Nicholls State University is committed to using technology to enhance student learning and has recently developed a five-year technology plan to do so [1].

Funding is provided from the University's Operating Budget, from state funds designated specifically for scientific equipment, from the Student Technology Fee, and from externally-supported research and scholarly activity.

Partial evidence of this commitment is the recent inclusion of a goal related to the enhancement of student learning through technology in the Vice President for Academic Affairs' 2003 Annual Plan Assessment. Specifically, the Vice President for Academic Affairs challenged academic units to further "promote the use of technology to increase access to and enhance learning." In response, the Academic Vice President reported the following [2]:

IIB-1.1E. Promote the use of technology to increase access to and enhance learning[:]

•	Web based courses increased 26.3% (19 to 24)
•	Number of students enrolled in Web or Compressed Video courses increased 17.5% (416 to 489)
•	Technology used in many more classes
•	Approximately $300,000 from Instructional Technology Fee for student technology needs
•	Workshops to aid in passing PRAXIS
•	Installed and used more LCD projectors
•	Wireless network established
•	Need to continue to expand:     º availability of WWW courses     º the wireless network     º bandwidth for better throughput
•	Many more faculty using Blackboard in their classes
•	More faculty and staff being trained in the use of technology by Academic Computing
•	Many faculty trained using the PT3 Grant
•	Installed and implemented     º the Student Self Serve Web System     º Web for Faculty/ Advisor system     º 2nd phase of ID card network

The institution and a large number of departments employ a wide variety of technology. The core departments or colleges that offer technology include, but are not limited to, the following:

•	Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
•	Department of Information Systems
•	Department of Biological and Agricultural Sciences
•	Department of Applied Sciences
•	Department of Allied Health Sciences
•	Department of Nursing
•	Department of Physical Sciences
•	Department of Management and Marketing
•	Department of Mass Communication
•	Department of Teacher Education
•	Department of Accounting and Business Law
•	Department of Finance and Economics
•	Department of Languages and Literature
•	Department of History and Social Sciences
•	Department of Psychology and Counselor Education
•	School of Fine Arts
•	University College
•	Distance Education

The Department of Biological Sciences, for example, has four classrooms (101, 102, 301 Gouaux and 147 Beauregard) that are equipped with eInstruction's Classroom Performance System (CPS) hubs and software. CPS provides immediate student feedback for attendance, quizzes, exams, and discussion. All data collected by CPS may be recorded and used for grade calculations or used to assist with classroom lectures and discussions. Four classrooms (101, 102, 301, and 401 Gouaux) are equipped with ceiling-mounted projectors that are linked to computers with Internet access. Three rolling cart-mounted projectors and computers are used for various laboratory classes. The department also has a computer laboratory (401 Gouaux) that is equipped with 28 student computers, one instructor computer, and 2 high-speed laser printers. Many of the computers have software programs that are used for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses (SAS, ArcView with geostatistical, 3D, and spatial analyst packages).

Infrastructure

The network infrastructure consists of 2 core routers that are capable of duplex 10 gigabit ASIC routing via fiber optic connectivity. The core routers are connected to Enterasys switch matrixes that are capable of connecting at duplex gigabit speeds. All 52 buildings are connected via single- and multi-mode fiber optic cabling and via an Enterasys switch matrix. Currently all users are connected via Category 5 cabling certified to 100 megabit connectivity. Plans are to link all buildings via 10 gigabit duplex connectivity and to convert all users to Category 6 gigabit connectivity standards within the next 5 years. Nicholls State University is connected to the Internet via T3 at 6 megabit duplex speeds.

Access

Currently 82 classrooms have LCD or DLP projection technology with a minimum of one computer connected to the Internet. These classrooms are spread across Nicholls' two campuses and are available to all departments. These classrooms are equipped with varying levels of classroom technology integration including VCR players, document cameras, Smart Boards, MarkUp tablets, DVD players, and complete video conferencing equipment. All classrooms require secure login services from a central authentification source. Four computer classrooms with 31 computers in each are available for ad hoc use in courses not usually associated with computer labs. These classrooms allow instructors to train or obtain training for students on various topics. All computer classrooms require secure logins to access software and printing.

