$30,000 to spend

[jimmycc]

Good morning,


I was at the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) meeting last night. The GSA is running a surplus of about $30,000. The current administration needs to spend this amount (perhaps not the total amount), and is looking for ideas. A committee has been setup to look into proposals. The committee has to submit their findings very quickly. I am not on this committee, but I have undue influence; the chair of this committee thinks very highly of me.

Therefore, I would like to use my influence to help Baruch, and in particular, the MFE program. Brainstorm over the next few days. See what we are lacking, and post them on this forum; make sure you include the estimated cost, models, and vendor. Do we need software libraries? Do we need a database server or a file server?

The GSA has certain stipulations on the use of this money:

1) This money must be used on capital projects. For example, the money cannot be used for events or any one-time thing. The money needs to be used for things that be used over and over again for at least a few years. Software, servers, etc. are OK.

2) If a project already has funds allocated to it, then that project does not meet the criteria.

3) (This is mine). Think of support/maintenance and keep it simple. I have seen a lot of complex, high tech, advanced systems that have gone belly-up in a year or so because no one paid any attention to support. Let's take an example of a server. If we ask for a IBM AIX server, it may to be complicated for Baruch IT to support. But, if we ask for a server that can be easily supported by IT, then it would last for a while.


I want to send our ideas to the committee by Tuesday evening, October 17. So, brainstorm quickly; otherwise, the money will be spent primarily for the benefit of the Zicklin MBA students.


Jimmy

[alain]

can we ask for a windows server that we maintain?

what about expanding Baruch wireless network to reach our lab?

Equipment for the lab? Whiteboards? Projector?

[jimmycc]

can we ask for a windows server that we maintain?

what about expanding Baruch wireless network to reach our lab?

Equipment for the lab? Whiteboards? Projector?


Of course. This is a great start. But, why maintain it ourselves? Who will remember to backup the data? Where do we store the backup media? Baruch IT should have these facilities in place.

Remember to include costs.


Jimmy

[tim]

Is it possible to put digital recorder in each (or some of) classroom and put all the recorded lectures online?

[Andy]

It's great that we can hopefully get some money to benefit our program.
Is it possible to put digital recorder in each (or some of) classroom and put all the recorded lectures online?
Prof. Stefanica once mentioned that Prof. Neftci uses a tablet that he writes on it and convert the notes to pdf files. This would be a good idea to buy several of those tablets and lend them to the instructor in our MFE program.
I don't know what model of those tablet so I don't have an estimate. Maybe someone taking his class right now can reply.

Here are some other ideas I have
1) Quantnet server fee. Our website serves very special purposes: to promote the Baruch's Financial Engineering MS program, to serve the current MFE students and to act as a gathering place for our alumni. The current cost of running QN is about 150/year. If we expand the capacity, we will need something like $300/year. Given the benefits, can you secure funds for several years, Jimmy ? (I have put some stats on the front page http://www.quantnet.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17)
2) Yearly subscription to several financial engineering magazines (WSJ, Barons, etc)....
3) A commercial-grade printing and copying machine to put in our Quantnet Lab. This would cost a couple of hundred dollars max from Staples.
4) Wireless extender to reach the lab.
5) Fund for promotional items used for our program.


Jimmy, please verify with Prof. Stefanica. He may have put forth the same requests for our Quantnet Lab using other resources and we don't want to waste the little precious resource we have.
If you think some items on the lists are viable, please let me know and I will try to google for some quote and estimates.

Thanks again Jimmy.

[tim]

It's great that we can hopefully get some money to benefit our program.
Is it possible to put digital recorder in each (or some of) classroom and put all the recorded lectures online?
Prof. Stefanica once mentioned that Prof. Neftci uses a tablet that he writes on it and convert the notes to pdf files. This would be a good idea to buy several of those tablets and lend them to the instructor in our MFE program.
I don't know what model of those tablet so I don't have an estimate. Maybe someone taking his class right now can reply.

Hi Andy,
I think prof. neftci is using IBM ( i dont really know what model he is using). Actually, any kinds of pc (even the one that we have in the classroom) can do the same hand-writing input/output function as long as there is a proper software and hardware installed.
here is the link where Prof. Neftic post his class notes. F.Y.I.
www.neftci.com/baruch

My original intent is not to capture the "notes" but the intangible parts of the class. i.e. concepts, ideas, conversations, logic of thinking, etc.
Generally speaking, the words what the instructors "said" in the class not the words what they "wrote". That's why i thought about digital recorder or maybe DV(if it's possible...)

5) Fund for promotional items used for our program.
yeah!! promotional items sounds good. How about T-shirts? we are proud of being in this program so why dont we wear it on?

