Quick
Facts
The Learning Assistance Center
occupies space that, from
1970 to 1983, was the College's
first Learning Resources Center.
When the LRC moved to its
new building in February 1983,
part of the former LRC space
was converted to classrooms.
Remaining space was used for
the college's computer operations.
In the summer of 2000, Computer
Operations moved to new quarters
in the Balsam Center, and
plans were drawn for the Learning
Assistance Center. Renovation
of the Learning Assistance
Center space began at the
close of Spring Semester classes
in May 2000. Work was completed
in time for the beginning
of Fall Semester classes in
August 2000.
Renovation included adding
three offices outside the
LAC -- two for instructors
and one for the Director of
Developmental Education. The
LAC space includes an office
for the Coordinator of the
Learning Assistance Center,
an 875-square-foot Computer
Lab, two 550-square-foot classrooms,
six enclosed study carrels,
and a Commons Area. Total
space is 3,200 square feet.
Funds for renovation of the
Learning Assistance Center
were provided by Jackson County
through the Annual Capital
Appropriations. Total cost
of renovation was $142,000.
Western Builders, Inc. of
Sylva was the primary contractor.
Funds for computers, classroom
workstations, computer lab
workstations, study carrels,
chairs for classrooms and
computer lab, and furniture
for the Commons Area were
provided by a Title III grant.
Funds for reading, math,
and English software programs
were provided by a Perkins
Grant.
Funds for an evening Learning
Assistance Center consultant
also were provided by a Perkins
Grant.
| Facility
Design Specifications |
| • |
3,200 total square feet
(classrooms 550 square
feet each, laboratory
875 square feet). |
| • |
Over 80 newly designed
learning spaces. |
| • |
Indirect, non-glare
lighting in classrooms
and laboratory. |
| • |
Two 24-station computer
classrooms. Computer work
surface units for the
classrooms are constructed
of one-inch square, 16-gauge
steel tubing finished
with an epoxy powder coat
paint. Designed and manufactured
by Interior Concepts,
the units have a unique
two-tiered top design.
Computer monitors are
alternated in the recessed
center of the units to
allow clear sight lines
between students and the
instructor with the writing
or work surface at a height
for normal use. The 'drop-down'
feature puts the monitors
at eye-level for each
student to eliminate neck
strain. Wiring and data
cables for the computers
are enclosed in an interconnecting
passageway, or Chase system,
below the workstations.
Sliding doors provide
easy access to electrical
wiring and data cables.
Computers are stored in
free-standing pedestals
below the work space between
each student work station.
Total cost of the four
workstations was $18,280.
|
| • |
16-station computer
lab. The four-place workstations
in the computer lab also
were designed by Interior
Concepts and constructed
of the same material as
the classroom stations.
Dividers provide privacy
for individual work; acoustical
front and end panels help
keep distracting noise
to a minimum. All wiring
is stored in an enclosed
Chase system in the center
of the units. Each unit
has a computer and a 96-inch
by 72-inch work area.
Total cost of the computer
lab stations was $8,400. |
| |
Six enclosed study carrels
for individual study and
tutoring. The study carrels
also were designed by
Interior Concepts and
manufactured to space
specifications. Each unit
has a door and large window
and a flat work surface
inside to accommodate
up to three people. Two
of the units are handicapped
accessible. Southwestern
Community College is the
only educational institution
in the state that has
such units. Total cost
of the study carrels was
$12,400. |
Computer Hardware and
Networking Specifications |
| • |
66 Dell Optiplex Gx110
model Minitower PCs |
| • |
3 networked HP LaserJet
Printer |
| PC specifications: |
| • |
Pentium III 667 MHz
CPU |
| • |
64MB of PC133 RAM |
| • |
10GB hard drive |
| • |
40x (or 40 speed) CDROM
drive |
| • |
32 bit SoundBlaster
soundcard |
| • |
Integrated 3com 10/100mb
Network Card |
| • |
17" Dell Triniton
video monitor |
The SCC Computer Center
staff installed all computer
lab PCs with a customized
"clean install"
of Windows 98 downloaded
to each PC from the network
servers using Symatec's
"Ghost" imaging
software. The software
is configured using customized
settings that have been
tested to provide an optimum
balance of functionality,
performance, and security.
Much effort is given to
provide students with
a consistent desktop environment
so that one computer looks,
acts, and feels identical
to others in the same
lab.
The LAC computer labs
are wired together using
Category-5 copper cabling
running through conduits
in the floor to the
first floor "Network
Distribution Closet".
There, the PCs are connected
to three 100MB Cisco
"Catalyst"
workgroup switches.
Those switches are in
turn connected to the
Bay "Excellar"
Enterprise Backbone
switch that ties the
entire Oaks Hall computer
network to the SCC Campus
Gigabit Ethernet Fiber
Backbone.
The Gigabit Fiber Backbone
runs deep beneath the
roads, parking lots,
and lawns of the campus
to connect each building
to the SCC Computer
Center located on the
third floor of the Balsam
Center.
Like all of the Sylva
Campus's file, email
and Internet servers,
the LAC's server is
in the Computer Center
"Server Room"
in the Balsam Center.
File server specifications:
|
| • |
Dell Poweredge 2450
server platform. |
| • |
766mhz Pentium Zeon
Processor |
| • |
512MB RAM |
| • |
Integrated Intel 10/100mb
network card |
| • |
Three 9GB SCSI hard
drives configured in a
RAID 5-configuration for
17Gb total with data redundancy
|
| • |
The NOS is Novell Netware
5.0 for "File and
Print" services |
Staffing
Specifications |
| • |
One full-time coordinator
and learning consultant
(40 hours/week) |
| • |
One part-time evening
learning consultant (12
hours/week) |
| • |
Two part-time work study
assistants (20 hours/week)
|
| • |
Three part-time instructors
in English, mathematics,
and social sciences (22
hours/week) |
| • |
Learning consultant
support provided by one
full-time Reading instructor
|
| • |
Instructional support
provided by one full-time
Science instructor |
| • |
Oversight and support
from Director of Developmental
Education and Developmental
Education Advisory Committee
|
| » Meet
the Learning Assistance Center
Staff |
Programs and Services
Specifications |
| Over 50
hours per week of individualized
instruction from professional
learning consultants;
over 20 hours per week
of individualized instruction
from specialized instructors;
academic workshops offering
small-group instruction
in effective learning
strategies; modern facility
for the nationally certified
peer tutoring program
provided by Student Support
Services; academic skills
review/extension software
for English, reading,
math, information literacy,
and sciences; and more
than 300 text and video
resources for academic
skills review and extension. |
|
