By Jo Zulkowsky
This semester IVCC is completing over $1 million in technology and computer updates including a new software program for all IVCC records, a new SMART classroom in D-225 and a new computer lab for art students.
With Y2K close, the college is close to switching to a new software program that will handle all of the college's records. On Nov. 1, the new system was used for registration,
"We are proud of it and the way things went," said Harold Barnes, director of computer services. "It is working good although there might be a few little things that we still have to adjust."
In December, payroll will be tested before being converted to the new system.
The new software, named Colleague, has been provided by Datatel of California, the second largest provider of software of this type, Barnes said. Colleague is being used by a number of colleges, and before the college chose that program, they not only researched programs, but they visited schools using it and other programs.
IVCC's old system was designed by college employees about 20 years ago, and college offices were on different systems. Colleague centralizes the information and allows a smooth flow of information from one office to another, Barnes said. The new system will reduce the amount of work and time needed to access and check records like degree audits, he said.
Potential Y2K problems also had an impact on buying a new system, Barnes said, although he said he thought the old system might be compliant.
IVCC began investigating a software upgrade in 1994. In Nov. 1997, college officials looked at a number of computer programs, and in March 1998, signed a contract with Datatel. In April 1998, the college sold technology bonds to fund the upgrade.
Work in training and converting to the new system began in June 1998, and continues to be on time, Barnes said. In addition to some off-campus training, a room in building C has been converted for training.
Barnes estimated the total cost, including software, training, travel, and consulting at about $1 million.
He said he would like to thank everyone who has been working on the conversion, reducing the usual installation time from 24 months to 14 months.
"Those who have been directly involved have made a real go of it and have worked hard," he said.
NEW MAC LAB
A Macintosh computer lab in room B-109 has been designed primarily for the art department. Barnes said that Macintosh equipment is the system used by most people in art and graphic design.
Work on the lab, now complete, started in the summer.
"It has taken six months of working to convert a storage room to a classroom," Barnes said.
IVCC maintenance staff completed a major portion of the work
"This lab should have been done sooner," Barnes said. "It has been needed for sometime".
D-225 SMART CLASSROOM
Lecture room D-225 has been converted into a SMART classroom and has been in use for about three weeks.
The room contains three video projectors with screens that project images onto SMART boards. A control panel allows the instructor to project different images, including freezing one while another is being projected, showing videos or computer animations. Instructors can also record their lectures for later use.
Barnes said a review of the new equipment is coming up and although the room is functional, some work is still being completed. In addition to installing the technical equipment, converting the room required the removal of a section of a wall.
Barnes estimated the price tag at between $70,000 and $80,000 and said the primary source was technology bond funding. The room was planned and designed by Melissa Tempelton, director of learning technologies.
"It turned out to be a beautiful room," he said.