"While previous reports to the Dean of Faculty have examined the use of technology at Amherst, ours is the first committee to investigate the specific issue of technology in the classroom," the report stated.
The discussion centered on whether the faculty felt it was necessary for Amherst to try to keep up with cutting edge technology, or, if not, what areas needed improvement.
"Some will find it of no use, others have already put it to use, but most are not sure," said Assistant Professor of Computer Science Scott Kaplan '95, assessing the faculty's position.
"I don't think we're going to become a leader in the area of technology any time soon but that doesn't mean we can't move," said Professor of Political Science Tom Dumm.
Some faculty worried that Amherst could not keep up with the pace at which technology is changing. "The 'computer in every pot' response will prove to be a financial sink," said Professor of Philosophy Alex George. "We'll always want to have the best; we won't want people to come and see our computers rusting away."
Most of the faculty agreed that an increase in technology staff should be a priority. "I now need to acquire a new skill," Professor of English Rhonda Cobham-Sander said. "How am I going to master that material?"
"Staffing is more important than equipment," Associate Professor of Computer Science John Rager said. "We need to be able to say, 'This is what I teach and this is the problem spot. How can technology help me?' That staff has to be there and has to be heavily trained."
Associate Professor of Computer Science Catherine McGeoch said that although Amherst could benefit from an increase in technology staff, our current personnel is already strong. "Amherst College is blessed-we should kiss the ground every day-with the quality of staff we have here."
Professor of Classics Frederick Griffiths noted most faculty members at the optional meeting were young, and said that indicated who among the faculty cared most about technological advancement. "[Interest in computer technology] doesn't correlate with field but it does with age," he said.
Some faculty voiced concern over where the money for advancement was going to come from. "What are they going to cut? Our salaries?" Associate Professor of English and Women's and Gender Studies Michele Barale asked.
Professor of Geology Tekla Harms echoed Barale's sentiment. "They told us they needed to cut $11,000 in geology journals," Harms said. "We had to cut a periodical we've had since volume one. It was $11,000 and I want it back!"
"In and of itself, information technology is not something that is likely to be the object of gigantic philanthropy on the part of those who care about Amherst," Chief Advancement Officer Michael Keifer told The Student.