Thursday marked the grand re-opening of Broussard Hall and theunveiling of its technological renovations. This semester, the dormbecame the home of the Information Technology Residential Collegeafter Graham Hall was demolished this summer.
“Technology is such an important skill,” DeboraBaker, director of Residential Life, said. “We knew it had abroad appeal [to students]. It’s a chance to work withstate-of-the-art technology.”
Baker said Broussard Hall’s central feature, thecourtyard, already was in place, which gives it a feeling similarto a typical residential college such as one at Oxford Universityor Princeton University.
During the year of renovations, Broussard Hall also experienceda dramatic technological makeover.
Improvements include wireless Internet access in the residentialcollege’s vicinity, 24-hour computer lab access and twohigh-tech, or “smart” classrooms, with equipmentincluding interactive Smartboards, digital cameras, scanners andprinters.
Located in the front of the classrooms, Smartboards, orelectronic interactive boards, are large, touch-screen computerscreens, which classes can use as a type of modern chalkboard.Smartboards also aid in keeping the classroom relationship betweenstudents and instructors strong by projecting the Internet andother computer programs onto its screen from another computer inthe room. The students can follow along on their personal laptops,which they are required to have to be enrolled in the residentialcollege.
The program offers freshman-level English and ISDS courses toincoming freshmen who are qualified for English 1001. But thesecourses are taught with a technological twist.
Sandy Granger, an instructor responsible for academics in theI.T. College, incorporates technology usage into her English 1002classes.
“The class is making Web sites comparing my generation andthe students’ generation,” Granger said.
Granger said her class focuses on 20th century composition anduses programs such as Microsoft Power Point and programs thatcreate Web pages as alternative mediums of expression.
Lorenzo Williams, a computer engineering freshman, said thecollege also has revamped its personnel resources as well as itstechnological assets.
“People in the residential college can help you if youhave any problems,” Williams said. “Time is precious.You have a professor downstairs to help you every day.”
Williams said live-in technical support aides, known asInformation Technology Assistants, have floor hours and can helpstudents with their technology questions.
Baker said the college will be housed in Broussard Hall for twoyears, until Graham Hall is rebuilt. It will then move back toGraham Hall.
Baker said the program currently is available to incomingfreshmen for a one-year term, but in 2006, the college probablywill become a two-year program.