Longer computer lab hours call for changes in Arts & Sciences building

As you may have noticed, two roll-down gates have been installed on the second level of the Arts & Sciences building. These gates coincide with the consolidation of the building’s three computer lab classrooms onto one floor. They serve to close off the computer labs from the rest of the building during evening hours of operation.

Up until this semester, a computer lab was on each floor of the A&S building. Now, the three computer labs are all on the second level and are right next to each other.

Once the gates are completely installed, the computer labs that have later hours at Atkinson Hall will shut down, and the labs at A&S will extend their hours.

Dr. Wolfgang, the chief information officer of technology, proposed the idea for the gates to the school of Arts and Sciences last spring. He had been working with various organizations on campus in an attempt to meet some of the students’ requests.

“One of the requests that the students brought forward when discussing the use of the technology fee was the idea of a lab open 24 hours a day. In about three or four years, the library will have 24-hour facilities, but we can’t wait that long. We need them now,” said Wolfgang. “We want the students to know we hear what you’re saying and are making
changes.”

Dr. Wolfgang explains that there is not a new set schedule yet, but rather the hours will be decided on using an as needed basis.

“Very few people use the labs (in Atkinson) until 1 or 2 a.m. As we see the need, we will expand the hours as best as we can,” said Wolfgang.

The new gates also provide more security during the evening hours by allowing only one entrance into and one exit out of the labs. The rest of A&S will be completely blocked by the gates. Soon, the workers at the labs will have radios as well as telephones that communicate directly with Public Safety. Dr. Wolfgang is working very hard with others to make sure the labs and the occupants are safe.

On security, Wolfgang said, “The location of the labs is fairly good. We will work with the GC&SU police to make sure even the walk from the residence halls to the labs is safe. We want a safe and careful environment, and prevention is a big aspect.”

Dr. Patterson, dean of Arts and Sciences, notes the many benefits of the consolidation.

“Costs to run the labs are kept lower by joining the labs because now one person can watch all three labs at one time, due to the windows that connect them. We left the projection systems in the old computer labs so now those rooms can be multimedia classrooms,” said Patterson.

Yet another benefit of the new lab locations and the gates is their actual location in the building. Cindy Diaz, administrative assistant to Dr. Wolfgang, explained how they are handicapped accessible, and restrooms and telephones can still be reached at the front of the building even when the gates are blocking the rest of the building.

The new labs are in rooms 254, 255, and 271 and are all connected by doors and windows. There is always an assistant there to help students.

Rajat Damani, an employee at the lab, said, “I will help students with anything they need. I can even assist them with computer software such as Word or Power Point.”

Although the labs won’t initially be open on the weekend, Russell Library offers several computers that can be used for Galileo and other Internet research purposes.

Students can expect to see the use of the gates within the coming months.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 5 2001. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry