If you hear complaints and grumbles coming from the lower level of the Crawford building, the cause is most likely the recent congestion of classes in the computer labs.  At times, only one lab is open to students, leaving it either filled to capacity, or useless to those needing specific programs not offered in that lab.  For instance, many IST students have to use the program Microsoft Visio for many of their assignments, a program that is installed in all but one computer lab.  The problem with that is, on certain days at certain times, the only lab available to students is the lab that does not offer that program, leaving IST students’ assignments up-in-the-air until an accommodating lab is available.  This could pose a problem for students that have jobs and can’t stick around after class to use the labs. 

Now, many of you may think, “Big deal, just go buy the software”, but, that would not be an easy undertaking when the software costs a few hundred dollars.  I understand that classes need to be held in an area with adequate resources, but assignments need to be completed in those same areas.  Perhaps a few classes could be moved to the remaining lab, allowing students to access any program they may need  from a pre-occupied area.  There are many other possible solutions to this problem, so hopefully it will be resolved soon.

We all pay a technology fee here at Penn State, therefore, we should all be able to meet the requirements of our assignments when computing is involved.