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2. Kent Campus Academic Unit Computing
          
               The most important factor about Kent's dispersed computing
          environment is that in most instances academic units are very autonomous
          in their acquisition and maintenance of computers. The two major
          exceptions are the College of Business and the College of Education,
          where computing is managed mostly at the college level rather than by
          individual units.  There are a few other instances of units sharing facilities,
          such as the Macintosh lab shared by the School of Architecture and
          Environmental Design and the School of Journalism and Mass
          Communication, and the DOS lab shared by the Department of English
          and the Department of Modern and Classical Languages.  Also,
          Technology's CAD-CAM lab can be used by other units within the
          College of Fine and Professional Arts.  However, shared arrangements
          such as these are rare.
            
               Most software is also acquired and managed at the academic unit
          level, although there are now campus site licenses for WordPerfect and
          Lotus products.  Much of the other software used is specialized (e.g.,
          AutoCAD is used in just a few academic units) and some software is
          unique to single units.
          
               One problem faced by academic units is the age of the equipment.
          There are still some Apple IIe machines and hundreds of 8088 DOS
          computers in local units.  These are barely functional because they cannot
          run current software, yet they are often counted as though they were viable
          computers.
            
               Within academic units, computers may be used for basic functions,
          such as word processing, or for discipline-specific subjects, such as
          CAD-CAM or programming.  In general, if discipline-specific computing
          is required, then it is available to all students, but when it is not, access to
          computing facilities is usually restricted to graduate students and faculty.
          
               One aspect of technology that should not be overlooked is the use
          of computers that are dedicated to certain processes, such as those that are
          a part of specialized research equipment, and computers that are used to
          complement other equipment.  These computers may be directly attached
          to the equipment to gather data, monitor results, or control experiments, or
          they may be physically separate but used only to manipulate data for
          specialized experiments.  This type of use is common in many units,
          usually in the physical sciences.
          
               House Bill money from the Ohio Legislature has become a crucial
          (and sometimes the only) source of equipment funding for many units. 
          For those academic units that can use this source of funds for computers,
          there may be a reasonable supply of labs and personal computers. 
          However, some units must use such funds for other types of instructional
          equipment.  Thus, those units with no other technical needs and those that
          can attract funds through grants tend to have the best computer facilities.
          
               
               In some units, such as mathematics and computer science,
          physics/LCI, and administrative sciences, one would expect to find
          significant computer use because in those disciplines the hardware and/or
          software is often the object of study; however, even in those areas some
          equipment may not be current, in good working condition, or ideal for the
          intended curricular use.  Staffing availability and expertise are important
          elements in maintaining unit progress.  In other units, where computing
          could be a valuable tool, there is simply a dearth of equipment.  Notable
          examples are biological sciences, criminal justice studies, and music.
          
               At the same time, there are some instances where academic units
          are either keeping pace with hardware and software development or are
          setting the tempo for the integration of computing applications into
          academic programs.  The University can take pride in the progress these
          units have made in the use of computers in the last decade. Computers are
          generally available for faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate
          students. The following units are cited because they have used computers
          as a tool to further subject matter instruction or because they provided the
          necessary organizational change, including staffing, required to support
          computerization for instruction at the unit level.
          
               Architecture and Environmental Design.  By working with a large
          Chicago architectural firm and having a staff member in charge of
          computer applications, the School of Architecture and Environmental
          Design has developed a leadership position in the use of computers for
          architectural design. Drawing tables and technical pens are now seen as
          inflexible media compared to computer tools that are now a major
          component of instruction.  The School of Architecture and Environmental
          Design has three main labs that contain fifteen RTs, eleven RS/6000s, and
          four Macs (two Quadras).  The school also makes limited use of a Mac lab
          shared with the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. 
          Discipline-specific software is available and is used in coursework for all
          majors.  About half of the Architecture faculty have computers on their
          desks which they use mostly for word processing.
           
