University Using Computers for the Greater Good

Technology and social responsibility are merging at , where a new initiative is encouraging students to contribute to the greater good.

The Department of Computer Information Systems (CIS) in Quinnipiac’s School of Business has adopted the Information Technology for Good (IT4G) initiative, a growing movement that emphasizes applying information technology to aid social causes.

“This is an emerging value system,” said Bruce Saulnier, professor and chair of computer information systems. “We would like all faculty and students to consider the power they have to make changes in the lives of people struggling to help themselves.”

Quinnipiac’s CIS department has been moving in this direction for several years and decided this spring to take a more coordinated approach.

“Computer information systems are becoming increasingly global, human-centered and focused on solving problems. IT4G combines all those elements and allows students to work for causes they really care about,” Saulnier said.

Already the initiative has inspired projects inside and outside the classroom.

The CIS student club volunteered this semester at the Hamden Senior Center, where students taught seniors how to use Facebook to stay in touch with loved ones.

Craig Alexander, a CIS major from Rye Brook, NY, participated.

“When people hear the word, ‘technology,’ they think of complicated sets of wires, computers and people fixing computers,” Alexander said. “This initiative has been adopted to change that perspective. Technology should be used to make our lives easier and better.”

Abigail Grover, an information systems management major from Marlborough, also taught the senior citizens.

“This is just one thing that we did this semester to help others. It was a small step, but it is the beginning of something new,” she said.

Brad Groarke, a CIS and finance major from Norwood, NJ, said technology tools need to be made more accessible.

“There are so many possibilities for technology to really help out people who need it,” Groarke said. “What good is I.T. if it doesn’t help improve quality of life?”

Some other IT4G-inspired projects at Quinnipiac include Ramesh Subramanian, the Gabriel Ferrucci professor of computer information systems, recently spending a year in Madras, India, studying the development of telecommunications and wireless technologies in developing countries.

This year Wendy Ceccucci, professor of computer information systems, and Richard McCarthy, associate dean of the School of Business, will lead separate groups of MBA students to Nicaragua and China to provide business consulting to developing, rural economies.

Student Andrew McDermott, a CIS major from Ramsey, N.J., hopes the IT4G movement keeps growing.

“Through this initiative, we are able to reinforce what has been taught to us, while giving back to the community, and it’s pretty fun,” he said. “I would recommend that everyone try to apply this program to a field of study.”