Computer Labs

Thank you!! I agree. Or at least check out one of the laptops that are located all around campus. It is so simple! That would then leave the main computer labs open for students doing actual homework and assignments.

I also understand this situation...sometimes all i want or need to do is print something out, i myselft dont own a computer at home so school is my only option and not finding open seats makes things harder. I also agree on the laptop usage if its just for browsing and non- related school things then those should be used.

I definitely share this frustration at Western.  But on a lighter note, I wanted to throw an idea out there.  When I absolutely need to do research (but not do any printing) I walk across to the VU and check out a laptop at the info desk.  Now why not have those students who have the time to routinely check all of their regular websites, do this on a VU laptop?  That would really open up some computers with seats in the quiet library for those who seriously want to get stuff done.  Plus, checking facebook/myspace/bank accounts/what have you, should be done in a vu type of setting anyway!  it's much too loud to focus on writing a paper or doing research in the loud VU.  

Do you guys think there is a way we could up the number of laptops in the VU and put obvious signs up around the library computer labs that say, "These computers are for studying students ONLY.  Feel free to check out a 'leisure laptop' at the VU"???   

And if that doesn't seem to work, if worse comes to worse, we could block websites like facebook on the library computers.  i know that this really harsh (and i would actually hate for them to do that) but i can see it having to come down to that. 

i would hate for this to happen..Especially because when it comes to group projects facebook helps..... but i agree with the VU laptop use or if its a nice day go outside with a laptop sit on the lawn and check facebook...ect....

and enjoy the sun!!!

Good ideas here so far--definitely, the laptops (which you can check out from the VU and from the circulation desk and the media desk in the library) are good options if you can't find a computer.  And, you can save documents to your U: drive and print from the laptops. 

But there's another tool that can also be helpful: if you go to the reference desk in the library, we have a program that will check to see where there are open computers in Haggard and Wilson.  It checks for computers in the library and in the labs on the first floor of Haggard.  No more running up and down stairs.  Hope this helps.

Might I also suggest that you weigh in on the "Student Technology Fee RENEWAL" thread in "Open Say." The Student Technology Fee is up for renewal or expire, and this is exactly the kind of thing the AS wants to hear. I too have done the "find a computer in a rush" dance many times, and it is frustrating. Only, im not sure facebook is the biggest culprit. I just dont think there are enough computers available in popular places. 

Also, I suspect hundreds of hours total are spent waiting for Windows to login/log out each year (I dont know about you, but I make sure my profile is logged out before leaving even though it takes more time). If this was improved, we could potentially see an increase in available computers. The login/logoff process is slow no matter how many people are browsing facebook on campus, unfortunately. But there are ways it can be improved.

You may also want to be aware that there are some computer labs open to all WWU students that don't see nearly as much action as the labs at Haggard Hall.  They are not as centrally located as the library environment at HH, but some are wonderful spots to always find a seat and a printer. 

I'll start with the stroll from Red Square southward:

Check on Bond Hall 319, quite close to HH, and also the lower level of Miller Hall where there are about 75 seats in an open area never reserved for classes. In addition, MH 72 in that same area has 30 seats, and there is a Mac lab there with 30 seats too.

There's another Mac lab at Fine Arts 101 with 30 seats.

A lab at ET 321 has 30 near-new computers, and so does the one at Arntzen Hall 5. 

If that doesn't do it, cruise on south to the CF building: CF 21, 24 and 26 have 20 seats each plus a computer at the teaching station; a Mac lab in CF 161 has 20 seats; 50 seats + 2 are available in the biggest room on the main floor, CF 165/167.

In January 2009, the newest labs open in the Academic Instructional Center (AIC) building.  The room numbers were named AW (Academic West), and include AW 306 with 60 seats, plus two smaller rooms that will be outfitted with Macs.

In an ideal world, we will have an interactive database someday where you can look up a room and know how many computers are available at any given moment.  But ummmm....it's kinda hard to do that if you can't get a computer seat, eh?

Nancy

In addition to checking at the circulation desk about open seats in computer labs, there is a television screen on the first floor of Haggard Hall, right next to Tony's Coffee, that displays the number of seats available in computer labs. VERY helpful come dead week and finals week when students start living in the library :)

The problem of finding a computer seems to be very common among the students posting here; I know that I have experienced similar problems. However, I strongly disagree with forcing students to only use certain computers for certain websites. Everyone is paying the same fees and are entitled to use the computers as they see fit. If students would like to moniter the use of computers and possibly block certain web sites then students should be able to decide whether or not they want to pay the fees. It is important to also remember that for some people, Western's campus is their home; they may live in the dorms and have no other means to acces the internet. For those students it is ridiculous to tell them that they must check out a laptop that can only be used for a certain amount of time for the "leisure" sites that they would like to check.

