Students entering Randolph Community
College this fall will have several new advantages thanks to numerous
updates made to computer hardware, software and other learning
aids completed in the last few months.
Randolph Community College has purchased 164 new computers running
the Windows VISTA platform, added Office 2007 software, upgraded
the College's bandwidth for Internet and e-mail access, purchased
new servers for several areas, and adopted new security measures,
according to Tara Williams, director of computer services and system
administrator for RCC. Many of the upgrades have been completed,
but the Computer Services support staff will be working between
the summer and fall semesters to complete installations in several
computer labs.
The College has spent over $136,000 for hardware purchases and
around $42,000 for software in general labs and offices alone,
in addition to upgrading instructional equipment in many areas.
Williams said they replaced older computers with Dell Optiplex
745 Small Form Factor computers. "We chose those because they
are a little smaller to free up some desk space for classes such
as English, accounting and office systems," she noted. The
machines have 80GB hard drives with Pentium D processors, 17-inch
flat panel screens, and run the VISTA Business operating system.
In addition, most student computer labs, faculty and staff offices
have been upgraded to run Microsoft Office 2007 Professional software.
Rebecca Davis, RCC Help Desk coordinator, has been conducting training
classes for faculty and staff this summer on the new software,
which Davis termed as "a lot more user friendly." In
addition, the North Asheboro Center, which is used for Basic Skills
classes, was given a total facelift, said Williams, with 12 new
computers and new furniture.
The older computers, which were coming out of warranty, were reallocated
to some faculty/staff offices, maintenance and support staff who
were using even older machines.
Several Apple Macintosh computers were replaced in the photography
and design labs, according to Matt Dixon, network administrator
and Apple technician. He said they also replaced a leased server
system in the design lab with a local server that will allow the
photography, graphic design and interior design programs to swap
files and will ultimately save the College about $60,000 in leasing
fees.
Williams noted that RCC has renewed its commitment to Campus
Cruiser,
an educational portal software for colleges and universities which
gives RCC students access to a free e-mail account, class and campus
announcements, a place to connect to instructors and classmates,
and the ability to register and buy books online. In addition,
a new online learning tool has been added for fall, SMARTHINKING,
a free around-the-clock tutoring service providing real-time assistance
in math, chemistry, bilingual math, organic chemistry, biology,
anatomy and physiology, economics, finance, accounting, and statistics.
Writing support is also provided through the online writing lab.
Randolph has updated several backside systems, including new Novell
servers for the instructional labs and for administration. The
college also upgraded the bandwidth available for Internet and
e-mail systems, moving from a T1 line to a 10MG line, and is adding
separate Internet access through TimeWarner Cable for student wireless
and the public areas of the library.
Security and backup measures were also addressed. "We now
have a disaster recovery system in place," said Williams,
so a fully functional server is ready to use for important student
data systems if something happens to the first server. "We
have adopted a security baseline for the North Carolina Community
College System, and RCC has implemented that baseline," Williams
said.
RCC's fall registration will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday,
Aug. 14 and 15, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Students should contact the
Information Center, 336-633-0200, prior to those dates to complete
an admissions application and other essential paperwork.
