PVCC Puma Press: April 2006

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	Photo by Janice L. Semmel
	Gary Smith, CIS instructor and Computer Club advisor, Stacey Marx, Computer Club president and Ed Katz, Computer Club member, evaluate a donated computer for the Computer Club's PC 4 U program.
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Dreaming of updating your outdated software, but unhappy with the bite it takes out of your budget?

Now, the PVCC Computer Club offers PVCC students, faculty and staff a less expensive way to update their software while the club earns a percentage of the software sale proceeds to support its PC 4 U program and the Karen O’Dea Scholarship.

Student Select Program

Gary R. Smith, computer information systems instructor and Computer Club advisor, says that this is the first club to sponsor the Student Select Program, which is provided by the consortium of Microsoft, Dell and e-academy.

The program permits PVCC students, faculty and staff to go to the Computer Club Web site at http://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/clubs/computerclub/, click on “Student Select” and purchase a single copy of software for shipment directly to themselves. Students need their student ID numbers and a VISA or MasterCard to complete their purchases while faculty and staff use their e-mail address and a password.

Microsoft titles available for purchase at this time include the following:

• MS Student Select Office 2003 Professional with an Office Professional Plus 2007 license;

• MS Student Select Office 2003 Standard with an Office Standard 2007 license;

• MS Student Select Office 2004 Mac Professional;

• MS Student Select Office 2004 Mac Standard.

Prices for these software titles are $76.75, $63.50, $75.20 and $64.15 respectively plus shipping and handling of either $4.95 for regular delivery or $5.75 for priority. Sales tax does not apply. Individuals receive an e-mail purchase confirmation prior to software shipment.

According to Smith, using the Student Select Program can save individuals as much as 75 percent of the regular software prices of $300 or $150-$300 through other student programs. Software titles featured are used in the Computer Commons and new software releases become available when e-academy automatically posts them on the secure Web site.

PC 4 U Program

The PC 4 U Program makes free refurbished computers available to PVCC students who need them or who are recommended by their instructors for the computers to help them complete assignments at home. Students download form PC4UApp.doc listed at the Computer Club Web site and click on “PC 4 U Program,” complete the form and submit it to Gary Smith for consideration.

The Student Select Program helps fund the PC 4 U Program from sale proceeds. Software for refurbished computers will also be purchased at the discount price using Student Select.

Smith says the community and students donate anywhere from five to six computers each semester. Approximately one third of these computers are usable. They are refurbished and approximately two are made available to students each semester while the unusable computers are scavenged for parts.

Smith says the following donations would be greatly appreciated for the PC 4 U Program.

• Usable computers and licensing information for software contained on them;

• Usable printers and ink or toner cartridges for them;

• Licensed software including anti-virus software;

• Cash contributions to refurbish computers.

Karen O’Dea Scholarship

This semester for the first time since its creation in Sept. 2005, the Karen O’Dea Scholarship will be awarded to a PVCC student. The scholarship was established in honor of the late Karen O’Dea, Computer Club advisor and PVCC faculty member from 1998-2003.

To be eligible for the scholarship, PVCC students must not be members of the Computer Club or computer majors, but they must desire to take a 200 level computer-related course to excel in computer technology. Smith says the scholarship amount totals $225. He encourages faculty teaching 200 level computer courses to recommend students for the scholarship. The application form can be found on the Computer Club Web site by clicking on “Karen O’Dea Scholarship.”

Computer Club Membership

The Computer Club needs and wants more members. Students don’t need computer experience to join the club, but will obtain hands-on experience working on computers, learn computer technology and participate in community service projects. Smith says this experience looks good on a resume.

Stacey Marx has served as Computer Club president since fall 2005 and obtained her certificate of completion in computer software applications. She says she benefits from the club by serving as representative at SLC meetings, participating in community service projects, recruiting club members and publicizing club programs.

Ed Katz, a new student at PVCC and a new Computer Club member, participates in working on computers for the PC 4 U Program. He thinks it’s great that computers are available for students who can’t afford them.

Smith says the Computer Club plans field trips to tour technology facilities such as Blackboard, Inc., and often has professional guest speakers on technology.

Students can join the Computer Club by submitting their information online at http://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/clubs/computerclub/ and click on “How to Join?” Upcoming Computer Club meetings are from 2-3 p.m. in K117 on Mar. 26, Apr. 9 and Apr. 23. If you have questions on the above information, please contact Gary R. Smith at (602) 787-6701 or gary.smith@pvmail.maricopa.edu