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Academic Experience
2) Are classrooms technology-enhanced?
5) How does the campus provide access for students to work with multimedia (audio and video)?
1) How does the campus use technology to enhance teaching, learning, and access to information in your areas of interest? Examples include online syllabi, Web-based discussion groups and project teams, and electronic portfolios?
New Mexico State University (NMSU) provides all the students with a variety of technological resources to enhance the learning experience including web-enhanced courses, a large number of student use computers, laptop docking stations, inexpensive computer rentals, wireless zones, multimedia classrooms, and individual email/calendars/web space, and to help use all these services 24 hour technical support. Teaching and Learning is enhanced by all these resources for example there are over 1200 web-enhanced or web-delivered courses which use WebCT (Web Course Tools) which provide students easy access to course syllabi, course materials and assignments. These courses often provide online discussion group areas, chat rooms, and email for interaction with instructors and other students.
2) Are classrooms technology-enhanced?
NMSU has over 50 multimedia or computer classrooms. This represents 20% of all classrooms, and NMSU is working to upgrade the majority of classrooms within the next few years. Each multimedia classroom has (or will have) a minimum technology baseline which will include access to a computer, laptop docking station, the Internet, integrated sound system, document camera, projection system, and easy to use A/V switching system. The increasing number of multimedia classrooms allows students to receive instruction and make presentations in a technology rich environment.
3) In both introductory and specialized courses, what opportunities are there for you to collaborate with other students using technology on project teams?
NMSU provides team projects and exercises in many of the courses. Team learning is valued and encouraged. Technology infrastructure is available that facilitates the interaction of students including email, email lists, online discussion groups, and live online chat spaces.
4) Does the school give credit for courses taken electronically (online/at a distance) from other institutions and sources of instruction?
Yes, credit is granted by the institution originating the coursework, and then students would present official transcripts to New Mexico State University for evaluation of transfer credit. Credit is given based on a number of factors including the accreditation of the originating institution and how the course applies to the NMSU degree program. NMSU respects and accepts quality courses given in various delivery formats including distance education.
5) How does the campus provide access for students to work with multimedia (audio and video)?
NMSU provides a number of specialty lab/classrooms for multimedia
instruction and student development. These have all the appropriate
hardware configurations and multimedia software. Most of these labs are
dedicated to specific majors and courses, but one is available in the
Student Computing Services Center (JA205C) for general student use.
6) Are library collections and resources--such as catalogs, research databases, special collections, course reserves, full-text electronic journals, books, and streaming media--available online and accessible off-campus?
The Library's Online Catalog provides information on books, journals, maps, government documents, manuscripts, and other materials in the collections. Students also have access to hundreds of databases, and approximately 8,000 electronic books, and 15,000 electronic journals through the Library's web site . The Archives and Special Collections Department offers online access to exhibits, finding aids, images, and manuscript inventories, including the cooperative statewide archival resource: Online Archive of New Mexico . See the Library web site for more information.
Most licensed electronic reference materials - including the World Almanac and Book of Facts , CQ Researcher , and General Reference Center Gold (a collection of 15 online reference books and periodical articles) - are networked online resources that are accessible to students on or off campus via the Library's web site . A few specialized reference materials may be used only on computers within the Library.
7) Can the library deliver documents to you electronically, either via e-mail or through Web posting? Does the library charge a fee when information resources that you need are not available in its collections?
Yes. Electronic reserves , including articles, book chapters, and other materials supporting University courses, are made available to students through the DocuTek ERes system, a link on the Library's web site. To comply with copyright law, e-reserve materials are password-protected and may only be accessed by students who are currently enrolled in a particular course. Reserve titles in print or media format are listed in the Library's Online Catalog .
8) Does the library provide research assistance in a variety of ways, such as in person, by phone, by e-mail, and through Web services? When are these forms of assistance available?
Basic information assistance is available at service desks throughout the library, many of which operate in conjunction with library building hours. Library research assistance is available in person, over the phone (local: 646-5792 or toll-free: 1-866-835-9826), and online . Many handouts, tip sheets, and tutorials are also posted on the Library Instruction Program's web site . Reference staff members are available at the central reference desk in Zuhl Library from 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Monday - Thursday; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Friday; 11:00-5:00 p.m., Saturday; and noon-9:00 p.m., Sunday.
Specialized reference assistance is also available from the Government Documents Unit (service hours: 10:00-3:00, Monday-Friday) and the Department of Archives and Special Collections (service hours: 9:00-4:00, Monday-Friday), both in Branson Library. In addition, students may schedule a consultation with a library subject specialist to get more in-depth help with a research project.
9) Does the campus offer general or profession-specific training programs that will ensure you are fluent in current information technologies when you graduate?
Yes, New Mexico State University requires an introductory freshman computer course. A major purpose of this course is to introduce the student to computers, networks, and software applications. Students are given hands-on experience with current computer applications including word processing, spreadsheets, building web pages, data bases, and program/application development. Students also explore the economic and social implications of computers, networks, electronic security, and other related topics. Besides this required introductory course, there are a many other introductory to advanced courses which provide students the opportunity to become fluent in current information technologies.
The questions are based on a publication from EDUCAUSE (an international, nonprofit association promoting the use of technologies within higher education).