1996-98 UNK Undergraduate Catalog
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For special computing requirements, academic accounts are available on an IBM computer at UNL and a VAX computer at UNO, which are accessed through terminals in the Computer Lab in the Otto Olsen Building. The institution is also a member of Mid-Net, the regional network consortium, which provides access to other colleges and universities via NSF-Net and Internet. For even larger computing requirements, SuperComputer sites can be accessed using this network. Expansion of the campus network is underway to interconnect every building on campus with local and network computing services.
Administrative computing at UNK is supported by several computer systems. The main system is a DEC VAX 4000 Model 500 computer, which is connected to administrative offices via fiber optic links using Ethernet. This computer presently has 256 MB of main memory and 10 GB of disk storage, supports three high speed line printers and other peripherals, and runs the Systems and Computer Technology (SCT) suite of software packages. These packages support student services such as admissions, registration, grade reporting, advising, billing and fee payments, etc., and serve the administrative needs of the institution in managing its resources.
Information System (MIS) functions provide for reporting to other agencies, and the Alumni Development system (ADS) assists in keeping in touch with alumni and in the work of the Foundation. There is also a Periphonics VPS 7000 Voice Response system that students can call from any touch-tone phone, which provides a variety of services. Present services include Financial Aid information and awards, Semester Grades and GPA, Class Schedules and Telephone Registration. A Griffin/Validine Protege computer supports the campus ID Card system, which validates students for admission to various areas and events, including the dining areas, athletic events and the Student Computer Lab in the Otto Olsen Building.
Academic computing mainframe capabilities presently include An IBM ES/9000 Model 130 with 16 MB of main memory and 4.2GB of disk storage, and a DEC VAX 4000 Model 500 with 128MB of main memory and 6.O GB of disk storage. These computers provide instructional and research support to faculty and students, and access to the campus network, E-mail and the Internet. There is also a DEC System 5500 computer which supports Library activities, including an on-line card catalog and automated checkout of books and materials. Among auxiliary services offered by Computer Services, PC-based Scanners provide automated test scoring services to faculty, complete with a statistical analysis of each test group.
A general-purpose student Computer Lab is maintained in Room 115, Otto Olsen building, which contains both microcomputers and terminals with access to the mainframes. There are also many microcomputers (both DOS and Apple) located in computer labs in several of the other academic buildings. For example, a special Writing Center in the Ryan Library building provides word processing capabilities to students, and individual departments also maintain their own computer labs and facilities. There are presently ten Computer Labs set up in Residence Halls, and the newest Computer Lab recently opened in the Student Union, the Nebraskan.
A Computer Store in the Nebraskan offers full retail services for those wishing to buy computer equipment, including configuration advice, demo units and order processing. Contracts with major vendors provide attractive educational discounts, with sales limited to faculty, staff and students of UNK.
The Museum of Nebraska Art is one of three museums in Nebraska with permanent collections. It contains works of Nebraska artists and works with Nebraska subject matter by artists from all over the world. Located in Kearney Centre, the downtown area, it is an important bridge between the University, the community, and the citizens of the State.
The collections was begun in the 1970's; the land and original building were acquired in the 1980's. The original building, the old Post Office, is on the National Register of Historic Places. A four million dollar fund drive resulted in the complete renovation of the old building and large new addition that opened in the fall of 1993.
In addition to serving school groups, other organizations, and the public at large, UNK students and faculty use the facility extensively. Participants at the are university faculty and students from the Departments of Art, English, History, Education, and Business. Besides participation in tours and viewing the collections themselves, these students and faculty use the museum's extensive archive on Nebraska artists and related material for research and writing purposes. Art Education instructors send 40 to 50 students per semester to monitor tours and teaching techniques in the museum, and the Business Department, through its Travel and Tourism program, has provided an intern to the museum each of the last three semesters.
MONA is an important and growing educational facility.
The Center has via satellite uplink and downlink capability for transmission and receipt of televised classes. Two classrooms on campus are equipped to handle these transmissions. Instructional technology and services are provided by the Center. The Center maintains an inventory of over 900 items of audio-visual instructional equipment such as film projectors, slide projectors, filmstrip projectors, audio tape/cassette recorder/players, TV monitor/receivers and overhead projects. Instructional materials production is another service offered. Such production includes graphics design, lettering, signmaking, slide copying, overhead transparencies, audio cassette duplication and video program production. The Center rents 16mm instructional films, cablecasts NETCHE video programs for the campus via its campus television distribution system.
