Lab Management Quarterly
Report
First Quarter (7/1/2000 - 9/28/2000)
Lab Management successfully
completed several goals set out for the first quarter of the 2000-2001
fiscal year. These goals focused on increasing and improving the services offered
by campus computer rooms. Summer months are typically dominated by activities
associated with computer room renovations and preparations for the start
of the academic year in Fall. This year, the unit completed four of the
six goals set at the start of the quarter.
First Quarter Goals
1. Renovate facilities in
301A Surge IV, TB114, and the MU Station
Status: Completed
Lab Management successfully
completed the renovation of the TB114 and MU Station open access facilities
during the summer months. The renovation in TB114 included two new quick
access stations to accommodate more users during peak hours. Several
changes were made in the Station to improve traffic flow through the
highly utilized computer room. Six group work areas in the Station were
converted into four standup stations and two regular sit down stations.
These renovations were intended to address high demand for computers
on campus. Changes in the Station included moving the printers, moving
and redesigning the computer room consultant area, and establishing
a waiting area to improve traffic flow.
In addition, major renovations
were completed in the 301A Surge IV computer classroom. The large
and extremely noisy air conditioning system was removed and a quieter roof mounted
HVAC unit was installed. In addition, the room's entry
way was moved in preparation for a room redesign to improve spacing
between stations, teacher accessibility to the students, and traffic
flow in and out of the room. These changes, though initially planned
for the summer, were rescheduled for next summer to avoid construction
delays that may conflict with Fall classes.
2. Upgrade equipment in
six computer rooms
Status: Completed
As part of a planned three
year equipment cycle, Lab Management completed the computer upgrades
in three computer classrooms located in 241 Olson, 301A Surge IV, and
163 Shields. Older equipment from these rooms, as well as equipment
from the 1154 Meyer upgrade which occurred in June 2000 were transitioned
to the TB114 and 301B Surge IV open access facilities. The retirement
of older equipment from the computer rooms helps to extend the useful
life of equipment and reduce the cost of supporting open access facilities.
In addition, a new projector
system was installed in the 1131 Meyer PC computer classroom. The upgrade
is the first in an effort to bring the projector system in computer
classrooms to match those systems in regular classrooms in order to make computer classrooms easier to use.
3. Upgrade software in all
computer rooms
Status: Completed
During the summer, all computer
rooms received software upgrades. Mac based computer rooms received
an operating system upgrade to OS9.04. PC based computer rooms received
Microsoft Office 2000 upgrades. The operating system upgrades for Mac
improved system reliability while the Office upgrades provided new functionality
as well as providing FrontPage 2000 for web page design and Internet
Explorer 5 for web browsing.
4. Hire and train student
staff for the 2000-2001 academic year
Status:Completed
Lab Management hired over
a dozen new student staff and conducted its week long boot camp training
program in the third week of September. More than 80 veteran and new Lab
Management student staff members participated in the program. Six career staff
along with several veteran student staff members organized and conducted the
training classes. This year, student staff members from other Information Technology
units took part in the training activities. Dr. John Bruno, Vice Provost
of Information and Educational Technology, addressed the group during
the week.
5. Review and modify
Lab Management mission and goals
Status: In Progress
Lab Management began its
yearly review and goal setting during the summer. A rough outline of
goals were completed along with a slight modification of the mission
statement. Lab Management expects to complete and publicize its yearly
goals by the end of the second quarter.
6. Transition surplus equipment
to other campus departments
Status: In Progress
As part of an effort to increase
the useful life of computer equipment retired from computer labs, Lab
Management transferred 136 pieces of equipment to 13 departments throughout
the campus this summer. The list of equipment transferred at no cost
includes seven high speed printers and 82 computers. The equipment is
between four and five years old and has served most of its life in highly
utilized public computer rooms. Lab Management typically retires equipment
at the end of its third year of service to keep technology current in
its 15 computer classrooms, open access labs, and media rooms. Other
departments often send requests for the surplus equipment to replace
much older equipment in their departments or augment their existing
inventory. Efforts continue to dispose of approximately 55 other pieces
of equipment. Since there has been no interest from university departments,
Lab Management is investigating a way to transfer the equipment to
local schools.
Lab Management completed four
of the six goals set for Summer 2000. During the Fall 2000 quarter, the
unit intends to complete the process of setting its fiscal year goals
and begin the planning process for major renovations through Summer 2001.
Major efforts in Fall 2000 may also be dedicated to operational changes
due to the reorganization of its parent organization which began on July
1, 2000.
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