I was reviewing a code for a web site I created in 1997 which led me to think about what it was like at the time. The website, the campus-wide calendar of events (http://events.sa.ucsb.edu/), was one of the very first campus-wide web application at UCSB. In reviewing the code, it came to me that codes are artifacts in themselves, revealing not only how the application was developed as well as developers’ environment and abilities. With further investigation, codes do lead to some revelations about the politics, the technologies, the state of the organization at that time as well. In a way, the code in itself has a culture behind it.
Archive for December, 2010
Getting Involved on Campus – a Techie Perspective
As a technologist in student affairs who does not interact with students in my formal position, I envy my colleagues who deal with students everyday. I enjoy my interactions with students and staff discussing about student development, leadership and social issues and so I look for opportunities to be able to be involved with the student affairs community outside my formal technical role.
In my position as an IT administrator in a central department that serves all of student affairs, I get exposed to the business processes of all the departments when implementing or developing web applications and vendor systems. In the course of the projects, the discussions with directors/programmers revolve around business requirements, timelines, funding and resources. On the other side with my technical colleagues, discussions revolve around server/network infrastructures, security, development standards. Unfortunately, discussions about student afairs and student lives in general rarely get discussed. Throughout my career, I have identified opportunities around the campus to see where I could get involved as a non-techie.
Here are some activities I’ve participated in the last few years:
* Serve as organizational advisor for the Filipino-American interest organization and Latino fraternity
* Participate as staff representative for a student led fee committee (http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/sfac)
* Serve as staff representative to student staff divisional meeting
* Review freshman applications for the Admissions department
* Serve as facilitator for summer transition program dedicated towards first generation students (http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/eop/step)
* Serve as member of student resource team (http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/srt)
* Serve as a mentor through a mentorship program
* Provide letter of recommendations and references for graduate schools/jobs
* Participant as a panelist for career development course
My involvement with the programs above are for two reasons: 1) I personally enjoy the experience and 2) I feel the experience provide me with reminders of why I do my job and provides me with a sense of purpose.
Based on your experience, what other opportunities can you recommend?