               Art.  The Visual Communication Design program in the School of
          Art has integrated computing into the curriculum.  Over 400
          undergraduate majors are learning on equipment acquired after this
          outstanding program was recognized with an Academic Challenge award
          from the Ohio Board of Regents.  Students in this program are using
          contemporary computer tools to do work that will equip them to be
          immediately productive upon employment. The School of Art maintains
          three labs, one of which is a very sophisticated Mac lab with large, high
          resolution monitors.  Course fees help defray some of the consumable
          costs of operating this facility.
          
               College of Business Administration.  With the advent of Visicalc
          and Lotus ten years ago, spreadsheets became a required tool for all areas
          of business.  Data base management and word processing, too, are
          indispensable tools for managers, auditors, and information systems
          analysts.  Computing for accounting, administrative sciences, economics,
          finance, and marketing is managed primarily at the college level.  The
          building has been wired for a local area network and each faculty office is
          connected.  This Novell network has five file servers serving 225 stations
          throughout the college.  Thus, software license efficiencies are achieved. 
          The LAN is connected via an SNA gateway to the IBM mainframe and to
          the campus backbone (and hence the Internet) via a TCP/IP router.  Each
          unit has a central printing lab for faculty and staff who desire high-quality
          output.  Introductory courses are offered in spreadsheets and data base
          management, while advanced general courses assume students have
          competency in these areas.  Courses in Information Systems include data
          communications, artificial intelligence, data management, multimedia, and
          systems analysis and design.  To support this instructional need, the
          college maintains several student labs.  Word processing is discouraged in
          the labs unless there is no demand on lab equipment by students who are
          completing class assignments.  One professional support staff member has
          overseen the development of the college network and upgrading of
          computers for the past ten years.  This individual is assisted by several
          undergraduate and graduate students.  The College of Business
          Administration has two classrooms with ceiling mounted video projectors
          and network connections.
           
               Library and Information Science.
          
               The field of library and information science was one of the first to
          recognize the potential for computerization.  Card catalogs have been
          replaced with online catalogs, electronic data bases are growing in number
          and level of sophistication,  circulation and acquisition procedures have
          been automated, access to distant information resources is being provided,
          and the trend continues.  Instruction in this field requires students to have
          access to sophisticated computing tools.  The school maintains its own
          local area network and most faculty have computers on their desks.  There
          is good potential for this school to develop distance learning as a way to
          facilitate instruction of its program on The Ohio State University campus. 
          The school maintains two labs, one in Kent and one in Columbus.  These
          are used to teach students and faculty how to use the many information
          resources available locally and on the Internet.  The Kent lab contains
          seven Macs and sixteen PCs (nine of them 386s), whereas the Columbus
          lab has two Macs and eight PCs (four of them 486s), for a total of ten. 
          The software used is SilverPlatter, Wilsondisc, and Passport as well as the
          usual productivity tools such as WordPerfect, Quattro Pro, and dBase.
          Computer support for the school comes primarily from faculty members
          who assume a heavy service load to maintain and install equipment,
          provide technical advice, and consult with students and other faculty about
          software use.  One professional staff person oversees lab resources  and
          instructs students on use of equipment and software.
          
               Philosophy.
          
               While all faculty have access to a small lab where personal
          computers can be shared, only a few have a personal computer at their
          disposal, and none have network access.  The two unit computers that have
          mainframe access are provided by the University for use by faculty who
          have administrative assignments.  A new classroom with thirty-three
          workstations equipped with 386 PCs and an instructor podium with PC
          and overhead projection was recently added.  This classroom's primary use
          is for instruction in general education courses and instructors may hold
          class meetings there by reserving it.  The Department of Philosophy has
          assumed it has a responsibility to expose undergraduate students to basic
          computer use, primarily word processing.  Students are expected to show
          evidence of their thinking skills through written communication on class
          topics and some specialized software is used to prompt thinking on
          philosophical issues.  Most of the PCs in the unit, including those in the
          classroom, run Windows, and the most used software package is
          WordPerfect.  Support for the lab comes from faculty volunteering time to
          supervise it during open hours. Some graduate assistant support is also
          available.  The Department of Philosophy does not employ a technical
          support person to assist with hardware and software problems, training, or
          equipment upgrades.
          
