The Leesville/Fort Polk Campus of Northwestern State University, along with the Natchitoches Campus and other branches, is committed to defining Northwestern as an Information Age University. This satellite campus focuses on providing flexible programs to accommodate the individual circumstance and changing demographics of its clientele. In this information age, all areas are becoming increasingly influenced by the rapid and continuous technological advancements. The Leesville/Fort Polk Campus is committed to providing these technologies to ensure quality education and state of the art training of all students.

The technological enrichment plan of the Leesville/Fort Polk Campus focuses on the student. This plan allows for technological enhancements and the maintenance of technology for student use with assignments, for the enhancement of classroom presentations, and for the educational enrichment of all student's academic endeavors. This plan also allows for the application of technological enhancements (computers, printers, software) for faculty and staff, including maintenance and training, with the ultimate results of providing academic enrichment for all students.

To evaluate the progress of this plan, the Campus Technology Planning Committee will evaluate the use, progress, and effectiveness of new technologies on the campus. Students will be asked to complete surveys on new services, equipment, and instructional technologies. Usage records of the student common access computer laboratories will be reviewed each semester.

The Leesville/Fort Polk Campus, as a branch of Northwestern State University, shares the same goals at the other campuses of the University. The administration, faculty, and staff believe these goals of excellence can be achieved in part by supporting the NSTEP objectives. Therefore, the objectives of this document are to outline the Leesville/Fort Polk Campus' one, three, and five year technological initiatives for realization of several NSTEP objectives. A description of the initiatives, the NSTEP goal that each initiative supports, and a timeline of initiative events is provided.

Campus Technology Planning Committee

The Leesville/Fort Polk Campus has one committee involved with planning, evaluating, and implementing updated technology. This committee consists of administration, faculty, and students.

 

Advisory Board

Representatives from the political, educational, business, and industrial branches of the area serve on a Leesville/Fort Polk Campus, NSU, Advisory Board. These community leaders provide their input as to the educational and technological needs they feel exits for area citizens.

 

 

Additional Student Common Access Computer Laboratories and Increased Availability

The Leesville/Fort Polk Campus will provide additional computer laboratories for students and increase the available hours of operation.

 

Operating System and Software Upgrades for Student Computer Laboratories

The student computer laboratories will be continually upgraded to the most current, popular operating systems and other software.

 

Complete Connectivity Between The Leesville/Fort Polk Library and Other Branch Libraries

Complete connectivity of all branch libraries will provide access for on-line catalog and indexes for students.

 

Interactive Information Kiosks

Interactive Information Kiosks stations at the campus will allow students convent access items such as transcripts and grades, and allow them to send messages, or pay fees.

 

Improve Distance Learning

Additional compressed video classrooms and a teaching station will increase the ability to diversify course work, ensure the availability of course work, and allow Leesville/Fort Polk faculty to instruct courses at other branches.

 

Internet Workstations in Branch Libraries

An internet workstation in the Leesville/Fort Polk Library will provide students access to Internet and Web-based information sources.

Library unified workstations will allow access to Louisiana Online University Information Systems (LOUIS) catalogues, LOUIS databases, subscribed Web-based research, and the Library's local area network. This will provide students access to the same services provided at the Watson Library.

The security gates in the library are obsolete and malfunctioning. These systems are necessary to protect against theft of technologies and reference materials.

Students would have access to web-based services that are subscribed to by Watson Library, such as Gale Net, which provides full text articles.

The installation of a campus wide fiber optic network will allow for the faster transmission and receiving of data.

Wireless access will allow portable multimedia computer stations to access the server from all buildings. This will reduce the need for duplicate software purchases.

The Leesville/Fort Polk Campus will provide training for faculty and staff on all modern communications and administrative systems, external training for computer personnel on new technologies, internal training for students, faculty, and staff on new technologies, and external and internal training for faculty to apply innovative instructional techniques with new technologies.

Maintenance contracts or support for maintenance are necessary for all existing and new technologies.

As new technologies are added to the Library, additional wiring upgrades will be necessary.

Individual workstations appropriate for faculty and staff needs, to include, but not limited to continual software upgrades, CD-ROM drives, memory expansions, enhanced processors, and printers will enhance efficiency and instruction.

The University Intranet will be available to administration, faculty, and staff.

Additional Computer Laboratory Classrooms

Additional computer laboratories classrooms will assist in meeting the classroom and student usage demands.

 

Specialized Software for Simulation, Instructional, and Tutorial Purposes

The purchase of software in all academic areas will enhance classroom lectures and laboratories. This software will include such items as visuals, simulations, animations, and survey software. Enhancement of lecture and laboratory exercises will also be accomplished through acquiring simulation, instructional, and tutorials software for individual use by students in common access student computer laboratories.

 

Mobile Multimedia Instructional Tools

Mobile multimedia instructional tools, including hi-resolution projection systems, SMART boards, etc. will enhance classroom instruction. This technology will allow professors to increase interest, motivation, learning, and retention.

 

Modern Technology for the Science Laboratory

With the addition of the latest scientific technology, students will be able to experience, first hand, these technological advancements, thus developing a greater understanding of scientific principles. Students will also be experienced in the use of technology used in the workplace.