[jimmycc]

Here are some other ideas I have
1) Quantnet server fee. Our website serves very special purposes: to promote the Baruch's Financial Engineering MS program, to serve the current MFE students and to act as a gathering place for our alumni. The current cost of running QN is about 150/year. If we expand the capacity, we will need something like $300/year. Given the benefits, can you secure funds for several years, Jimmy ? (I have put some stats on the front page http://www.quantnet.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17)
2) Yearly subscription to several financial engineering magazines (WSJ, Barons, etc)....
3) A commercial-grade printing and copying machine to put in our Quantnet Lab. This would cost a couple of hundred dollars max from Staples.
4) Wireless extender to reach the lab.
5) Fund for promotional items used for our program.



Which room is the lab? Is this different from the lounge?


Jimmy

[Andy]

Which room is the lab? Is this different from the lounge?
Jimmy
The room is 6-243. It's a multi-purpose room so you can either call it Quantnet Lab or Quantnet Lounge. Some would prefer the former :mrgreen:
yeah!! promotional items sounds good. How about T-shirts? we are proud of being in this program so why dont we wear it on?
I second Tim's T-shirt ideas. I would proudly wear it as well. We can order shirts (sweatshirt with/without hood as well) that have the words Baruch MFE for the current students....and T shirt with www.quantnet.org on it :) for prospective students that we give out at open house and/or club day.

Jimmy, just give the guys at GSA the list and see if we can get something,...anything

[jimmycc]

so far the list is the following:


1. two servers (Windows)
2. wireless to the QuantNet Lab
3. voice recorders


I could get pricing for #1. What about pricing for #2 and #3?

Don't we need some software or libraries?


Jimmy

[Andy]

Jimmy,
If i have to prioritize, this would be
1) Wireless extender (the signal does not extend far enough to reach the Lab). It would cost around $200. You should contact the IT guys at Baruch and ask for a detailed invoice
2) Laser printers
3) Voice recoders (not sure what that would be used for)
4) Windows server (also don't know what the purpose is)

Instead of 3,4, can we have a Reuter terminal in our lab? It will be much more useful that 3,4 combined?

As for software, can we purchase a Matlab, Visual studio 2005 for our department and every registered student can have a copy? Something like site license for edu?

[nonoah]

if possible, subscription to Risk magazine would be real nice. they are quite expensive. Once even Neftci ask me if I have access to them, I used to when I was working in CIBC years ago. As far as I know, none of the CUNY has subscription (neither online nor in print)

http://www.risk.net/public/showPage.html?page=risknet_subscribe

https://secure.incisivemedia.com/secure/risknet/subscribe/subscribe.html

regards,

Noah

[jimmycc]

Jimmy,
If i have to prioritize, this would be
1) Wireless extender (the signal does not extend far enough to reach the Lab). It would cost around $200. You should contact the IT guys at Baruch and ask for a detailed invoice
2) Laser printers
3) Voice recoders (not sure what that would be used for)
4) Windows server (also don't know what the purpose is)

Instead of 3,4, can we have a Reuter terminal in our lab? It will be much more useful that 3,4 combined?

As for software, can we purchase a Matlab, Visual studio 2005 for our department and every registered student can have a copy? Something like site license for edu?

The Reuters terminal would have a monthly cost - GSA will not be willing to pony that up.

I thought that the dept has Matlab. Visual Studio is too basic; the school should pay for it.

Does the lab have a data port for the laser printer?


think about some textbooks we have in the Newman Library.
================================

Professor stefanica,

What do you have budgeted for the QuantNetwork lounge? We should not duplicate our efforts.

Jimmy

[alain]

I re-thought my wishlist.

- I don't think we really need a server in that room... but we do need a copier/printer (also some amount would have to be budgeted to toners/supplies) we can use. The copier outside the room needs a code and most of the students don't have it.
- Maintenance Fee for Quantnet. I think all us use Quantnet fully. It would be nice to have the hosting paid into the future
- Wireless booster/extender/AP for Baruch wireless network into the Lab/Lounge. I was planning to bring my own router one day but we are not allowed to do that.
- Some more equipment/accessories for the lab/lounge

[juanhuerta]

Another Idea is to start a Financial Engineering day at Baruch, kind of a day full of seminars, talks and panels with
invited speakers, coffe, printed proceedings, awards (like distinguished alumnae)etc.. I think Columbia and
NYU's Courant has plenty of those days.

For those events, costs are defrayed through registration fees. While I know that this would be
a once a year event, perpaps using the 30k as capital seed for the endowment of this Annual event,
might work....


-Juan

[jimmycc]

Remember this has to be a capital investment (no T-shirts and no FE Day), and it should benefit alot of students, not just our MFE students.


1) Thw wireless is a good idea. and it is fairly cheap.

2) the printer may be too expensive. A printer required by Pharos is very expensive.

3) I could ask for a server. We need to sell the idea as having a server to serve web pages/projects for all matriculated graduate students.

4) Risk Magazine is very expensive.



any more ideas.