rooms - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: May 24, 2005

rooms

Date: May 24, 2005

No. Don't think so. Who assigns them?

Date: May 24, 2005

Rooms haven't been assigned yet. USM is implementing "Ad Astra," a computer program that assign rooms based on class size, instructor preference, yada yada. Its the first time its been used...forget a dry run or a beta test. Look for confusion, irritation and consternation next week from both students and faculty as they find themselves in unsuitable rooms in a world far, far away....let the power be with you!

Date: May 24, 2005

Sounds like a mess. How will we know what room has been assigned? Soar? And When?

Date: May 25, 2005

rooms are supposed to be assigned by Friday and they will appear on soar.

Date: May 25, 2005

The more I think about this situation, the more pissed I become. I bet I end up teaching halfway across campus and in a room sans the equipment I need. If so, don't think I won't make "compensations"....

Date: May 25, 2005

There is one person and one person only to blame for the Ad Astra and room assignment debacle: Cynthia ("I fold jeans for a living") Moore. iTech wanted to scrap the Ad Astra program as unworkable without tens of thousands more dollars being spent on a consultant to make it work here at USM - Moore overruled them. The result? A program that still doesn't work properly, costs tens of thousands of dollars, and causes extreme confusion / irritation for students and faculty. SFT's hand-picked Administration putting students first yet again.

Date: May 25, 2005

If this plan goes south, and there's no indication it won't, the media should certainly be alerted. None of us knows what one thing it would ever take to oust Thames, but I'm confident that incidents directly affecting students and their welfare fit the description. Having liberal arts students in the science building, science students in the COAL, etc. will not make anyone happy. Disgruntled students will be lining up to complain to the HA and WDAM. This would also be a task that Dean Harold Doty has shown himself to be well-suited for, and I would urge him (here) to take on this job. Another public victory for him would send his stock soaring at this point, and in this case hundreds of students would be happy.

Again, if this goes south this incident will be an easy victory if media are alerted. And, for the first time, CEM would be hammered about incompetence.

Questions:

1. How much did the software system cost USM (CEM was asked at PUC earlier, but failed to answer)?

2. What was the old way of assigning space, and why was it not working any longer?

3. Did the idea to use the new system come to the attn of administration from students who were unhappy about the old system?

4. Were College Deans and faculty consulted about use of this new system?

5. Was the new system recommended from within iTech, or was it purchased by central administration acting alone?

6. Was the SGA involved in recommending this new system?

7. Has the SGA been receiving complaints about the old system of classroom space allocation?

8. How many USM manhours, and how much money in consulting fees, have beens spent by USM making this new system operational?

9. Are the colleges proportionately affected by use of the new system?

10. Was the new system financed out of the original $1.8 million in savings from the university restructuring that occurred in January of 2003?

P.S. If anyone feels inclined to do so, I don't mind this post being copied and sent to Reuben Mees at the HA and/or Randy Swann of WDAM.

Date: May 25, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Ad Astra's Risk Manager
" Having liberal arts students in the science building, science students in the COAL, etc. will not make anyone happy."

There may be things about class scheduling to complain about, but this is not one of them. There is no reason whatsoever that all courses in a discipline must be offered in that discipline's building. Mix-and-match class assignments are practiced at universities all over the country, and also at USM for decades. It would be nice to teach your class in a room adjacent to your office, but it is often not always feasible.

Date: May 25, 2005

Although you raise interesting questions about university-wide space allocation in your post above, how in tarnation does the issue relate to CoB and Dean Doty?

Date: May 25, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Isolate
"There may be things about class scheduling to complain about, but this is not one of them. There is no reason whatsoever that all courses in a discipline must be offered in that discipline's building. Mix-and-match class assignments are practiced at universities all over the country, and also at USM for decades. It would be nice to teach your class in a room adjacent to your office, but it is often not always feasible."

What if I used certain equipment that's not available in the classrooms "that I get sent to" from now on? What if this is a common problem, more common than you think? I don't think "distance" from offices is the issue being brought to light as you do.

Date: May 25, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Missed Connections
"Although you raise interesting questions about university-wide space allocation in your post above, how in tarnation does the issue relate to CoB and Dean Doty? "

The other Deans have balls the size of english peas. That's how!

Date: May 25, 2005

One of the main reasons it is going to be a mess is that several of my classes are 15 minutes apart. Parking is horrible enough just to do it once or twice a day but this could mean being late to a number of classes. To a new student still trying to get oriented it will be a nightmare.