I believe that it comes down to decency and preparation. If you are using a computer for leisure websites and see that others are searching for them, then you should move as a decency to your fellow students. However, preparation is also a factor because, as I have observed, most people that are getting upset by filled computer labs are those that have waited until the last minute to type or print something out. We should not reward that procrastination by blocking other's use.

Furthermore, my roommate is in the AS and uses facebook for her job. She utilizes it to put out event invitations and to have fan pages/group pages for the offices. If facebook were blocked she would not have an effective means to advertise for such programs and groups (which are student funded). Assuming that facebook is blocked, students would have a harder time reaching facebook to see that these events our groups are in existence thus contributing to lower student turn out to student funded programs.

Another factor to take into consideration is that many students check out laptops in order to take notes in class. Increasing the numnber of leisure users of laptops would decrease the available laptops for all students who choose to use them for note taking.

It is also the responsibility of students to utilize their resources and find open labs. Above I noticed that you can ask at the circulation desks, check in haggard, or search a few of the many labs on campus. There are several labs that are hidden or unkown to the majority of the student population. It is our responsibility to find them before we limit other's use.

Nancy, your comment really helped. I know about many of those computer labs around campus, but I hardly think about them when I'm focused on printing something off near Haggard, even though Miller is only across Red Square.
 

I don't agree that we should block web pages, but maybe some friendly reminders around the labs that there are people who need to print have priority?  Or, on the flip side, reminders of the other places on campus that can print, as Nancy has done.  There are things we can do that aren't nearly as dramatic as kicking people off facebook so we can print for a few seconds.. 

In addition, could we possibly have "printing only" computers that we can only use for about 10 minutes?

When I'm working on a paper or researching at a computer lab workstation, every so often I go online just to let off steam, to break things up, to shift gears mentally (especially if it is a long paper that takes hours and hours).  I also IM, e-mail or message classmates and maybe even the prof, to ask a question.  So when you see someone who appears to be recreationally surfing, don't be too sure that they aren't using the puter mainly for academic purposes.

And agreed about relevant discussions on Facebook about classwork, assignments, readings, etc.

And the point that many students don't have computers at home, so campus is the only place they can do their online business is valid.

Everyone should have the choice to use a PC or a laptop, not be forced into one or the other based on what type of computer usage they need.  Yes, we all pay that fee, but I don't think the school should be telling us how to use or not use the computers (other than the obvious usage policies).

Scope out other computer labs... you may find a new favorite cubby-hole!

The AS Board also passed funding to put a printer in the VU next to the info desk. When you check out laptops there, beginning next quarter I believe, you will be able to print your documents as well.

thats awesome about the VU printer. I always get a laptop there, write some stuff, then have to save it on my flash drive and then have to go to the library, log on again, and print it out. Its quite the hassle sometimes, so the printer in the VU will be welcomed with open arms in my book 

I agree with Luke in getting the login process speeded up. Whenever I'm in the CF labs, it can sometimes take up to 15 minutes jus to login. If I'm trying to print something between classes this is utterly ridiculous. I'm also noticing that more and more computers in the CF 165/167 labs are experiencing network issues; sometimes I have to try 4-5 computers before finding one that works. Haggard hall is slightly better but still at least 7 minutes to login.

Try this - all the computer labs on campus.

http://west.wwu.edu/atus/computerlabs/computerlabmap.shtml

And after you use it a bit, write down which labs have classes taught in them, and when.  Some of the smaller ones serve time as classrooms.  If you like quiet, get to know the obscure ones.  If you like convenient, get to know which ones are near or between where your classes are taught.

If a laptop would be convenient but you don't like funky laptop keyboards, you can bring your own USB mouse and keyboard (or so the library tells me).

Maybe it's already been said, but I think I remember some lab on campus (Parks Hall??) that blocked Facebook or Myspace.  Maybe this same strategy could be employed during peak hours or something?  As much as I hate the idea of blocking any access to any website, I actually had this same problem this morning and eventually just went into a lab that had a class in session to type my papers.