TCU Daily Skiff Thursday, March 25, 2004
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Vision in Action panel weighs resource needs
Facilitators said they hoped for more student input during the meeting.


By Lacey Krause
Staff Reporter


Campus needs such as computer software and musical recording technology were discussed at a meeting Wednesday to help map TCU’s future.

Approximately 40 people, including faculty and staff and students, met to discuss the need for additional learning tools such as technology, faculty and materials.

The meeting was the second of six town hall meetings organized by Chancellor Victor Boschini’s Vision in Action group. Boschini developed the VIA group to design a three- to five-year plan for TCU’s future.

The panel was overseen by four members: Sue Anderson, professor of education; Ernest Couch, professor of biology; Larry Kitchens, director of the Center for Instructional Services; and Catherine Wehlburg, director of the Center for Teaching Excellence.

Only one student, senior journalism major Monique Bhimani, commented at the meeting. TCU needs a greater variety of software on all university computers, as well as more Iomega Zip disk drives, Bhimani said.

“There are various classes that require you to use certain programs,” she said.

Kitchens said he had hoped for more student input.

“It’s their university too,” he said.

Topics discussed at Wednesday’s meeting are more relevant to students than issues discussed at the other town hall meetings, Anderson said.

“They’re the learners,” she said. “We’d like to know what they feel they need.”

Many faculty members offered their views on what resources the university needs to provide or improve.

The university needs to envision “the library of the future,” said Bob Seal, university librarian. Library improvements could include group study rooms, better collections and electronic resources, wireless Internet access, ample Internet bandwidth and more comfortable learning areas, he said.

“The library is the heart of the academic enterprise,” Seal said.

Gerald Gabel and Jose Feghali, professors of music, said the music department needs new technology.

“We’ve been plagued for many years with sub-par recording technology,” Gabel said.
Other faculty members emphasized the need for student-faculty interaction.

“The learning resource is really us, and the technology is just the facilitator,” said Bob Lusch, dean of the business school.

Wehlburg agreed TCU should not have “technology for technology’s sake.”

“We’re also talking about people,” she said. “It’s not just the technology or classroom seats.”

Students do not have to attend the meetings to express an opinion, Anderson said. Students who have something to say about the distribution of resources at TCU can e-mail Anderson at s.anderson@tcu.edu or call her at (817) 257-6572. The Learning Resources committee may also send an e-mail questionnaire to students.

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Sarah Greene/Staff Photographer
Bob Seal, university librarian, suggests improvements for the Mary Couts Burnett Library.
 
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