I'll try to be as calm as possible.
I have been going to COB for a year now, and the technology at COB has improved marginally.

LABS

About 4000 students go to the college, and yet there is ONE public lab available daily from 9-9. Yes folks ONE. That lab has about 25 computers.
There is another lab that is "SUPPOSED" to be open from 9-9 yet that lab (T-04) is opened only at certain hours a day, and about 7-8 of those computers arent even accessible. This lab, we dont even know when its open because the schedule they put up is a wrong schedule. How do I know this? I went to the lady in the office, asked her and she showed me the real schedule. Then she told me "hopefully we will get a hang of this next year"

WTH? Next year? The formula for calculating promises at the college is

AT = PT X WTFLI
Where AT = Actual time, PT = Promised time, and WTFLI = Whenever they feel like it

You know what this results in

5-8 people waiting on a line to use the computers at any given time
Lecturers letting students use the computers when they are teaching in "teaching labs' (yes when they are having classes)
Our club, let people use the computers during meetings (good way to get members tho) :shaky:
People not completing assignments on time
People gettin mad and saying "man forget this bey, COB is be joking (or something to that extent


We have have complained to the Director of MIS, Student Affairs, Student Activities, our student union, and Academic Affairs. And guess what, nothing has changed.

Suggestions

Some of our members have offered to work and man the labs, yet no response.

Fix the computers that are unusable, and open the T-04 lab all day. SIMPLE.

Dont have enough people?
They proposed this program where they pay students to work in the labs, yet we have seen NO signs of this coming soon. Only a bunch of flyers. A member of the hr dept told me that they arent dealing with that program. (Which would mean that MIS is taking care of it. How successful would that be?)
For the mean time, take a day to train a few dozen, work-study students and let some of them work in the labs.

Why I say train?(Did you know that some of the students who work there now dont know how to unclog a paper jam.) When I went there the first day they never asked me if I knew how to solve issues, they assumed I knew.

I aint even mentioned the wireless network, that hasnt been working since the summer. Or, our beautiful, often promised, yet non existent online registration/bill paying system. Or our sub-par (i'm probably being too nice) website.

Worst part, we pay a nice fee of 100 smackers a year called a "Technology Fee". Tech fee aye? Thats like paying Rory a 30 dollar a year 'camera maintainance fee', and when the camera has issues he sends his junior high cousin to fix the problem.

I like the college, but sometimes, the simplest hurdles cant be overcomed, and we are left frustrated (or transferring) . Wonder why they is such a low retention rate among students faculty and some staff?

I'll try to be as calm as possible.
I have been going to COB for a year now, and the technology at COB has improved marginally.
LABS
About 4000 students go to the college, and yet there is ONE public lab available daily from 9-9. Yes folks ONE. That lab has about 25 computers.
There is another lab that is "SUPPOSED" to be open from 9-9 yet that lab (T-04) is opened only at certain hours a day, and about 7-8 of those computers arent even accessible. This lab, we dont even know when its open because the schedule they put up is a wrong schedule. How do I know this? I went to the lady in the office, asked her and she showed me the real schedule. Then she told me "hopefully we will get a hang of this next year"
WTH? Next year? The formula for calculating promises at the college is
AT = PT X WTFLI
Where AT = Actual time, PT = Promised time, and WTFLI = Whenever they feel like it
You know what this results in

5-8 people waiting on a line to use the computers at any given time
Lecturers letting students use the computers when they are teaching in "teaching labs' (yes when they are having classes)
Our club, let people use the computers during meetings (good way to get members tho) :shaky:
People not completing assignments on time
People gettin mad and saying "man forget this bey, COB is be joking (or something to that extent

