General university classrooms are receiving upgrades

Classrooms are less busy during the summer, so assistant director for space and scheduling Suzanne Fisher uses these weeks to ensure they are safe and accessible for everyone.

Fisher currently is procuring electric, height-adjustable, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant tables to add to several general university classrooms. She is focusing on classrooms with capacities under 50 in Pearson, Ross, Lagomarcino and Carver halls. Room capacities won't change.

"The goal is to eventually get one electric, height-adjustable table in each of the general university classrooms for use by anyone who needs it," she said. "Currently, we get notices from student accessibility services when a student needs an accomodation. We go to storage, pull something out and bring it to the classroom. These tables will be fixed to the location because they must be plugged in."

In rooms that won't require any electrical work, she said the hope is to have tables installed by the time fall classes begin.

Some of the current tables in general university classrooms are not wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs and have limited height adjustment capabilities. Fisher said tables will be added as rooms are identified and tables are available. The project will extend past the summer, and tables can be installed when classes are in session. Many of the classrooms in new or remodeled buildings already have a table that meets the requirements, and a couple of adjustable tables will be held for use across campus as need arises, she said.

Additional general university classrooms

There are 207 general university classrooms across campus with two more set to be used this fall in the Therkildsen building, home of the industrial and manufacturing systems engineering department. Therkildsen offers a large classroom with 120 seats and a smaller option with 28. One more general university classroom is expected when LeBaron Hall construction is complete next fall.

The number of general university classrooms fluctuates because of changing needs, Fisher said. For example, an underutilized room in the Communications Building was removed from the inventory to give the marching band additional storage space adjacent to its practice field.

Fisher said the goal is for every general university classroom to be used at least 30 hours each week. She credits classroom scheduling coordinators Elizabeth Salton and Alesha Magee for working with instructors to satisfy their needs, fill rooms and work around any unforeseen issues -- for example, when Hamilton Hall suffered water damage -- to keep classes running smoothly.

In addition to the tables, the same classrooms are being reviewed this summer for the addition of wire management on the floor to minimize cord tripping hazards behind teaching stations. Newer stations have electrical access right below the stations to eliminate cords running between the instructor and the wall outlet.

All general university classrooms have a uniform start and end time for both 50- and 75-minute classes each day of the week. Fifty-minute courses begin at 7:45 a.m. with the day ending at 6:20 p.m., while 75-minute courses start at 8 a.m. and conclude at 5:25 p.m. The passing time between class periods consistently is 15 minutes.

AV updates

Mike Pedersen, information technology services' audiovisual experience team manager, said his team continues to complete technology upgrades in general university classrooms, as it does every summer.