CCUMC: The Consortium of College and University Media Centers

College & University Media Review:
A Look at Practices, Trends & Research
Spring 1998 Volume 4, Number 2

• Through the editor's lens,
  Michael J. Albright, Iowa State University
• Re-tooling a small college,
  Sharon Gray, Briar Cliff College

  In 1994, Briar Cliff College, a private institution in Sioux City, Iowa, received a Title III grant to integrate instructional technology throughout its curriculum. Technology has been integrated at three levels—as a productivity tool, a presentation tool, and a pedagogical tool. Factors leading to the success of the program include the development of a technology master plan, the ability to be flexible, commitment to equal access, a standard software platform, a focused faculty development program, supportive and friendly support staff, and a means of encouraging development and rewarding faculty.

• From Teaching and Learning Support Services to...? Organizational changes at the Queensland University of Technology,
  Geoffrey Roberts, Queensland University of Technology

  Following an internal review of the Division of Information Services at QUT in 1996, a new department of Teaching and Learning Support Services was created. This department brought together all the units responsible for educational technology in the division. The merger of smaller departments that are focused on a limited range of technologies is typical of the way many "new" universities are handling the issues that arise from the use of technology in teaching. In 1998, the scope of the new department is being enlarged with the addition of academic staff following the closure of a separate Academic Staff Development Unit. This enlarged role of the department and proposed changes to the structure is seen as an attempt by university management to more closely link academic staff development with the introduction of technology to teaching and learning at QUT.

• The evolution of media services at Eastern Michigan University: A thirty-one year quest for format and service integration,
  Morrell D. Boone, Eastern Michigan University

  Eastern Michigan University opened its new $41 million Bruce T. Halle Library in June 1998. The new facility provided the leadership of Learning Resources and Technologies (LR&T) an opportunity to restructure its services and fully integrate learning technologies and information technology services for the 21st century. The three learning environment-centered defining elements of "the Halle" are Information Services, Multimedia Services, and Learning Technologies. Among the many features of the new facility are a multimedia commons and a faculty commons. A new initiative entitled the Technology and Information Program (TIP) will encourage and support efforts to improve instruction and research through the use of computers and digital technologies. Challenges currently facing LR&T include the need to reallocate and/or reclassify at least 25 of its 84 staff positions, extend the campus network to classrooms, and establish a professionally-staffed instructional development presence.

• Kalamazoo College Department of Information Services: Transition, change, and teamwork,
  Lisa Palchick, Kalamazoo College

  In March 1997, Kalamazoo College created a new entity, the Department of Information Services, by merging its Department of Computing with the Department of Libraries and Media Services. This new department now consists of five functional areas: Library, Administrative Computing, Curricular Support, Systems, and Networking. Information Services builds on a long established tradition of forward thinking at Kalamazoo College.

• Reorganization of Instructional Technology Services: A Syracuse University case study,
  David Tiedemann, Syracuse University

  In 1994, Syracuse University merged its Audio Visual Support Services and Computing Service’s Faculty Support Center to form Faculty Computing and Media Services (FCMS). The core mission of the merged unit was refocused on the support of classroom use of technology, and many services not central to this mission were discontinued. The merger and subsequent success of FCMS were greatly facilitated by a campuswide TQM program and the release of Fiesta Bowl proceeds by the chancellor for classroom upgrades and technology installations.

• Change has been good at Vassar College!
  Carol A. Barnes, Vassar College

  Media Resources at Vassar College was established in 1978 to provide instructional technology services to the campus. In 1986, the department was additionally tasked with supporting extracurricular events with audio services, a function that had a serious effect on staffing, funding, and equipment needs. Media Resources has recently been reorganized under Computing and Information Services, a shift that has resulted in greater integration into the academic mission of the College, improved training opportunities for staff, and stronger advocacy. Vassar is now embarked on a major effort to upgrade classrooms.

• The end of an era for the BUMC,
  Ian Hart, The University of Hong Kong

  The Centre for Media Resources (CMR) at the University of Hong Kong was established in the 1970s as a prototype Big University Media Center (BUMC). When the author became CMR director in 1992, the center had already begun to feel the effects of shrinking university budgets but was maintained at least in part because of its new facilities. The CMR was refocused to emphasize instructional improvement and new technologies, but ultimately it fell victim to university-wide budget cutbacks and was closed at the end of June 1998. In retrospect, the author wishes he had started the process earlier, given his first loyalty to the university, and resisted the pressures for cost-recovery. A discussion paper appended to the article describes reorganization options presented to the HKU administration.

• Review NICEM's AV-Online on Silver Platter,
  Kim Sando, Ursinus College