Technology at Wittenberg
Wittenberg's leadership is committed to investments in technology. The President and Cabinet work in harmony to balance an overall campus plan, with the goal to stay abreast of emerging technologies while maintaining a firm grasp on our primary goals in teaching and learning.
The Thomas Library extensively promotes web-based databases and catalogs to link researchers to material both in-house and throughout Ohio. The Librarians have developed a highly trained staff to assist traditional and non-traditional students in using new technologies, and have increased computer systems in two teaching laboratories. Their goal is to help students access, analyze, and synthesize the information to present their synthesis in the most persuasive form to the intended audience.
Academic emphasis in technology covers a broad spectrum of capabilities, including the new National Science Foundation - Geographic Information Systems (NSF-GIS) laboratory. The GIS laboratory enables faculty and students in the natural and social sciences and education to address the dual role of geographic information systems (GIS). A GIS is a combination of hardware, software, and databases that allow for spatial analysis of data.
Another Academic tool is WebCT, a curriculum-enhancing software that faculty use to facilitate interaction in the classroom and beyond. WebCT emphasizes student - instructor communications, allowing students easy access to course syllabi, related readings, etc. that the instructor provides and "chat-room" discussions among class members on issues and topics. WebCT allows student to be better prepared for class, enhancing the learning experience.
The School of Community Education combines the classroom technologies with interactive web-based software to provide adult students with flexibility and quality instruction. They strive to expand opportunities for distance-learning and pursue possibilities for information technology in the future.
The Office of Alumni Relations is a leading proponent of technology in web-based interaction with University alumni and friends. Their goal is to provide more opportunity for alumni to communicate and network more frequently and easily with each other.
The Computing Center is where these new technologies are harnessed and put to work. Several recent initiatives include WittLink, a web portal interface that connects each member of the Wittenberg community to personal administrative data. Residential Networking uses state-of-the-art network infrastructure to connect nearly every residence hall to the Internet and campus network files. Campus software was upgraded to the Windows 2000 operating system. All campus software applications were evaluated to meet this new standard and the needs of faculty and staff. This is a continuing process, requiring extensive testing for compatibility and security.