Volume 7 Issue 2 ~
©
ComP.uters:
Competence
Augmt 29, 1984
Communications
Steainline Completed
Cable Station Considered
~Encouraged Palo Alto, Calif. (I.P.) -Undergraduates should be "actively encouraged" but not required to obtain minimum computer competence, accor• ding to the Stanford Faculty Senate. Senate discussion indicated broad support for a flexible approach to computer competency rather than a "heavyhanded" new degree requirement. The Sena~e accepted a report from the Academic Council Committee on Com• puters and Information Technology. "Our group spent six weeks talking about computer literacy," commented Prof. James R. Miller of the Graduate School of Business, committee·chairman. "There was great disparity at first, but the feeling was that heavy-handed ~mechanisms like the language requirement just weren't appropriate. "It's probably not appropriate to leap to conclusions about expanding (basic courses on computers) until we see how computing will evolve in a relatively short period of time," according to Prof. ~Robert Street, civil engineering, recently named vice provost for computing. The committee report cautioned that ..our experience teaching required courses has not always been happy. A small number of dmatisfied students can p0ison the experience for faculty and -~students alike." The report said computer competence includes: 1) "Some facility with at least one text editor, computer, and operating system; 2) "The ability to write and debug a program succemully" (and} 3) "The ability to design, debug and ~maintain reliable algorithms, perhaps even efficient ones, in the service of serious professional goals." The committee came to these conclusions: "Students specializing in the hUmanities and fine arts are probably '--sufficiently served with minimum competence .. . with relatively light emphasis ... on technical ingredients and a relatively heavy emphasis on .. . usage, applications, historical and social ingredients." "Students specializing in the social "'sciences require a· heavier emphasis on the technical in2fedients, particularly those involving cfata manipulation and statistical analysis. Programming skills would also be useful." "Students specializing in the hard . sciences, engineering, and particularly ~computer science must attain significant competence in all of (these) areas. This would include structured programming skills and the ability to design and implement reliable alogrithms." In the social sciences, the hard Jciences, and engineering "significant competence" is needed and "the use of tight distributional requirements and specific course requirements over and above the introductory level would seem appropriate." "But that decision, we believe, should 4"be left to individual departments," the 'report concludes." 0
' I I I
by Kevin Vaughan Editor, The Metropolitan
A student-run campus cable system is beinj.t considerd by the Student Facilities Policy Council, and could be operational at Auraria by December 1, 1985. Associated Students of Metropolitan State College Senator Ben Boltz outlined his plans for the nearly $23,000 Auraria Student Cable System in a formal proposal to SFPC Chairman Ken Cole. According to the proposal, the system is to include students from all three schools at Auraria and is to be funded, in part, by the Student Center Bond Reserve. The first phase of the two-part proposal call for the alloeation of seven television sets, to be tied in with existing media facilities located in the basement of the library. The seven television sets would be located in the Student Center, as well as in each builcUng containing a student fee funded lounge. The proposal calls for the completion of phase one by November 22 of this year. "E1'fmt~,
after enough ex-
perieftce in cable televiaion ia gained, a propoeal would be developed for gaining access to the higher education channel to Mile High Cablevision through the telecom· municatiom committee of the City and County of Denver. -Cable System Proposal The second phase of the plan calls for the initiation of broadcasts from the library.media center to students through the new television sets on one of the media center's channels. "Space would need to be found to house the broadcast equipment and administrative personnel," the recommendation said. "Eventually, after
Auraria students stroll to class above the recently completed steamline_which will heat the campus this winter. Last spring's steamline construction caused a big headache for many students, faculty, and staff. -photo by Jim Bailey
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