The Cardinal

Tech Fee Committee Needs Students

Bonnie Sylvester
Assistant Editor

All students enrolled at Skagit Valley College pay a Student Technology Fee of  $5.00 per credit ($40.00 maximum) per quarter. These fees are used to purchase new technology for our use. A committee, composed of employees and students, determines what will be purchased that will best serve our needs.
There is an on-line application to become a committee member. Applications are due October 16, by 5:00 p.m.  Interested applicants may drop off completed applications to the Student Life Office.
Laura Morris, head of Student Life Office says “we need students to participate on the Mount Vernon Tech Fee Committee! Please fill out the application to participate on the Tech Fee website.  The application explains when the meetings are to be held so students can see if their schedules fit. This is a great way to add some extracurricular involvement to your resume in a short amount of time. Students have the majority vote on this committee. Students pay this fee and students spend all the fee money on campus projects they believe in. Application to participate is open to all students, part-time or full-time, on the Mount Vernon Campus. On the Whidbey Island Campus the committee, is determined by the student government. Please contact Penny Perka for information at penny.perka@skagit.edu.”
Morris says that in the past, the Tech Fee was spent to purchase a variety of things.  A new computer for instructors in F102, and two new computers with commercial food purchasing and recipe system software for Culinary Art Students were among some of the purchases. Twenty-four new laptops were purchased for check out and use in the library--nearly doubling the available computers. Library desktop computers were all updated, new printers were purchased and installed that can print on two sides and handle higher volume. For the campus advertising system, a Plasma screen, mini-Mac computer and wall mount were installed. Morris mentioned more items, too numerous to list.
Morris says, they have $500,000 to spend this year. Students have yet to choose the projects to be funded. First we need students and employees to propose projects to be funded. All proposed projects will be considered. Fill out a proposal for your campus Mount Vernon, Whidbey, San Juan Center or South Whidbey Center. Who knows better what technology students need than students.
For more information go to http://www.skagit.edu/techfee