As many students may have noticed, several computer labs on campus look very different than they did last semester.
That’s because of a much-needed renovation, the biggest of which seems to have taken place in the Culp Center.
The Culp lab was built in 1995 and was the largest computer lab in the Tennessee Board of Regents system.
The decision to renovate was made in the spring, and the Culp Lab was closed for most of the summer.
Funded by the Technology Access Fee, new furniture was purchased, new carpet was installed, walls were painted and computers were updated.
The layout was also changed to give the lab a comfortable work area.
The new, faster computers are a major benefit from the project. Student Jimmy Sams said it’s a lot easier to get work done on the new computers.
The lab computers are typically updated every three years, but, this year, DVD burning capabilities have been added as a bonus.
Advanced computers provide a greater potential for data transfer, OIT Customer Support Manager Vincent Thompson said of the new burners for students.
“They can almost do all their papers in their college career on one (disk).”
Labs in Rogers-Stout Hall, the psychology department, Wilson-Wallis Hall and Gilbreath Hall are among this year’s updates. Only 250 computers were replaced this year.
Due to a virus, computers in residence halls are encountering roadblocks in accessing the network, but once the virus is gone it should be back to business as usual.
This year’s renovations were small compared to what will come in the future, when 40 labs across campus will be updated for optimal technology access with up to 500 new computers, comfortable chairs and new layouts.
“Next year is a much bigger year,” Thompson said.

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