Date: May 25, 2005

i guess where i teach doesn't rate much in my priority list--pretty much a yawner issue. i've taught in almost every major classroom building on campus. the only i haven't taught in are the new theater & dance bldg., johnson science tower, the music bldg., and the polymer science bldg. i've trekked across campus in the heat, the cold, the rain, you name the weather condition (sounds like the postal service!). i know faculty (count me as one) who checks out where they teach about 15 minutes before the first day of class. we had some of these problems just last spring (pre-Ad Astra). as for students, if mine are any gauge, they're pretty adaptable, maybe much more so than faculty. and USM isn't that big of a campus for a walk either.

Date: May 25, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Ad Astra's Risk Manager
"10. Was the new system financed out of the original $1.8 million in savings from the university restructuring that occurred in January of 2003? "

Excuse me but please don't perpetuate this lie. As has been discussed ad nauseum, there was no $1.8 million in savings from the university restructuring that occurred in January of 2003.

Date: May 25, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Stickler for Details
"Excuse me but please don't perpetuate this lie. As has been discussed ad nauseum, there was no $1.8 million in savings from the university restructuring that occurred in January of 2003."

<sarcasm> (hopefully it's allowed still)..

Date: May 25, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"i guess where i teach doesn't rate much in my priority list--pretty much a yawner issue. i've taught in almost every major classroom building on campus. the only i haven't taught in are the new theater & dance bldg., johnson science tower, the music bldg., and the polymer science bldg. i've trekked across campus in the heat, the cold, the rain, you name the weather condition (sounds like the postal service!). i know faculty (count me as one) who checks out where they teach about 15 minutes before the first day of class. we had some of these problems just last spring (pre-Ad Astra). as for students, if mine are any gauge, they're pretty adaptable, maybe much more so than faculty. and USM isn't that big of a campus for a walk either. "

god has spoken./

Date: May 25, 2005

The real issue here is how much this software costs and how much staff time has been put into trying to make it work. Recently I overheard some iTech staff discussing this and the figure mentioned was not in the tens of thousands, but more in the six figure range. There was also discussion about the fact that we continue to put more time, energy and money into something that's not working very well.

Also it doesn't appear that there was sufficient review of the software prior to its purchase.

Date: May 25, 2005

This is not strictly an issue about faculty being "inconvenienced". Many faculty teach in buildings that are not convenient to their office. Moreover, I have been told that you can get used to almost anything except a rock in your shoe. This issue reflects a continuing saga of the Administration blundering from one new wonderful thing to another. There is a routine on campus that faculty and students get used to, such as where the bulk of the classes are held for a discipline. There will be disgruntled students and faculty for sure. There will be mix ups where the equipment necessary for the class is not in the room assigned. There will be too many students for some classrooms because the number on the computer is not accurate for the classroom. If this change were to improve conditions, there would be positive feedback after a few days as students and faculty found the process to be helpful.

However, that will not and cannot happen. Centralization of some tasks always leads to a sub optimal outcome. Colleges have found that to be the case because within colleges rooms are routinely assigned to departments year in and year out. A situation where the room assignments have evolved over time in a college will always be superior to a central system because there is no way a central system can incorporate all of the information involved.

However, this adventure is no different from most others that the administration has perpetrated. Their motto is, "Spend money to create situations that make faculty unhappy". This has two benefits to the SFT administrators. One, it irritates faculty which makes these administrators feel good emotionally. Two, they hope that faculty will complain in a manner that makes faculty look like whiners and complainers who do not want to do their job. This situation is Pareto Optimal for the Administration.

Date: May 25, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Cossack
"Moreover, I have been told that you can get used to almost anything except a rock in your shoe. This situation is Pareto Optimal for the Administration"

"By Your Side" lyrics from Godspell:

"Where are you going?

Where are you going?

Can you take me with you?

...

I'll put a pebble in my shoe

And watch me walk (watch me walk)

I can walk.

I can walk!

I shall call the pebble Dare

We will walk, we will talk together

We will talk

About walking, Dare shall be carried

And when we both have had enough

I will take Dare from my shoe, singing

Meet your new road!

..."

