University of North Alabama - Diorama Yearbook (Florence, AL)

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The big step forward Total automation puts UNA ahead UNA students, faculty and staff are see- ing some major technological devel- opments that will continue over the next two years, according to G. Garry Warren, dean of information technologies. Approval was granted for the total automation of the campus by the Board of Trustees on December 2, 1992. One of the major functions of the new system is to permit students to register for classes by telephone. Other expected bene- fits of the automation are voice and elec- tronic mail capability, interactive video and teleconference drops, and distributed access to electronic records and databases. Plans for several faculty computers, a general purpose computer laboratory, financial software and two computer pro- grammers are being finalized, Warren said. As a consequence of this new capabili- ty, said President Robert L. Potts, students and faculty at UNA will have access to infor- mation and data on a equal basis with their counterparts at any other progressive insti- tution of higher education in the United States. According to Warren ' s memorandum, 43 Macintosh and MS-DOS personal comput- ers, several printers and two modems are being installed in faculty offices. An academic general purpose computer lab has opened on the second floor of Collier Library which includes 30 personal computers (Macintosh and MS-DOS) and eight printers. ...UN A will have access to information on an equal basis with any other progressive institution in the United States. Installation of an upgraded university mainframe computer is being completed. Warren said the replacement is needed due to maintenance problems and the increased power needed for the new software and database loads. The university-wide Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Committee made recommendations for the project, based on studies of academic and administrative computing and automation needs. The academic computing study commit- tee did a superb job of analyzing and reporting campus-wide computing needs which crystallized a great deal of thought and discussion on this matter, said Potts. The campus automation is being funded through a 20-year low rate of interest on municipal revenue bond rates. UNA received an A rating for a $3 million bond issued by Moody ' s Investors Service, Inc.. The university achieved a highly competi- tive interest rate on the bonds and sold them all the first day they went on the mar- ket. According to Potts, The costs for this issuance were appreciably lower than those achieved by many other academic institu- tions which had larger bond issues and should have had lower costs. by Laura Jane Jenkins Getting a feel for the system, Lisa Cox tries her hand at one of the new computers on the second floor of Collier Library. The center is a real asset to students working on class assignments. Photo by Lary Akers. Faculty volunteers Dr. Bob Young and Dr. Bob Foster help students with the finer points of the new computers ir Stevens Hall. Photo by Shannon Wells. I? Stadaa i(e

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One big family... Greek reunions were a big part of Homecoming. Sigma Chi and other fraternities and sororities, current and inactive, held parties for their alumni. Brad Hill, Lee Clark and Partick Key browse through the annals of Sigma Chi history. Photo by Shannon Wells. (Continued from page 1 4) other unregistered groups stepped in to replace entries that had to cancel due to the weather. Dr. Jones said that he was proud of the whole community. When weather forced the Pep Rally and Saturday ' s luncheon (scheduled for the amphitheatre lawn) indoors, that same can-do attitude came through. The whole staff pitched in to make the necessary last minute changes, Jones said. Finding a silver lining, Mauldin said, Even though it was bad we couldn ' t be outside, it was good to have the warmth of everyone under one roof. There were grads from the ' 40 ' s and current undergrads all there together. It really felt like a big fami- ly. At Saturday ' s game the number one- ranked Lions routed the Livingston Tigers 65-15. The 65-point score and the 31 -point second guarter both broke school records. The total nine touchdowns tied the school record for touchdowns in a single game. For the first time in school history UNA ran its record to 8-0. Running the option to perfection, Cody Gross helps boost the Lions ' lead over the Livingston Tigers which ended with a final score of 65-15. The game was just one more step on the Lions ' road to the playoffs and a perfea regular season. Photo by John Cahoon. A record number of alumni Brentwood Reid. turned to their alma mater and didn ' t seem to mind the weather. Photo by StudtMt i(e 17

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r. Lee Allison ' s work is really piling up on him. Thiity-five computers were delivered to the University entei ' s gome looni. whuh is now the Atddemn Resource Center. Photo by Shannon Wells . New Academic Resource Center gives students an edge by Kristi Gooch There ' s been a big change at the University Center game room. The sounds of clacl ing billiard balls and pinging pinball machines have been replaced by the humming of computers as the Academic Resource Center has become a reality. Twenty-five IBM comput- ers and ten Macintosh computers plus a knowledgeable staff are in place to help students with their studies. The ARC was created to provide a single focal point for coordinating remedial and academic enrichment programs for students. Alice Dill is the director of this tremendous undertaking. She also serves as a coordinator for faculty members who will be volunteer- ing in the ARC. She spent the past summer visiting a number of other universities who are already successfully operating similar cen- ters. She absolutely believes that the new center is of great benefit to the students. Our mission is three-fold, Dill said. First of all, self-help programs are available on the computers; software recommended for the textbooks are accessible, and there ' s software for writing papers, speed-reading, and reading comprehension. Secondly, the ARC serves as a primary point of contact for students and faculty. The students will be able to meet teachers in a relaxed way, Dill said. Faculty volunteers are there to aid students who need assistance. Thirdly, student tutors are available. Wanda Gholston is head of the tutoring program for the ARC. One area in the resource center is designated for the specific purpose of student tutoring. Once tutors are assigned, students can meet with them in the center rather than the library. Students can work one-on-one with other students for help with their more difficult classes. Also honors students can work with their peers and use the enrichment computer programs. Dill said, It ' s more than just a computer lab. Diligent work and research have gone into transforming the game pit (with its recessed floor) into a pit stop along the road to academic success. Studatt Ji t 19