Technology is very dynamic and very far reaching. It has pervaded all aspects of education from elementary to higher education. Institutions are required to provide for students state-of-the-art, advanced hardware and software in order to ensure that students will be able to compete in the ever changing environment. Campuses extend beyond the perimeters of physical space, and the student pool extends to the ends of the earth and back again. Through technology universities are able to offer classes world wide and to also receive that same instruction.

Seeing that technology needs were not being met, a group of Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge campus) students took it upon themselves to make provisions for ensuring that their degrees would allow them to remain competitive in the workforce. Little did they know that their foresight would change the state of technology for students across the state. With the passage House Bill 2339, the Louisiana State legislature gave every higher education institution the opportunity to advance into the 21st century. The word opportunity is important because the students possess the ultimate decision for the implementation of the fee.

Dr. Robert Hebert, McNeese State University President, formed a technology task force to review the technology needs that faced the McNeese campus. These finding were assembled into a report and presented to Vera LeBrun, Student Government President and Anthony Eaves, Student Government Treasurer. They in turn presented it to the Student Government Association Senate in the Fall of 1997. Allen Joyner, Senate Chair, formed a technology committee to review the technology proposal presented by Dr. Hebert and his committee. The members of the Student Technology Committee included: LeBrun, Eaves, Joyner, Senator Christopher Garrison, Senator Lorne Davison, Senator Eric Broussard, and Senator Chad Thibodeaux.

The newly formed Student Technology Committee formulated an additional proposal which they in turn presented to Dr. Hebert and his committee. The final results are seen here.
The technology proposal is divided into four focus areas: student computing laboratories, network access and electronic services, user support services, and instructional technology and curriculum support. Students will be assessed $5 per credit hour to be capped at 20 hours. The moneys collected from this fee will be held in a restricted account and will be used solely for the purpose of improving Student technology areas.

The following is the written plan agreed upon by the Students and the University upon signature of this agreement by the President of the University and a two-thirds majority vote of the Student Government Association Senate.

Vision Statement
The technology initiatives outlined in the following pages not to be construed as limiting the students in any way. McNeese State University should strive to continually assess the technology needs of the campus and its students. This document is merely a starting point for which the foundations of advancements and improvements in technology should be built.
The vision of this committee is that technology should one day be the means by which the university achieve its primary goal-quality education. Education is not be limited to the traditional means of reaching and learning. The highly advanced society that we live in and that we are moving towards demands flexibility in all areas. Education is not excluded. Students will become accustomed to video conferencing, e-mail communications, and on-line registration and information relaying capabilities. These visions are not beyond reason. They are soon to be considered requirements in order for institutions to remain competitive in student recruitment and retention.

Environmental Context
McNeese State University was founded in 1939 as a division of Louisiana State University. Its mission is to stimulate students to maximum intellectual growth and love of learning. Central to this mission is providing students with the opportunities, resources, and expertise to achieve academic, personal, and career goals within an atmosphere conducive to their total development.

McNeese is dedicated to improving the value of education and life on campus. These technology enhancements must be dedicated to improving the students education and life, not just maintaining it.

In accordance with their mission and their motto "Excellence with a personal touch," McNeese will strive to further educational developments through technology enhancements in accordance with this proposal.