Northwest Missouri State University - Tower Yearbook (Maryville, MO)

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The big switch Logging on to the Electronic Campus Ti he beginning of a new year always brought something new, whether it was a new room, dorm or roommate. But at the beginning of the 1987-88 academic year, students were faced with some- thing new that would help DEC VT125 Graphic termi- them academically, personal- ly and socially. The Electronic Campus not only aided students in ev- ery facet of their college ex- perience, but it also con- tributed to Northwest ' s plan for improved higher educa- tion. The $3.1 million integrat- ed system provided com- puter terminals in every resi- dence hall room and faculty office. In celebration of the University ' s move into the Computer Age, Gov. John Ashcroft switched on the sys- tem, making Northwest the first public university to offer a comprehensive Electronic Campus. Over 2,000 terminals from two companies. Digital Equipment Corporation and Micro-Term, inc., were pur- chased. Residence hall rooms were equipped with nals that offered spreadsheet graphics, statistical graphics and picture processing. These accounted for about 45 percent of the terminals placed in rooms. Dr. John Mees, vice presi- dent for administrative and student services, said the computers were an asset to students and faculty mem- bers, adding that although the system was new, it had al- ready become an integral part of students ' lives. Students used them quite a bit, Mees said. As things changed and the curriculum required more computer work, usage increased. Students and administra- tors alike felt the com- puter system provided valu- able experience. The Electronic Campus gave Northwest a big advan- tage over other colleges, Rick Williams said. I was disappointed because of the problems with waiting in lines, but 1 knew it would take some time to perfect the new system. Academically, computers offered word processing, spreadsheet and statistical analysis, an on-line ency- clopedia and an electronic calculator. The electronic card cata- log allowed students to find library materials from their residence halls. The system also provided personal services like calendars, telephone directo- ries, and job and scholarship listings. Electronic mail, one of the most popular services, al- lowed students and faculty to send messages to one another, providing social contact. Through the Electronic Campus services, students cut study time and increased their knowledge of compu- ters. The system was funded through state appropriations, private donations and a grant in the form of terminals for --continued Photo illustration by Ron Aipough and Kevin Fuiierton Electronic Campus 1 7

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1 6 Electronic Campus

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The big switch faculty offices from Digital. Also, students financially supported a portion of the project with a slight increase in room rates. I noticed the increase, but I used the computer for my classes and liked the mail system, too, Page Moore said. I thought it helped, be- cause businesses were turn- ing to computers more and more. The computer offered a variety of advantages to stu- dents. An important one was simply the everyday ex- posure to the computer, which made students more comfortable with the technology. In the Information Age, it was vital that stud ents be more than familiar with com- puters, Ashcroft said at opening ceremonies. They had to be comfortable and competent with them. And there was no better way to gain competency than by us- ing computers daily. To even better serve the University, the system was structured around the Digital Equipment Corpora- tion ' s VAX, which allowed the network to expand by adding additional VAX systems. The computer was help- ful with papers, Lara Syp- kens said. It made it faster and gave me more time to do other projects. I had never used a computer before, and I began to feel more comfort- able using one. With a new, exciting Elec- tronic Campus to learn about, students became part of Northwest ' s plan to im- prove higher education. It was a plan to further the University in the technologi- cal world and to better the education program, but it ad- vanced students personally, as well. They learned new ways to study, better ways to write papers and faster ways to retrieve information. It brought them into the tech- nological world, showing them not only how to use a computer, but how to use it t o their advantage. D Suzan Matherne Selling the Electronic Campus How did a university sell a $3.1 million project? At Northwest, the job of selling the Electronic Cam- pus required the work of two offices and over $8,000. Promoting the Electronic Campus began before the first cables were laid. Both the Admissions and Public Relations Offices took part in the campaign. Dave Gieseke, assistant director of public relations, said University students helped with promotions. Ad- vertisements featuring stu- dents with computers were placed in high school news- papers. While promotions were planned by the Public Rela- tions Office, the Admissions Office made sure prospec- tive students received infor- mation on the project. Visiting students were given information pertaining to the Electronic Campus, and admissions recruiters took the message on the road. High school students ' responses to the Electronic Campus were mixed. At first, students were baffled about the capabilities of the Electronic Campus, Dale Montague, executive director of enrollment man- agement, said. They knew the importance of com- puters, but not specifically what the computers could do for them. However, as Northwest ' s computer advantage be- came more widely known, it put the University in a unique position. The Electronic Campus made students realize North- west was up there among the leaders and that it had some- thing really special to offer, Montague said. It was not immediately known what effect the Elec- tronic Campus had on the in- crease in student recruit- ment, but Montague said students generally listed the computers as only third or fourth in their reasons for at- tending Northwest. In an ever-tightening mar- ket for higher education, the Electronic Campus gave Northwest a unique feature to promote among prospec- tive students. The Electronic Campus put Northwest in the spot- light, and through University promotions, the administra- tion hoped to keep it there. D Kevin Sharpe 1 8 Electronic Campus