Increasing resources in times of budgetary constraints

Abstract

Institutions of higher education are being continually pressed with shrinking financial resources on one side and increasing costs on the other. These pressures can prove insurmountable when the demands of researchers as well as a highly competitive job market are taken into account. One of the costs associated with higher education is software availability for research and instruction. The increasing complexity of instructional and research demands often means that expensive software programs be purchased; software that can easily deplete a department's or campus' budget. This realization may prompt administrators to pursue a one-size-fits-all mind set and acquire software that is used by many than by the few with the result of curtailing or limiting research. Despite the bleak financial situation of the institution, faculty, staff, and students at Indiana University have a choice in selecting from a wide variety of statistical and mathematical programs. Moreover, the University community can purchase or lease these packages at a cost far below that of the standard educational discount offered by many vendors for home and or office use while at the same time receiving installation and computing support. The presenters will share how a truly multi-campus software distribution method was developed and implemented, including the program's success, which saves millions of dollars annually for the University.