Having wireless networking available everywhere on the main campus and in every student dorm is a good start for us. With every new class of incoming first-years, we are seeing more students with laptops than desktops as laptops become more affordable, portable and powerful. This widespread adoption of wireless should make the College more competitive with other schools that are already doing the same. Of course, there are still issues with reception in some of the dorms, and this isn't a problem that can be fixed easily. Also, due to potential interference, students won't be able to run their own wireless routers. Students currently using them (I'm looking at you, "Halo" players) will have to borrow networking switches from the school to handle multiple network connections.
As far as what I would like to see, I would say that online class registration ranks among the most desirable. This would make registration easier for students, the Registrar's Office and even professors. Any student here can attest that registration can be a grueling process. I've known many students who were unable to get into classes they wanted because they had difficulty tracking down their advisors before a class filled up. I also think that registration is a difficult time for professors, who are not only dealing with starting up new classes but also having to meet with all of their advisees.
Some may think that by implementing an online registration system we will remove much of the student/advisor dynamic present in registration. Ideally, a student would meet up with his advisor and discuss his new classes in a laid-back office meeting. This dynamic can still be retained with an online process. For example, students could be required to have a lengthy discussion with their advisor once a semester. This isn't very different from the current system; it just changes the time that students will actually be talking with their advisors. It also makes the actual meeting more pleasant, as it will most likely occur during a less hectic period of the semester.
We could still require first-years to speak with their advisors for registration, as they often need the most guidance. The door is also still open for students to meet with their advisors during the add/drop period if they have any significant problems. What the online system does is make things more convenient for students who know what they want to take, or who simply need to ask their advisor a simple question over e-mail. The actual registration process would also be much more streamlined and less aggravating for all parties involved.
Students could fill out an online form, perhaps something connected to the new online course catalog. The form would be sent to their advisors for approval, who can ask questions over e-mail or recommend they stop by if necessary. Upon the advisor's approval, the form would then be sent to the Registrar along with a confirmation to the student. Any course additions or drops could be handled in the same way, and requests for classes that need approval could be sent to the relevant professor easily. The Registrar's Office will no longer have to deal with long lines of students or keep track of paper registration slips.
I have many more ideas, but they will have to wait until next year when I will be continuing this column as the IT department's Kermes Fellow. There's a lot happening later this year, from the release of new game consoles to the impending release of Windows Longhorn, and you can be certain that I'll be here to tell the tale.