OIT seeking input from students about recently-released LISTSERV

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The Office of Institutional Technology released its new LISTSERV last week with the intent of gaining student opinion on technology at Central Michigan University.

CMU students received an email Monday with a link to subscribe to the LISTSERV, and 70 students have done so as of Thursday.

“We like to offer this opportunity for students to shape the future of CMU technology in the way that they want to see it,” said OIT Technical Writer Kole Taylor.

Some of the topics subscribers are asked about are the PrintQ, introduced in June 2010, and virtual lab projects, introduced this year.

“Understanding technological innovations and advancements can possibly give a person a leg up on future trends and keep them that much more competent with the pace of advancement as well,” said Coldwater sophomore Jordan Wright.

In addition to giving feedback on university-wide programs, Taylor said subscribers would also be asked to test technological advancements.

“If some of the students are willing, we’ll have the option for them to test new things and provide feedback if they choose,” he said. “Or they can subscribe just to be in the loop as far as what’s in the pipeline for the university.”

As an incentive to subscribe to LISTSERV, the OIT is raffling off an iPad to one student who joins the list before 5 p.m. Monday.

“We’re being a little more mum on future incentives, but we’re looking for potential benefits in various ways,” Taylor said. “If (students) provide input as we ask for it, we might randomly have incentives for them in return.”

The OIT will reach out to subscribers again Tuesday when it releases an email with more information on the LISTSERV, as well as the winner of the iPad drawing.

In past years, CMU used a student technology advisory committee to gain feedback on projects, though Taylor said it has become an outdated process.

“We found that students are incredibly busy with all their schoolwork, extracurricular activities and work these days, and that it wasn’t all that sustainable,” he said.

The original email from Assistant Director of Student Life Tom Idema said the subscribers would only be contacted by email “a few times each semester.”