Lab Management Quarterly Report

Lab Management successfully completed several goals and began one, which focused on increasing improving services at campus computer rooms. Winter Quarter was highlighted by efforts to obtain funding, to provide additional services, and to identify and resolve problems discovered during the Fall Quarter.

Third Quarter Goals

Status: Completed

Ongoing funding was obtained for three of the newest computer rooms: 301B SurgeIV, 1 Olson, and 177 MU (The Station). Usage data indicated that all three facilities have been a major success with utilization at or near 100 percent between 9 AM and 6 PM. Funding was obtained through the Academic Computing Coordinating Council (AC4). An additional $269,000 each year will be provided for maintenance, repair, and equipment cycle funding for all three facilities. The funding, part of the state's grant to the universities called Instructional Technology Funds, will allow each of the rooms to continue to stay open past the 2000-2001 fiscal year. Original funding was provided on a one time basis to create and operate the two open access facilities and one computer classroom. The one time funds would have been completely exhausted before December 2000.

Status:In Progress

Progress continued on the renovation of the 307 Surge IV computer room. Previously operated as a mac computer classroom, the facility is intended to reopen as an open access room. The physical dimensions and the room's general environment was not considered suitable as a classroom by many of the faculty. With 1 Olson serving as a new mac computer classroom, 307 Surge IV was closed in Fall 1999. Scheduling delays in Fall 99 and part of Winter 2000 have delayed the completion of the project which is now set for April 2000. Seventeen computer stations and one high speed printer will be available to the campus community when the facility opens. The room will operate as an open access lab and will not be reserved for classes.

Status: In Progress

Lab Management continued to work on expanding New Media services to the campus. Two projects began in the Fall Quarter to expand services for both digital audio and video production. The installation of a new digital video editor was completed during the quarter. The editor is intended to replace an older video editor and meet the growing demand for video editing equipment from both the general campus community as well as the growing number of academic classes utilizing video editing and other video projects as a part of their curriculum.

Construction on a new digital audio editing room for faculty, students, and staff is scheduled to be completed by the end of Spring Quarter. This room will provide the ability for audio digitizing, manipulation and editing for clients as well as music composition, editing and creation. Currently, there are no audio editing hardware and only basic software available to the general campus community.

Status: Completed

Lab Management periodically surveys both student and faculty clients. In Winter 2000, Lab Management completed a survey of a thousand randomly selected student clients who used Lab Managment facilities in Fall 1999. Over 348 responses were compiled. The survey (http://lm.ucdavis.edu/pubs/survey/student_w00.html) indicated that over 72 percent of the respondents utilize the facilities to print. Of those surveyed, 85 percent already owned a computer with nearly 90 percent primarily owning a Windows based PC. Despite their indication of a need to print, nearly 80 percent of the respondents already owned a printer. A majority expressed that the best way to improve services was to have more computers available for use. Surveys are intended to draw a picture on how to better meet client needs and improve services.

Status: Completed

During the Fall 99 Quarter, many problems were discovered in the operation of Mac computer classrooms. Resources were committed in Winter 2000 to research the issues and resolve numerous problems discovered in the installation of a new operating system in conjunction with the installation of new iMac computers. Staff and student consultants tracked the problems encountered during classes. Technical staff attended regular academic classes to discover the nature of the problems. During the quarter, software restore procedures and mac operating system software were modified. This seemed to have resolved a majority of the problems. Though faculty have expressed their thanks on resolving the problem, Lab Management continues to monitor the situation closely. In an attempt to determine future solutions, the newest operating system, Mac OS9, was installed in the TB114 open access facility.

Lab Management intends to complete all work towards the renovation of the 307 Surge IV facility and open it for campus use next quarter.

Comments: pgblando@ucdavis.edu URL: http://lm.ucdavis.edu/pubs/labrep/winter2000/ Last updated: April 28, 2000