Date: May 25, 2005

From Faculty Senate Listserv:

Lines from the iTech budget needs for upcoming FY:

Ad Astra Room Scheduler Project $132,812.97

Ad Astra Support 27,816.64Source: Documents provided at iTech Advisory Council meeting 5/12/05That yields $160,629.61

Date: May 25, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Cossack
"This is not strictly an issue about faculty being "inconvenienced". Many faculty teach in buildings that are not convenient to their office. Moreover, I have been told that you can get used to almost anything except a rock in your shoe. This issue reflects a continuing saga of the Administration blundering from one new wonderful thing to another. There is a routine on campus that faculty and students get used to, such as where the bulk of the classes are held for a discipline. There will be disgruntled students and faculty for sure. There will be mix ups where the equipment necessary for the class is not in the room assigned. There will be too many students for some classrooms because the number on the computer is not accurate for the classroom. If this change were to improve conditions, there would be positive feedback after a few days as students and faculty found the process to be helpful. However, that will not and cannot happen. Centralization of some tasks always leads to a sub optimal outcome. Colleges have found that to be the case because within colleges rooms are routinely assigned to departments year in and year out. A situation where the room assignments have evolved over time in a college will always be superior to a central system because there is no way a central system can incorporate all of the information involved. However, this adventure is no different from most others that the administration has perpetrated. Their motto is, "Spend money to create situations that make faculty unhappy". This has two benefits to the SFT administrators. One, it irritates faculty which makes these administrators feel good emotionally. Two, they hope that faculty will complain in a manner that makes faculty look like whiners and complainers who do not want to do their job. This situation is Pareto Optimal for the Administration. "

Your analysis is right on target. I hope this story gets legs.

Date: May 25, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Reporter
"From Faculty Senate Listserv: Lines from the iTech budget needs for upcoming FY: Ad Astra Room Scheduler Project $132,812.97Ad Astra Support 27,816.64Source: Documents provided at iTech Advisory Council meeting 5/12/05That yields $160,629.61 "

holy sh*t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Date: May 25, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: disgusted student
"One of the main reasons it is going to be a mess is that several of my classes are 15 minutes apart. Parking is horrible enough just to do it once or twice a day but this could mean being late to a number of classes. To a new student still trying to get oriented it will be a nightmare.

"

Why do you move your vehicle? Park it, leave it, and use you legs. There is NO place on the USM campus that you can not reach via your legs in 15 minutes. If you are disabled, that is a horse of a different color; but even then I have over the years seen many disabled students hoofing it or rolling it across campus to get to their next class.

Date: May 25, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Missed Connections
"Although you raise interesting questions about university-wide space allocation in your post above, how in tarnation does the issue relate to CoB and Dean Doty? "

Mixed Connections, this thread is NOT about CoB and Dean Doty. It is about ROOMS (see the title of the thread). The post that started this thread read, "Have rooms for summer classes been assigned yet? or any word on when they will be? It seems to be getting down to the wire." There is nothing about CoB or Dean Doty in that post. I have noticed that many threads on the message board, for some strange and mysterious reason, were "converted" to CoB matters midway through.

Date: May 25, 2005

look at ad astra's risk manager's post. has doty's name in huge caps. that is the reason, i assume, missed connections raised the issue.

Date: May 25, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Reporter
"From Faculty Senate Listserv: Lines from the iTech budget needs for upcoming FY: Ad Astra Room Scheduler Project $132,812.97Ad Astra Support 27,816.64Source: Documents provided at iTech Advisory Council meeting 5/12/05That yields $160,629.61 "

Reporter: It sounds like this is a budget need for FY 05/06. Do you know what, if anything, has already been spent on Ad Astra?

Date: May 25, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"look at ad astra's risk manager's post. has doty's name in huge caps. that is the reason, i assume, missed connections raised the issue. "

aarm is begging doty to get involved and help get the word out, not turning the thread into a COB thread.

Date: May 25, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"look at ad astra's risk manager's post. has doty's name in huge caps. that is the reason, i assume, missed connections raised the issue. "

Very true, skinky. Missed Connections did raise the issue about CoB and Doty by changing the topic of the thread about mid-way down. But Ad Astra's Risk Managed seemed to be miffed that we talked about the topic for which this thread was established.

Date: May 25, 2005

I for one do not have a problem with having to hoof it around campus to my classes. I had to walk from the LAB to the FAB via constuction projects (detours galore) inbetween locations and barely made it in time last semester. My problem will be that I would like to take the last class for my discipline (History) in CoAL not in the science building. I was under the impression that is why we have separate colleges.