Computing Center Annex to Open in September

By Lynn Buffing (lbuffing@oregon.uoregon.edu)

In September 2000, several key Computing Center services are moving across the courtyard. Microcomputer Services, Computer Accounts, the Electronics Shop, the Documents Room Library, and two new microcomputer labs will all relocate to spacious new offices on the first floor of Grayson Hall.

Contractors have been working since last fall to provide more space and enhance the functionality of these new Computing Center service areas in Grayson. The renovation is expected to be complete by mid-July 2000.

While exact moving dates are not available at this time, we plan to be open for business this fall. Here's what you can expect to see:

Microcomputer Services: Microcomputer Services will be moving its entire operation to Grayson Hall. This group offers help with almost any personal-computer related problem you may have, including connecting to the Internet, solving virus problems, and helping to set up and troubleshoot computing accounts, file recoveries, and transfers. It also creates and distributes the Duckware CDs.

The new Microcomputer Services area will be located on the north end of the first floor of the building and will include a large reception area and new staff offices. Space has also been designated for several multimedia stations for scanning images, capturing video, and manipulating large media files.

By bringing Microcomputer Services into close proximity to several large classrooms, new computer labs, the Documents Room Library, Computer Accounts, and the Electronics Repair Shop, we hope to offer improved consulting services to an expanded range of customers.

Computer Accounts: The administration of user accounts on the academic and administrative computers (Darkwing, Gladstone, and the VMScluster) and Oracle database systems will also move to the first floor of Grayson's north wing. Account clerks will be available to assist users with account access and password questions and to process administrative requests for BANNER access and password changes.

Documents Room Library: The Documents Room Library will be located at the south end of the first floor and will have approximately twice as much space as it currently has to accommodate its collection of books, magazines, CD-ROMs, and videos. The new Documents Room will include a small conference room, plenty of seating near windows overlooking the courtyard, and carrels where students can connect their laptops to the Internet.

Electronics Repair: The Electronics shop will also be located at the north end of the first floor and will continue to serve the campus with quality computer hardware repair and upgrades. The reception area has been designed with customer convenience in mind, including increased storage for stocking cables and other supplies and lower counter heights to facilitate equipment drop-off and pick-up. The facility will be located next to a loading dock and customers will have access to 24-minute parking spaces.

Microcomputer Labs: The Computing Center is planning to open both an instructional lab and an open-access lab in the new Grayson facilities. The instructional lab will have 20 Windows-based computers with an LCD projection unit, while the open-access lab will have approximately 25 workstations with Windows and Macintosh computers, color scanners, and laser printers. Instructors wishing to reserve the instructional lab should contact Mary Bradley at 346-1737 or send email to mbradley@oregon.uoregon.edu.

Network Access: Grayson's spacious corridors on the first floor will be furnished with public-access workstations so that students may check email or perform other system functions between classes. Other New Grayson Facilities.

In addition to the space allocated to the Computing Center, Grayson Hall will add approximately 1400 classroom seats to the university classroom pool and will house the departments of History and Ethnic Studies, the Social Science Instructional Lab, and the Oregon Survey Research Lab.

If you would like more information about this project, please contact Lynn Buffing (lbuffing@oregon.uoregon.edu or 346-1772).