ETSU technology has made major advancements throughout its history, but it still has a long way to go.
According to Dr. Norma MacRae, dean of continuing studies, a committee was formed about five years ago that studied classroom space.
The committee had a long list of classroom recommendations.
“Generally, ETSU classrooms are in pretty good shape. We’ve got some individual rooms that are bad and we have got buildings that have heating and cooling problems,” MacRae said. “We also found out that with multimedia equipment we are behind.
There was very little on campus, so we have made a recommendation that eventually every classroom on all the ETSU campuses have basic equipment installed in the classroom. This would include a video projector, a computer, a visual presenter, and then as technology changes, various visual players.”
The goal of the School of Continuing Studies is to place updated multimedia in all the classrooms.
This will be funded from the Technology Access Fee, charged to students.
“What has been done so far is the six multimedia auditoriums on campus and right now these are being refurbished and upgraded with the TAF money.
“We are also using the money to improve the physical facility,” she said. “We are not just using the money to put electronic equipment in there, but to improve the classroom.”
In addition to the six auditoriums, there are six classrooms that are technology advanced here on campus.
Technology in the classroom started with the individual interest of faculty members who wanted to do things on their own. These people organized an effort to improve technology on campus and many people began to take interest in it.
“Multimedia equipment is going to be the standard for any kind of face-to-face presentation in five years,” she said. “The newer faculty are more familiar with technology which will push us in that direction.”
ETSU has a department of distance education that handles the entire technology courses. This department is responsible for the interactive television courses, online classes and distance conferences for faculty and staff at various campus sites.
According to the Tennessee Board of Regents, distance education is when there is a physical separation of the teacher and learner, and when communication and instruction take place through, or are supported by, any technological means such as telephone, radio, television, computers, satellite delivery, interactive video or any combination of present and future telecommunication technologies.
Internet courses are now offered online and students can take classes that are on the Internet.
According to the TBR, there are two degrees that are offered online. The two degrees are bachelor of science in professional studies with concentrations in information technology or organizational leadership and bachelor of science in interdisciplinary studies.
Information on ETSU’s Online Degree Program can be found on the web at www.tn.regentsdegrees.org/campus/etsu.
Darcy Cuffman, programming coordinator for distance education, said, “Students can choose from courses in any of the TBR schools, but they have specific tracks or majors that students have to follow.”
Some courses here at ETSU are Internet courses, but to be considered to take an Internet course students must be here 50 percent of the time.
“Some teachers require class meetings, some at the beginning of the semester and some at the end,” Cuffman said. “Then, the rest of the class is online.”
“However, there are some that do not meet at all, there are very few like that.”
Throughout the schedule there are classes that are listed as TBR and these classes are online and there will be a listing whether or not there will be class meetings or orientation sessions.
According to the Electronic Campus web site at www.electroniccampus.org, the Electronic Campus of the Southern Regional Education Board is an “electronic marketplace” for courses, programs and services.
All courses and programs are offered by accredited colleges and universities in the Southern Region Electronic Campus states and meet the “Principles of Good Practice” developed by the Electronic Campus.
“ETSU is one of the Southern Regional Electronic Campus. People can look at many institutions across the south,” he said. “We list most of our Internet courses that we offered online, and it is updated each semester, however, students still need to be admitted to the university, pay our tuition or out of state tuition.

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