The Laramie County Community College Board of Trustees approved a proposal for a Learning Commons to be integrated into the Ludden Library at the Sept. 18 business meeting.
The trustees approved moving to the next stage in the process, which would be hiring an architect to consider location and space requirements.
In fall 2012, a task force was presented with the idea of creating a Learning Commons. The task force has since taken to examining Learning Commons’ models at other institutions such as Wesleyan University, Virginia Tech University, Bowling Green State University and others. Taking what was observed to succeed, the group created an LCCC model.
It was determined that the various academic support centers scattered across the LCCC campus have been outgrown. Moreover, the facilities are not connected in a way that promotes unity in the various fields. The Writing and Communications Center is now situated in the Ludden Library, while the Math Lab is in the Arp Building. The distance between these centers is discouraging students to seek out help in problem areas. It is believed that the Learning Commons would solve this issue.
The Learning Commons is projected at the moment to consist of a 24-hour computer lab with support on hand, Math Lab, Writing and Communications Center, Language Lab, Student Success Center, Exam Lab, Multimedia Production/Presentation Center, Print Production Center, Disabilities Support Center and a cafe.
The current computer lab with help desk is located in the Fine Arts Building, a distance from the other centers. Mary Ludwig, history instructor and chairperson for the task force, said this is “simply inconvenient” for students who do not have time to traverse across campus.
Every student enrolled in Math 900, Math 920 and Math 930 is required to put in Math Lab hours as a part of the curriculum. Currently, the lab serves more than 600 students a semester. The Language Lab, which no longer requires students to have a set number of hours, still serves students at a large rate. The traffic nearly doubled between 2011 and 2012.
Foot traffic in the Ludden Library has also doubled since 2008, despite the fact that seating is available for only 4 percent of the full-time students. Ludwig pointed out that the Association of College and Research Libraries suggests 10 percent be provided to be fully effective.
The movement of the other centers will free up teaching space in other areas of campus but will also increase the space required for the remodel in the Ludden Library. Trustee Dr. Kevin Kilty brought up that the building of “a campus within a campus would require quite a bit of funding,” and it should be avoided.
In regards to funding, a portion of it would come from the Foundation, and the majority is expected from a bequest in an estate being settled. President Dr. Joe Schaffer asserted, “It should not exceed a million.” Some funds have also been set aside for planning from the current fund.
The next step for this project is putting an architect in front of the task force to develop a plan. The proposed range of cost for an architect is estimated between $20,000 and $25,000.
The trustees approved moving to the next stage in the process, which would be hiring an architect to consider location and space requirements.
In fall 2012, a task force was presented with the idea of creating a Learning Commons. The task force has since taken to examining Learning Commons’ models at other institutions such as Wesleyan University, Virginia Tech University, Bowling Green State University and others. Taking what was observed to succeed, the group created an LCCC model.
It was determined that the various academic support centers scattered across the LCCC campus have been outgrown. Moreover, the facilities are not connected in a way that promotes unity in the various fields. The Writing and Communications Center is now situated in the Ludden Library, while the Math Lab is in the Arp Building. The distance between these centers is discouraging students to seek out help in problem areas. It is believed that the Learning Commons would solve this issue.
The Learning Commons is projected at the moment to consist of a 24-hour computer lab with support on hand, Math Lab, Writing and Communications Center, Language Lab, Student Success Center, Exam Lab, Multimedia Production/Presentation Center, Print Production Center, Disabilities Support Center and a cafe.
The current computer lab with help desk is located in the Fine Arts Building, a distance from the other centers. Mary Ludwig, history instructor and chairperson for the task force, said this is “simply inconvenient” for students who do not have time to traverse across campus.
Every student enrolled in Math 900, Math 920 and Math 930 is required to put in Math Lab hours as a part of the curriculum. Currently, the lab serves more than 600 students a semester. The Language Lab, which no longer requires students to have a set number of hours, still serves students at a large rate. The traffic nearly doubled between 2011 and 2012.
Foot traffic in the Ludden Library has also doubled since 2008, despite the fact that seating is available for only 4 percent of the full-time students. Ludwig pointed out that the Association of College and Research Libraries suggests 10 percent be provided to be fully effective.
The movement of the other centers will free up teaching space in other areas of campus but will also increase the space required for the remodel in the Ludden Library. Trustee Dr. Kevin Kilty brought up that the building of “a campus within a campus would require quite a bit of funding,” and it should be avoided.
In regards to funding, a portion of it would come from the Foundation, and the majority is expected from a bequest in an estate being settled. President Dr. Joe Schaffer asserted, “It should not exceed a million.” Some funds have also been set aside for planning from the current fund.
The next step for this project is putting an architect in front of the task force to develop a plan. The proposed range of cost for an architect is estimated between $20,000 and $25,000.