When students return to Grounds this fall, they will find three substantial changes to ITC computing labs.
The first-year computer labs located in Dabney and Tuttle residence halls will no longer exist in their present form, and Memorial Gymnasium computer lab will close permanently.
"We have two labs that we are transitioning into laptop lounges with wireless [Internet connections]," said Teresa Lockard, director of computing support services for Information Technology and Communication.
ITC will replace the desktop computers now found in the labs with comfortable furniture and wireless Internet access for laptops. Students will receive the same Internet access supplied in their dormitory rooms and library computer labs. Printers will remain in the labs for student use, but students without laptops must use other ITC labs to print.
First years whose laptops contain wireless Internet cards can sign on to the Internet in the lab automatically, and laptops without wireless Internet cards can plug into the wall for access. ITC no longer will provide for the use of desktop computers in these two labs, and students will not be able to check out laptops at these locations.
The change "is to encourage the use of laptops around Grounds," Lockard said. "We are hoping students will see this as a positive move forward."
Last year, ITC saw a dramatic increase in the number of students who brought laptops. About 37 percent of current first years chose to bring a laptop to the University, and over 97 percent of students bring some kind of computer, Lockard said.
The number of students bringing their own computers, and more specifically laptops, prompted the decision to change the labs. In an annual summer mailing to first years, ITC will present the advantages of laptops and essentially encourage students to buy them.
Separately, ITC decided to close the Memorial Gymnasium computer lab this summer because of the small number of students that use it on a regular basis.
"It is a small lab used by a small population of students," Lockard said. "Unfortunately, we don't have the resources to put a lab in every building."
ITC maintains computer labs at central locations on Grounds. A new computer lab will open in Clark Hall when renovations in that building are completed.
"As long as students are unaware of labs closing, they are unable to do anything about it," said Elizabeth Oldach, a third-year Commerce student and Student Council representative. "The only power we have to stop the closings is student support against it."
Cavalier Computers plans to offer five types of Dell computers and five types of Apple computers to incoming first years, three laptops and two desktops from each brand.
"Cavalier in no way pushes one type of computer over another," said Vince Ragland, back to school project manager for Cavalier Computers.
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