With dwindling Measure 8 funds, SRJC’s Information Technology (IT) is looking for new ways to save money. SRJC was spending about $3 million per year, said Scott Conrad, Director of IT. This year the budget is $1 million. We are “trying to do what we can to minimize costs.”

IT is buying Macbooks with 13-inch screens instead of 15-inch ones and stopped buying printers for individual faculty. It costs SRJC 5 cents per page at a personal deskjet printer and only 2 cents at the copy center, Conrad said. IT is also making it easier to send jobs electronically to the copy center by increasing the number of networked printers.

Academic Affairs, the Copier Taskforce, Conrad and the Purchasing and Graphics Services department are working together to develop district standards to use in bidding to replace SRJC’s 50 to 60 copiers. Tim Bosma, director of Purchasing and Graphics Services, said when the infrastructure for a copier to be networked is there, he would be surprised if it wasn’t hooked up to it. In the past the cost to set up a networked copier outweighed the benefit to SRJC. The price has fallen, Bosma said.

Many large corporations use technology for two years then return it; SRJC uses the same technology for at least five years. Bosma appreciates Conrad working with Purchasing and Graphics Services to find the best solution for the college’s money, like buying lightly used machinery. Conrad is “willing to explore those areas to save the college money,” Bosma said. He looks online for deals at places like eBay.

IT put up two antennas in the quad last month to increase wireless access. New antennas cost about $500 but Conrad found them on eBay for $30. All the Petaluma buildings available to students have WiFi. IT just added wireless service to Forsyth, the music building and soon Lounibus, the auto shop building, will have wireless access. “We have a very good network infrastructure,” Conrad said.

Conrad is the co-chair of the Institutional Technology Group (ITG) with Cherry Li-Bugg, dean III Learning Resources and Educational Technology. This is President Dr. Robert Agrella’s advisory committee on how SRJC should spend the Measure 8 funds allocated to technology.

Conrad asked the Associated Students Senate, “Where do I need to invest resources?” According to him, SRJC has an excellent technological infrastructure compared to other colleges. He wants to make sure that technology yields a good return for students’ education.