Oakland University's Student Technology Center

OU is in a rapid growth mode, currently up to 18,000 and have a goal of hitting 24,000 students by 2010. Using a student-produced "movie trailer" to engage students and draw users to their Student Technology Center. Recognition that students have strong proficiency in communication online, but not necessarily in using technology to get classwork done. Also recognized that what support there was for students was segmented out for a few majors and not generally available.

Staff at Oakland University attended an Educause presentation by Bowling Green University about their student technology center staff and were inspired to do their own. Followed up with Bowling Green staff and learned all of the details. Had to collaborate widely on campus to find space, funding, and to generate interest. Finally got to co-write a proposal for a peer-based student technology training resource with VP for student affairs.

Offer appointment or walk-in mentoring for individuals or groups. They have increased to 3,900 mentoring sessions, and 71,000 visits to the center per academic year. Equipment check-out (48-hour period) for still & video cameras, and Tablet PC's (for 1 week check-out). Now up to 1,340 equipment loans/academic year. Also offer workshops on emerging tech, faculty collaborations, departmental collaborations, and training workshops on wide range of software titles (Office to multimedia authoring apps: also Second Life, Google Docs, and institutional programs like e-portfolio). Finding that it's been a good retention tool (a challenge of being a 90% commuter campus).

Doing follow-up marketing and surveys with both students and faculty that they have touched. Also use online communities like MySpace and Facebook for marketing. They have 1 director FTE, 10 student employees, and a couple of others. Enough staff to have specialization for mentors and for software specialists. Tons of training for students and a focus on real-world experience to retain student employees. Hire from broad range of majors, assuming that they can teach the technology skills to anyone - it's the customer service and people skills that they need. Make every effort to keep their students until graduation (other than pay). Focus on career placement, guest speakers, outside projects, and any other opportunities to engage, train, and retain their student employees. Still in a mode of partnering with stakeholders for funding. Center is closed over the summer. http://www.oakland.edu/stc

Equipment checkout relies on a "you break it, you've bought it" policy, and the ability to charge against student accounts (and I assume hold records). Inexpensive late fee comapred to ours, (less than half) only $10/day. Online training component is their next planned stage of growth.