          3. Kent Campus Classroom Facilities
          
               Classrooms.  The Kent Campus maintains 172 general purpose,
          standard classrooms which will accommodate between twenty and 100
          students.  The average size of these rooms is approximately 900 square
          feet with no special features. Seats and desks are normally movable chairs
          with attached tablet arms.  Lighting is usually fluorescent with a minimal
          amount of control (two or three switches, front to rear section control).
          Window coverings may be either shades or venetian blinds and a duplex
          electrical outlet is located on each wall.
          
               Instructional equipment normally consists of a chalkboard, an
          overhead projector, and a projection screen. All other equipment must be
          delivered to these rooms upon special request of the instructor.  During the
          past few years a limited number of classrooms were equipped with
          selected, permanently installed audiovisual equipment items (e.g.,
          television monitors or video/graphics projection systems).  Currently there
          are very few classrooms that are connected to the campus network and of
          these, none are available for general campus use.
          
               Other classrooms specially equipped are:
          
          Business Administration 115 and 208 -- video/graphics projection systems
          and controls mounted in a permanent teaching station.  These rooms have
          access to the campus network through the Business Administration LAN.
          
          Van Deusen 219, CAD-CAM lab -- video/graphics projection system.
          Mathematics and Computer Science classrooms -- connected to the
          campus network but lack any computing or video/graphics projection
          systems.
               
                    Lecture Halls.  
          
               There are seventeen large instructional rooms or lecture halls that
          can accommodate more than 100 students.  Many have tiered or sloping
          floors with permanently mounted seating and an attached arm tablet or
          table desk.  Most lecture halls have two lighting systems--fluorescent and
          incandescent with dimmers.  Windows, if existent, have shades or venetian
          blinds.
               
               Standard instructional equipment consists of a chalkboard, sound
          system, projection screen, overhead projector, and usually a slide projector
          and 16 mm motion picture projector.  Some lecture halls have projection
          booths, while others house projection equipment in cabinets.   Eleven
          lecture halls have installed video and computer projection systems.  These
          rooms contain a wall-mounted cabinet located in the front of the room
          which provides an interface and videocassette player.  Some cabinets also
          house sound system controls and two have video disc players available. 
          Currently, no lecture halls have network connections.
          
          Lecture Halls Equipped with Video or Video and Computer Graphics
          Projection Systems
          
          Video only projection systems:
            
          
          
          Video and computer graphics projection systems:
          
          
          
          Special Rooms Equipped with Video or Video and Computer Graphics
          Projection Systems (not scheduled for regular instruction)
          
          
          
               Seminar Rooms and Other Instructional Areas.
          
               There are 32 seminar rooms, each with twenty or fewer seats,
          usually arranged or designed in a conference style, with chairs and tables. 
          In addition, there are 99 regularly scheduled teaching labs, 111
          unscheduled labs, 88 self-instruction areas with computer or video
          capability, and 167 reading and study areas for students and faculty.
          
          4. Libraries
          
               During 1986, Kent State University demonstrated significant
          support for library automation through its selection and acquisition of the
          Northwestern Online Total Integrated System (NOTIS).  The NOTIS
          system was installed on the University's mainframe system, sharing
          available computing resources with selected administrative computing
          systems.  As the Library implemented various components over a period
          of two years, operating efficiencies were made possible.  The cataloging
          process was streamlined by eliminating the card catalog, several manual
          procedures, and related paper files. Ordering and management of the
          materials budget was transformed from an entirely manual process to an
          automated one. An antiquated and inefficient circulation system was
          replaced.  NOTIS also provided better capabilities for serials control than
          the previous system. Further, automation had a major positive impact on
          library users.  The online catalog provided more complete information
          than the card catalog by tracking materials from the pre-order process
          through cataloging to current circulation status, and it significantly
          increased search options available to the user for finding needed material. 
          The catalog is now available in its entirety via 150 terminals located in the
          main, branch, and Regional Campus libraries.  Network and dial access
          extends its availability to labs, offices, and homes of students and faculty. 
          During a typical day over 45,000 transactions are recorded on the system.
          