The Learning Center, which is located in the lower level of Stout Hall, provides a variety of short special topics courses or modules for students who wish to improve their learning techniques and skills. The areas of study have been designed to assist all participants who want aid in developing skills and habits that lead to academic success.
Modules are offered in Listening and Notetaking, Study Skills, Vocabulary Expansion, Test Anxiety, Reading Improvement, Spelling Improvement, Writing a Research Paper and Critical Thinking.
Each of these modules is for one hour credit and is listed under LNSK Courses in the Section in this catalog. Since each module only lasts for four weeks, a student may sign up for three modules in the same time bracket during any semester. Credit for these modules does not apply toward degrees.
The Learning Center is also responsible for administering the University Foundations program. University Foundations is a three-credit hour class designed to serve as a guide to successful matriculation, and these hours do count toward graduation. The three broad areas of life skills, study skills, and campus/community resources are explored in order to prepare incoming students to be efficient consumers of higher education and to successfully meet their academic goals.
The Resident Tutoring program is also located in the Learning Center. Forty content-area tutors who have national certification at the "master" level, as certified by the College Reading and Learning Association, provide free assistance in nearly every academic area. ("Master" level indicates over 30 hours of training in specified areas and activities.)
In partnership with the faculty, the Calvin T. Ryan Library provides students opportunities to acquire information, materials and skills which will support their current educational pursuits and aid in enriching their personal lives, in furthering their career potential and in preparing them for lifelong learning. The University Library is committed as well to provide access to the information resources and expertise needed to support the research and scholarship of the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
The Library includes the original building constructed in 1963, and the east wing added in 1981-82. It provides study and classroom seating for 1,250 students. Group study rooms, lounge seating, individual study carrels and typing and copying facilities are available. The Campus Writing Center is located on the 2nd floor.
The library has installed an automated integrated library system. An on-line catalog with 23 connected public use terminals, an automated circulation system and an automated financial/management information system make it possible to provide enhanced and expanded library services. Computer access to other University of Nebraska libraries is also available.
The Library collections contain over 266,000 volumes and 73,000 non-print items. It subscribes to 1,909 magazines and newspapers. A 15,000 volume general reference collection is maintained to provide essential educational tools such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks and atlases and loose leaf services. A Special Collection contains Nebraska history, rare titles and the University Archives. Computer search services and interlibrary loan services, which open up the resources of other libraries in the state, region and nationally, are also available. The library has an active program of acquiring computerized CD ROM data base indexes.
The Library is an official depository for more than 199,000 U.S. documents which represent publications of all major U.S. governmental agencies and cover numerous topics. There are also selected British, Canadian and United Nations documents as well as those of Nebraska and other states.
Microform materials now number over 919,000 pieces. Newspapers, periodicals, dissertations and major sets such as Hansard's Parliamentary Debates and Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) documents are in the microform collection.
These facilities are operated by the Department of Physics and Physical Science, which offers coursework in astronomy. In addition to curricular use of these facilities, both provided programming for the public. In the 1994-95 year, the Planetarium had 77 shows for the public, including 31 for public school groups. The Observatory had 20 nights of open viewing. All shows are free, including a special Christmas presentation.
SPEECH, LANGUAGE AND HEARING CLINIC
The Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic is the center for B.S., B.S.Ed. and M.S.Ed. programs in Communication Disorders. It offers a site for the integration of professional coursework with extensive practical experience for those students choosing this major.
The Clinic, located on the West Campus, offers clinical services in consultation, evaluation, and remediation for both students, faculty, and area residents. Services are available for communication disorders related to articulation/phonological problems, language delay, stuttering, voice problems, hearing loss, cleft palate, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, laryngectomy, and language disorders secondary to head injury and stroke.
The Gallery, located in the art wing of the Fine Arts Building, is used for student art shows, including senior and graduate thesis exhibits, faculty work, and the shows of visiting artists. Programming is continuous and year-round.
The Writing Center, open to all UNK students, provides tutorial services and word processing equipment to encourage and support better student writing. The Center, located on the second floor of the Calvin T. Ryan Library, is open during the day and in the evenings. Tutors will help students revise and edit their writing projects on a drop-in basis.
Tutors also help UNK students learn and use word processing in their college writing. The Center offers, at no cost to students, a MAC network with ten terminals. The network provides word processing and related software for users. Students may use their own storage disks.
A one-credit hour writing tutorial is also available through the Center. Students may register for this course through the ninth week of the semester.
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