Eastern is beginning to set priorities and budget requests for the 2004 fiscal year, which begins on July 1, 2003.

The Council for University Planning and Budget met on Friday to hear reports from the departments of the vice presidents. None of the budget recommendations are finalized, and the council did not make any suggestions.

In its report, the business affairs office, which is headed by Vice President for Business Affairs Jeff Cooley, focused on advancing technology.

The current recommendation suggests providing $1.25 million to expanding technology by adding servers, expanding the network infrastructure, installing un-interruptible power sources, installing monitoring and security systems and upgrading hardware and software.

Some of that money, around $340,000, would go towards expanding service to 24-hours-a-day, every day of the year by establishing new positions and providing “machine redundancy” to make sure there is always a machine working properly.

Currently, “there’s nobody to call for assistance after 4:30 p.m.,” Bill Witsman, associate vice president for information technology services, told the council Friday.

The new positions would monitor the Web system and provide after-hours service, Witsman said.

The office also estimated an additional $125,000 for internet connection, which will no longer be provided for free by the state, and $300,000 to establish a utilities master plan to assess the current condition of technology and recommend improvements and replacements to the utility infrastructure.

In another report, the student affairs office headed by Vice President for Student Affairs Shirley Stewart also centered its budget requests around technology.

The office’s number one priority is to establish a new $50,000 position, Web master for student affairs, to oversee the use of technology within the office.

The report also requests $31,730 for hardware and software replacements and upgrades, $20,000 for new imaging hardware and software and $40,000 for resources to help recruitment and orientation efforts.

Stewart requested an additional $8,000 to establish new programs in the area and $35,000 to hire a full-time substance abuse counselor as well.

In the report from the academic affairs office, which is led by Vice President for Academic Affairs Blair Lord, priorities included enhancing the quality of academic programs, increasing enrollment in the teacher preparation field and increasing access and diversity at Eastern.

The report did not provide any estimated costs and Lord said the requests were in the early stages.

In order to enhance academic quality, the report recommended buying additional instructional and technological equipment and hiring extra staff “in areas of highest need.”

The report also suggests providing more sick leave support for teachers.

Other goals of the academic affairs office include creating new program initiatives such as an Education Scholars Program, a Special Education Outreach and Expansion program and Technology Proficiency Programming for Education Majors.

The department also hopes to increase diversity by starting a Web-based accommodations program for persons with disabilities and a summer bridge program for minority students.