The Academic Achievement Center (AAC), currently located in LIB 227, is switching rooms with the computer lab in OCB 304.
Steve Storkel, computer lab supervisor, said the old lab location housed 85 computers. In LIB 227, there will be room for 32. He is uncertain of what effect the change will have on students.
Jeffrey Merritt, director, AAC, said the change will be good for the AAC.
“We’ve needed more space for some time and it’s going to allow us to offer some additional services,” he said.
In particular, Merritt said, the AAC will be equipped to offer more services to students on a drop-in basis.
Computer labs will open for the fall semester next Monday, August 20. For lab hours and locations, click here. The website is updated to reflect this location swap.
Update, August 15, 11:09 a.m.: Larry Reynolds, dean, Communications, explained why the AAC will fare better in OCB 304.
“The space [in LIB 227] has always been somewhat cramped, and really kind of limited what we could do and how we could serve students,” he said. “So we wanted to kind of think about that process and how we might do that.”
Shannon Ford, director, Academic Technology Services, said with wireless access now updated campus-wide, the emergence of tablets and the AAC’s need for a larger space, downsizing the computer lab would be the best plan.
“It seems that the trend in general for higher ed is to move away from large, wired, open labs in favor for more of a mobile resource for students,” he said.
Ford said from general usage of the lab, the other computer areas on campus will be able to pick up overflow. Some additional computers from the former lab in OCB 304 will be moved to the Library, and some to the new AAC location.
In the past, the AAC has offered credit classes to help students be successful. Reynolds said the room switch will allow for more assistance on a drop-in basis.
“In essence, we’re trying to make the AAC a place where if a student has an academic issue they can come see us, and we’ll be happy to help them,” he said. “In order to do that, we need the space.”
Compiled by Mackenzie Clark, mclark68@jccc.edu