We have have complained to the Director of MIS, Student Affairs, Student Activities, our student union, and Academic Affairs. And guess what, nothing has changed.
Suggestions
Some of our members have offered to work and man the labs, yet no response.
Fix the computers that are unusable, and open the T-04 lab all day. SIMPLE.
Dont have enough people?
They proposed this program where they pay students to work in the labs, yet we have seen NO signs of this coming soon. Only a bunch of flyers. A member of the hr dept told me that they arent dealing with that program. (Which would mean that MIS is taking care of it. How successful would that be?)
For the mean time, take a day to train a few dozen, work-study students and let some of them work in the labs.
Why I say train?(Did you know that some of the students who work there now dont know how to unclog a paper jam.) When I went there the first day they never asked me if I knew how to solve issues, they assumed I knew.
I aint even mentioned the wireless network, that hasnt been working since the summer. Or, our beautiful, often promised, yet non existent online registration/bill paying system. Or our sub-par (i'm probably being too nice) website.
Worst part, we pay a nice fee of 100 smackers a year called a "Technology Fee". Tech fee aye? Thats like paying Rory a 30 dollar a year 'camera maintainance fee', and when the camera has issues he sends his junior high cousin to fix the problem.
I like the college, but sometimes, the simplest hurdles cant be overcomed, and we are left frustrated (or transferring) . Wonder why they is such a low retention rate among students faculty and some staff?

you have two choices
1do something or
2 leave

if you choose the former, you have to demand what is deserved to you! No excuse is good enough. In a changing world we have to be able to compete. Computer literacy and access plays into that mix if college officials want to train and educate modern Bahamian leaders. The same force and vigor showcased during the "smith affair" shoould be the same outcry in support of this cause. Its all for the same thing: for a better COB!

Get down or lay down!

$30 a year! Try $30 a month :p
Then again i work alone ....

Anyway, how about this, get together and do a group buy on $250 refurbished PCs from Tiger Direct . com - then who needs the lab??

Ive been using this $250 refurbed PC for over a year now, and i develop on it ..

Anyways ..:friday:

$30 a year! Try $30 a month :p
Then again i work alone ....
Anyway, how about this, get together and do a group buy on $250 refurbished PCs from Tiger Direct . com - then who needs the lab??
Ive been using this $250 refurbed PC for over a year now, and i develop on it ..
Anyways ..:friday:

yea, i meant something like 30 a month. lol

Well, does it come as a surprise when the people in their IT department have to "toe the line"?

During the "month" that I worked there, I was told that my ideas (fresh from the University of Hartford) would have to wait, since "protocol" had to be followed.

Don't worry, a solution is on its way. Can't talk about it too much yet :titongue:, but your club (and students who need a proper lab) will definitely be interested.

Namaste: Seventh generation, I just could not resist as COB is my Almamater, class of 1988. It brings great joy to my heart that you are experiencing great pain there as I did; these are the birth pains of education, where as education makes a student a handler of power and power is the ability to define reality and have others respond to you from that definition. Thus I do think you should give thanks to the creator or whom ever for this great opportunity to engage in the process of education.
You are part of a great institution, many dynamic minds pass through its halls, I had the pleasure of sitting in the company of many of them, we use to play chess in the library and the head librarian would throw us out she was an ogle. Antanet Seymour was there she may still be, she had retired from chess then. In fact, while I was there the students took on the ministry of education and foreign affair, in a protest sit on Bay Street. The head of the student body would then latter talk at a national PLP rally criticizing the ineptitude of the government. That was a time of a growing revolution, but we did not push the envelope far enough. We did not break free the box.
First thing is needed is a change in mental syntax, look at your situation from this axiom that in every adversity lies the seed of an equal or greater success. A key ingredient in your situation is organizing the students around the issue. Organize them, this is a great opportunity to bring the student body together, I notice that you have come up with a few suggestions, I would say from the student body you pool more ideas and you look at alumni from the college for help as well, as a alumni I would suggest that:
1. You begin a fund raising program to create a computer wing of the college.
2. Work to have the governing body of the college broaden.
3. create policy that allows students to have grievances addressed in a more timely manner
4. A marriage between the great community and the college.
These are my preliminary ideas but it’s a great opportunity for you, this is a chance to bring out your leadership skills, oh get a hold of the book the Art of leadership by oba t shaka, if you can make it there is a African Leadership Conference in Holly Springs Mississippi I would recommend, I am attending it with comrades.

Nice ideas, I will look into them.

well I hope they get that mess together. in the main time students who can afford to do so should buy their own home PC's and maybe a laptop. the pc's to study ratio is definitly in need of improvement, I cant see them attaining university status with out adding another lab.

that must be sooooooo fustrating for students.

