Layne Bryant

lbryant@mtsu.edu

Rosemary Owens

Continuing Studies

Master Classroom

WARF 107, CSCC, Centennial High, Franklin, TN & Nissan, Smyrna, TN

New Technology

For videoconferencing equipment, annual cost savings of $7,836 by eliminating the permanent NT1 line to the MTSU videoconferencing system at CSCC.

Our proposal is to provide and replace technology at two of MTSU's off-campus facilities. First, we request funds to replace the current, cost-intensive videoconferencing equipment at Columbia State Community College with a less expensive model. Our department currently spends $7,836 dollars per year to connect to CSCC. The new system would allow us to connect to CSCC at no cost over the Internet. The equipment and installation would cost $10,490, and would therefore pay for itself in 16 months. The current system is not upgradeable to meet these specifications . From 2000-2003, there have been an average of 20 students enrolled in MTSU videoconferencing courses each semester at CSCC (not including students in the corresponding on-campus sections). The second project for which we are requesting funds is to provide a portable laptop and projector for MTSU students and faculty attending classes in Smyrna and Franklin, TN. These locations do not provide students with the technology that undergraduate and graduate level courses often require in on-campus sections. The equipment would be mobile so that it could be moved to another off-campus location easily. From 2002-2003, there have been an average of 183 students enrolled in MTSU off-campus courses each semester at the Smyrna and Franklin sites.