The Faculty Senate Questionnaire is an addition to an active, ongoing discussion in the School of Architecture regarding information technology for a number of years. Much of the discussion has been channeled through chairs at the departmental level or through the School's Computer Committee, which represents the concerns of the four departments of the School. This Committee advises the Chairs and Deans on the use and acquisition of information technology and has tended to be the catalyst of the discussions. To date, with a few exceptions, the intellectual climate of the faculty is quite positive regarding the application of this technology to the pedagogical and research mission of the School.
Opinions differ concerning the scope and nature of the task.
Some faculty have offered mini courses for their colleagues to bring them up to speed on certain applications. A concerned core of about ten faculty have tended to lead - most of these have served on the Computer Committee. The Senate Questionnaire was distributed to all faculty by e-mail and hard copy. Those responses received were all thoughtful and comprehensive. This reflects the previously mentioned situation in the School of a concerned core that tends to initiate dialogue and implementation, while others follow.