Rory, Tiger Direct is da bomb spit

Rory, Tiger Direct is da bomb spit


foe real my shiznet :cheers:

Number of labs arent the problem. Its the number of them that are avaliable for public student access that is. As it stands they have maybe about 10 ish computer labs on the oakes field campus.

Number of labs arent the problem. Its the number of them that are avaliable for public student access that is. As it stands they have maybe about 10 ish computer labs on the oakes field campus.

man, they have wireless now...bring your own printer and puter...CoB is moving up...give credit where credit is due!

well I hope they get that mess together. in the main time students who can afford to do so should buy their own home PC's and maybe a laptop. the pc's to study ratio is definitly in need of improvement, I cant see them attaining university status with out adding another lab.
that must be sooooooo fustrating for students.
Rory, Tiger Direct is da bomb spit

Man there is about 3 or 4 computer labs at CoB...they even can use the lab at the book store.

Number of labs arent the problem. Its the number of them that are avaliable for public student access that is. As it stands they have maybe about 10 ish computer labs on the oakes field campus.


When I went to University of Western Ontario, we had a number of coffee houses, soda bars, study areas that were opened by a smart entrepeneur. He knew that college kids like to hang out in a safe atmosphere, eat and drink inexpensive food (pizza, hot dogs, sodas, etc). We also needed places to have study groups, internet access (dialup only in my day) and computers / printers to use. He made a killing by selling semester passes and a la carte services for students.

With the right business plan and small investment (say $10,000 to $15,000), someone could create quite a profitable venture by making The Study Room, Ltd. The interior could be sectioned off to provide a few large study tables in a quiet area, some computer kiosks, a small kitchen and soda bar/dining area.

While tech fees are paid to COB, there is nothing to stop a private individual from providing a much needed service that CoB can't satisfy. People will pay for the convenience of having access to the services, but with the right study decor it could become 'the place' to do your homework in a safe environment.

TigerDirect volume pricing for computers, printers, wi-fi access points, etc really are excellent, as Rory has pointed out already. Ultimately, services could expand to a copy center or business services to capture additional markets. I wouldn't mind lending a hand to write a BP and construct some P&L's, if someone were interested in looking at the venture.

Fate usually rewards those that can identify and capitalize on an opportunity. Opportunity isn't always about invention of new ideas. Sometimes these opportunities are right in front of our eyes!

Well now that my idea is out in the open ( thanks a lot, CO :taped2: ), I guess that I'd better get crackin' before someone else jumps on it.

G, you probably are aware of the perfect place for that idea. I've been stallin' at renting it, but looks like the time is just about right.

When I went to University of Western Ontario, we had a number of coffee houses, soda bars, study areas that were opened by a smart entrepeneur. He knew that college kids like to hang out in a safe atmosphere, eat and drink inexpensive food (pizza, hot dogs, sodas, etc). We also needed places to have study groups, internet access (dialup only in my day) and computers / printers to use. He made a killing by selling semester passes and a la carte services for students.
With the right business plan and small investment (say $10,000 to $15,000), someone could create quite a profitable venture by making The Study Room, Ltd. The interior could be sectioned off to provide a few large study tables in a quiet area, some computer kiosks, a small kitchen and soda bar/dining area.
While tech fees are paid to COB, there is nothing to stop a private individual from providing a much needed service that CoB can't satisfy. People will pay for the convenience of having access to the services, but with the right study decor it could become 'the place' to do your homework in a safe environment.
TigerDirect volume pricing for computers, printers, wi-fi access points, etc really are excellent, as Rory has pointed out already. Ultimately, services could expand to a copy center or business services to capture additional markets. I wouldn't mind lending a hand to write a BP and construct some P&L's, if someone were interested in looking at the venture.
Fate usually rewards those that can identify and capitalize on an opportunity. Opportunity isn't always about invention of new ideas. Sometimes these opportunities are right in front of our eyes!

Actually, C.O, CoB already has that...Too late Yorick...Its called the book store....ya need to visit the new CoB book store...it has everything you have mentioned...Infact they are looking for a Internet Cafe Manager.