Diane Conatser:
1. Where did you go to college and what were your degrees?
I went to Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. I got a Bachelors of Art in accounting and business administration. Then I went to the University of Texas and completed 33 of 36 hours to earn an MBA. And I went to Chicago State University and completed a Masters of Art in education, leadership and higher education administration.
2. What jobs/positions have you held that have prepared you for this position?
I've been the Chief Information Official at Chicago State University from September 2000-September of ‘09. I worked for five years for SunGard Higher Co. They are the company that distributes Banner, the administrative system that students use. And for a number of years I was the consultant for SunGard Higher Education. I am very familiar with the software applications that Otterbein uses.
I was also budget director for a time. I've been involved in public accountings, just a variety of positions that I've held.
3. What are some of your biggest accomplishments in your past positions?
I think that anytime you can successfully implement technology and make a difference, whether for students, faculty, or the administration, I think that is an accomplishment worth mentioning. I think that putting in place things like an ID card that has multiple functions like being able to use it at the bookstore, or linking it to the student's bank account makes a student's life simpler.
We also implemented a Gmail for students, giving them a better e-mail provided by the university.
4. What are your views about the role of technology in education today?
Technology, for me, is a tool for enhancing our lives. I'm a great believer in using technology. When I went to college it was in the days before word processing and laptops. I think about how much easier it would be to write and do research now.
Technology has really made a huge difference and will continue to make a huge difference in the quality and facilitation.
5. What is something that impressed you about the technology at Otterbein?
I think you have a lot of the building blocks already, but as with anything, it can be enhanced. There is a good start as far as wireless goes. There has also been a good start as far as Banner, but we need to expand and enhance it.
One thing that has impressed me is the equipment refreshment program. Your desktop computers are replaced on a regular cycle. It represents best practice. You are continuing to keep everything current and able to use your technology tools.
6. Do you notice that Otterbein is lacking in any areas of technology?
I don't know of any right now. Of course that's a matter of perspective. But I'm not aware of any big gap in technology, just little things like the wireless to expand.
7. Students often experience problems with My O-Zone, sometimes throwing campus into a panic. How would you handle these problems?
I think there are two things you would want to do. You should always have two ways to access something like e-mail. Though My O-Zone makes it easier, there should be another way to access it- a back door kind of thing.
There should be redundancy as far as the platform. If the server for example that is normally used goes down there should be a fall-back so the outage isn't apparent.
I asked her if she had anything to add, she said:
Higher education is one of the most important careers that a person could be involved in. Students are at the center of this. It is important that the entire community be involved in decision making.
Mitch Davidson:
1. Where did you go to college and what were your degrees?
Originally I was a music major at Northern Kentucky University. Later I
completed a Bachelor of Science, management information systems degree at
the Union Institute and University in Cincinnati. My Master of
Science degree in computer information technology was completed at Regis
University in Denver.
2. What is your favorite college memory?
Two years of music theory study is without question my favorite memory.
3. What are some of your biggest accomplishments in your past positions?
I'll mention several briefly: a large-scale redesign and implementation
of a new ResNet (Residence Hall Network) environment for 5,200 residence
hall students at Western Illinois University (WIU), a large-scale fiber
optic loop also at (WIU), the creation of a strategic plan for technology
for Bemidji State University (BSU) and Northwest Technical College (NTC)
a large-scale data center power project at BSU, creation of a new lab,
wireless lounge, and a group study area at BSU, implementation of a number
of sustainability initiatives at BSU.
4. Do you notice that Otterbein is lacking in any areas of technology? How
would you plan on fixing that?
I think it might be a bit premature to make that type of judgement having
spent only a very short time Otterbein. As with all institutions,
Otterbein has a number of opportunities to improve the technology
environment, and dedicated staff that I am sure will be successful in
meeting future challenges.
5. What are your views about the role of technology in education today?
Briefly, that technology is a mission critical to the success of any
educational institution. Expectations of what technology should deliver
grow on a daily basis, both administratively and academically.
Prioritizaing those expectations and delivery of services with the biggest
return on investment is key.
6. Are you familiar with Otterbein's plan to go wireless? If so, do you
think they should charge students a technology fee?
Many institutions today have a technology fee in place. How it is used
varies from institution to institution, and may include labs, technology
infrastructure or other technology that serves primarily the student
population. Concerning the implementation of a new fee, or fee increases
for an existing technology fee, that would be an institutional decision,
not necessarily a technology decision. t&c;
What determines a snow day at Otterbein?
