Proposal

We seek funding to substantially enhance the technology available for students by providing more computers in the teaching labs. The chemical prep rooms also have out dated computers available for inventory or use by graduate students in labs and need upgrading.

The project Goals are:

1)  To provide additional equipment for students and Teaching Assistants to review and enhance more experiments that are challenging and pertinent to today’s research climate and coincide with the University Quality Enhancement Plan incentive of expanding research and inquiring opportunities into the curriculum.

3) To provide training to FAU graduate students on advanced equipment used in experimental and research labs.

To accomplish these goals, this project specifically seeks funding for the following:

1) To purchase new computers to expand the lab facility capability and replace outdated machines.

2)  To purchase new software essential to conducting new experiments and to keep pace with current trends in education for a modern educational institute.

The details and benefits for each of these initiatives are provided below:

1) Enhances the General Chemistry 1 & 2 lab computing capabilities by installing new computers to replace outdated computer ones.

2) By working in the Chemistry 1 & 2 labs the students are exposed to new advances in real research and lab work that enhances their college career and prepares them for advanced study or research. A

5) How is this project aligned with the Strategic Plan?

The project is highly aligned with the FAU 2015-2025 strategic plan. Specifically, this project fits with FAU’s strategic plan in the following ways:

GOAL 4 - QUALITY – The addition of more computers in the General Chemistry teaching labs will provide a greater experience to the students who will be able to perform virtual experiments themselves instead of sharing computers with 4-6 students. By improving student performance in lower-division chemistry courses, through implementation of integrated computer based technology, we expect to improve the retention of concepts and problem solving that is essential to a higher success rate in the chemistry core courses. This will be realized in the greater graduation rate of “first-time in college” students.

GOAL 5 – National Reputation for Excellence.  In order to build world class academic programs in the General Chemistry teaching labs, students must be able to “Visualize Chemistry” with enhanced computer interfacing technologies which are prevalent in most high level corporations and research facilities. Teachers will be able to access other on line experiments which are available to enhance and expand the required curriculum for the chemistry lecture and lab.

GOAL 6 – Wise and Innovative Allocation of Resources.   The computer equipment and software outlined in this proposal builds upon FAU’s strategic plan’s sixth goal, by modernizing our core level courses to help our students be competitive in the market place. This will boost FAU’s IT infrastructure by providing equipment to train students and faculty in the use of the latest equipment software and programs.

This project also requires 5 new desktop computers with 24” monitors for Teaching labs use. All hardware will comply with IRM standards.

We envision purchasing all 5 desktop computers from Dell. The Optiplex 9020 with Standard power supply, Windows 7 Professional, 64 bit, English. Based on a quote from Dell prepared on 30^th October 2015, quote # 718107338 by Dell Online sales.

 Cost per computer is $770.57 for a total of $ 3852.85 

unit price: $179.99  for a total of $899.95

One time installation set up and ghosting for all computers as well as standardizing software for virtual experiments should be covered by OIT college of science employee.

We would like the computers to be ready and available for use at the start of fall semester 2016. If funded we will install all hardware and software during the summer 2016 semester.