               Developing computer technology has also increased users'
          capabilities for searching journal indexes and full-text documents through
          a variety of electronic resources, including CD-ROMs, online sources such
          as Lexis/Nexis, and floppy-disk based products.  The main library at Kent
          introduced CD-ROM resources in 1987 and has witnessed a steady growth
          in their popularity and in the reliance placed on them. Presently there are
          fifteen CD-ROM titles available on multiple workstations through a local
          area network and others available on request.  Networked CD-ROM
          capacity will soon be more than doubled to two fileservers with fifty
          drives.  Access will be extended across the campus network to other
          departments, with support for Macintosh and UNIX workstations. 
          CD-ROM titles are also available in branch and Regional Campus
          libraries.
          
               Through grant funding, the main library provides Internet access
          through dedicated terminals.  Users are able to access library catalogs,
          electronic journals, and a host of other external resources.  The online
          catalog, other electronic resources, and the Internet are introduced to
          thousands of students each year through the freshman library orientation
          program, course-integrated library instruction, and specialized workshops. 
          These sessions use both lectures, with online demonstrations projected to
          the classes, and hands-on instruction.
          
               The information available to Kent users is dramatically increasing
          with the development of OhioLINK, a statewide information system
          designed for higher education and supported by the Ohio Board of
          Regents.  The libraries of the fifteen state-supported universities, two
          private universities, and the State Library are working collaboratively to
          create a central online catalog available through the Internet that will
          provide access to over eighteen million volumes.  Another key objective
          of OhioLINK is to provide more immediate use of materials owned by
          other libraries than is possible with traditional interlibrary loan.  This is
          being accomplished through an online requesting module available
          directly to users of the system coupled with a statewide ground delivery
          system.  In addition to books, OhioLINK offers users access to reference
          databases, full-text documents, and the rapidly expanding world of
          Internet resources.
          
               OhioLINK, including the central and local sites, is using software
          developed by Innovative Interfaces, Inc. of Berkeley, California.  By the
          end of 1993, ten libraries had implemented the new system and
          contributed their holdings to the central catalog. Kent installed its
          OhioLINK computer, a DEC 4000 Model 710, in late November 1993.  It
          runs the OSF/1 operating system and features a 190 MHz Alpha
          microprocessor, 320 megabytes of memory and 8 gigabytes of disk
          storage.  Kent began moving data from the existing IBM based NOTIS
          system onto the new DEC computer during the spring semester of 1994,
          and will finish the local installation during the summer of 1994.  Shortly
          thereafter the DEC computer will be connected to the central computer
          and Kent State University holdings will be added to the statewide catalog. 
          At that point Kent and Regional campus students, faculty, and staff will
          have full access to a state-of-the-art library and information system.
          
               These public resources are complemented by extensive computing
          support provided to the faculty and staff through the Systems Office of
          Libraries and Media  Services.  All library faculty and many staff have PC
          workstations on their desks.  Most hardware is 386 level or better and is
          connected to the Libraries and Media Services LAN.  A LAN fileserver
          dedicated to administrative use provides a full array of applications
          including (1) word processing, databases, and other office software; (2)
          local and Internet mail service; (3) terminal emulation for online access to
          NOTIS and other local and remote computer systems; (4) specialized
          information retrieval tools; and (5) standard utilities for accessing Internet
          resources.