

** Objectionable language and personal attacks will be edited out of submissions. **
Let's keep this forum productive.

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