Written by Liz Rekowski
Computers and technology are right at your fingertips at Slippery Rock. There are 24-hour labs in every residence hall, as well as labs in every classroom building. Bailey Library, a hot spot for researching, last-minute paper writing, and plenty of gossiping, is equipped with two microfilm machines, plenty of quiet study areas, and a laptop checkout station. During the day, when Bailey is at its busiest and computer pods are full, students can sign out a laptop and find one of the many cozy nooks to type away in. With modern technology, one can expect problems every so often—or more often than not, in some cases. Sometimes, the high-speed network connection has a habit of not being very high-speed. However, these problems are brief and tend to occur only when adjustments are being made to the system. If students experience any major problems, they can contact their on-site Resident Network Assistant (RNA), a resident student with a strong computer know-how. Sometimes these individuals are helpful, while other times, frantic students are more likely to have their computer implode than have their phone calls promptly returned by their RNA.
What many people do not know is that SRU offers satellite courses through universities like Clarion and Edinboro universities. These courses, usually foreign language requirements, are taught via satellite from these distant sites and are set up like any typical class: you’ll attend, interact, and complete assignments—all through the magic of technology.