Academic Technology Services (ATS) is a service-oriented division whose main responsibility is to assist the transformation of the pedagogy in the teaching/learning environment. The functions of the department can be placed into several categories: support for instructional design and preparation of material, support for classrooms with technology (equipment), faculty training, and renovation of classrooms. In short, ATS provides faculty with the training and support to use new technologies that enhance classroom instruction.

We are located in Charles L. Cotrell Learning Commons. The Center for Intructional Technology (formerly the Faculty Instructional Technology (FIT) Lab) is open for faculty use from 7 am to 10 pm Monday through Thursday and 7 am to 5 pm on Friday. The Faculty is a work area which faculty can use to incorporate technology into the classroom. The latest hardware and software are available as well as assistance from our highly skilled support team.




A key to instructional technology is training. We provided a wide variety of technology workshops through each semester. Available to faculty, staff, and students, these workshop provide both basic and advanced software skills to the end user. We also welcome large group and one-to-one training sessions. If your department is interested in a private training session, please email Jeff Schomburg to schedule the event.

A lot of planning and energy have gone into the design and renovation of eleven “Smart Classrooms.” The rooms renovated with Title V funds, designed with a projector, multi-media, and electrical power and data outlets for each student, are referred to as “Smart Classrooms.” There are ten other classrooms equipped with projectors and other equipment. Graduate assistants check these twenty-one rooms twice daily to ensure the equipment is working. ATS has put telephones in most of these rooms so faculty can call for assistance (ext. 1054) when needed.

Each semester ATS offers an orientation for all faculty using technology-enhanced classrooms. This orientation makes sure the faculty are familiar with the equipment and any changes in the room since last term. During this orientation, faculty get their ID cards activated to open the card swipe locks in the technology rooms in which they are scheduled to teach. ATS is the department to call (ext. 1054) if you cannot get into a technology-enhanced classroom during the time in which you are scheduled to teach.

ATS connects faculty and students to a Systems Administrator for Blackboard, our Web-based course management software. This person is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the hardware, software, and help desk for Blackboard.

Evaluating and recommending emerging technologies is one of the responsibilities of ATS. Your assistance is solicited in this area. Please contact Dr. Michael D. Chen with suggestions of pedagogical uses of new software and hardware. We encourage you to visit our facilties and our ATS staff to let us know your needs and how we can support you.