This project is supported in part by funds from
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Link-to-Learn Project
for Information Technology Workforce Development (I-Grad)
To implement the lab portions of the system administration and networking courses, a new lab facility must be created on the UPG campus. Students in those courses will be changing computer hardware and software configurations and therefore cannot use the McKenna Hall public computing labs and classrooms, since support of ongoing campus computing requires those facilities provide functional computers with standard configurations.
The space we have chosen for our new lab is B-13 Smith Hall. That room was previously used for labs in mechanical engineering, and as storage for engineering and science equipment. The space available in B-13 will allow us to create a networking and systems lab with twelve student stations plus an instructor station. With students working in pairs, this lab could accommodate a class of 24 students, which is adequate for our expected enrollments. It will be necessary to make B-13 available for classes other than system administration and networking. We anticipate that a renovated B-13 will be used 25% of the time for system administration and networking students and 75% of the time by other users.
The major steps necessary to convert B-13 for use as lab site for system administration and networking labs include: (1) construction of storage cubicles for the existing engineering and science equipment and the new computer and networking equipment; (2) replacement of the ceiling, the floor and the lighting fixtures; (3) installation of additional electrical outlets as well as telephone connections and network ports; and (4) purchase of tables and chairs to replace the existing classroom furniture, and (5) upgrades to the fire alarm, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. These facility modifications will not preclude use of the student and instructor stations for other laboratory courses.
As the renovation work progresses, we plan to add photos here to show the lab under construction and in use by students.
A floor plan for the lab shows locations of the instructor and student workstations, as well as the storage compartments which will be used to secure equipment when class is not in session.