Spanning both campuses at Nicholls State University, Academic Computing supports or provides login and print services for 3 open labs and 24 departmental labs with a total of 1,050 computers available for student use. All open labs offer Microsoft Office and SPSS. The open-access labs are available to all students and are staffed by students who must complete basic Microsoft Word and Excel training. A progressive tier of pay increases applies to student workers who complete two additional certifications. Qualified student workers may opt for technical staff support to work on lab workstation configurations and assist with installation of new projects. The open labs also assist with helpdesk functions. Students may call, visit the labs, or submit problems online for further technical assistance. If student workers in the labs cannot solve a problem, they forward it to the technical staff for resolution.

Departmental labs are available only to students registered in courses of instruction within that specific department. These labs are loaded with specialty software and usually operate during weekday hours observed by the respective departments with some exceptions. At the request of departments, specialty software is made available in open-access labs for times during which departmental labs are not open.

Six video conferencing suites are available to all departments on campus. These suites range in size from 20- to 30-seat fully interactive classroom settings to 150-seat fully interactive auditorium settings. These video conferencing suites offer computer access to the Internet, PowerPoint, document cameras, VCRs, 35mm slide projectors, and printers. Up to four videoconferences can be active at one time and connected to bridging services at the state video network. Students who use our Houma campus attend some lectures via compressed video services from our main campus.

Ellender Memorial library offers over 25 computers for general access purposes for students and the public. These computers require secure logins to access software and printing. The library staff also provides basic technical support in Microsoft Office.

Nicholls State University also has wifi-based (802.11 standard) wireless connectivity for students and faculty. The University offers dual band connectivity across 35 percent of the Thibodaux campus. Currently wireless connectivity is offered in White Hall, Powell Hall, Polk Hall, Peltier Hall, Ayo Hall, Ellender Memorial Library, and Bollinger Student Union. Outside access is offered in the quadrangle and in front of the Student Union. Students can automatically register for service and stay connected from various access points on campus.

Forty-three high-speed digital dialup lines are available at no cost to students both on and off campus. Dialup connectivity is available at 56kb digital and is available to all students.

Support

Academic Computing [3] and University Computer Services [4] support all departments that use technology. Academic Computing provides hardware troubleshooting and software-level support for labs and classrooms, even if the equipment is purchased through grants. It also provides software support for instructors' office computers in any academic-based application. University Computer Services provides hardware-level support for all computers, printers, and the network. It also provides software-level support for connection to the mainframe, administrative email, and network services such as routing, firewall, email, dns, dhcp, and wireless connectivity.

Student support is available for wireless connectivity, Blackboard, email, dialup, and Web space. Students may call any open lab for assistance or visit the technical staff office for further assistance.

Training

The Instructional Technology Support staff [5] offers training to students and faculty members who wish to expand their skills. Recurrent classes are offered in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Blackboard, Access, HTML, and GroupWise. Participants may enroll online or call for a reservation. Courses are arranged in sequences for Microsoft Office topics including beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses. University College has avowed that all incoming students will be trained in using Blackboard.

A PT3 federal grant, which ended in December 2004, has been a catalyst for the training of Nicholls' faculty, administrators, students, and teachers from regional schools; the grant also enabled Nicholls' faculty to obtain equipment [6]. Currently, education majors are given training in the use of Pass-Port, a Web-based assessment system provided by the Louisiana Board of Regents [7].

In addition to the training provided by Academic Computing, University College, and PT3, all students are required to gain computer literacy by completing an approved computer literacy course for their curriculum. This requirement must be completed before any degree can be conferred, which ensures that Nicholls' students are computer literate.

Course Management Systems

Nicholls State University operates a Blackboard course management system [8]. In spring 2005, 536 courses were defined within the Blackboard system with 4,921 active users. The sites of 332 instructors averaged 105,733 page views per day. The most active day was a peak of 158,825 page views. The hardware is a quad Xeon processor with 8 gigabytes of main memory and 73 gigabytes of Raid 5 disk space with a dual channel adapter. Nicholls has experienced a tremendous growth in Blackboard utilization with content space growing from 5 gigabytes in January 2004 to 15 gigabytes in October 2004.

Video Conferencing Systems

Five video conferencing suites operate on campus. These video conferencing suites connect to the video data services provided to the state via T1 channelized services. Nicholls State University has the capability to simultaneously offer four off-campus bridged videoconferences through DAXing equipment located on both campuses. All video conferencing equipment is being upgraded to H.323 standard for connecting via IP protocol.

Plans call for bridging services to be available on campus and for any H.323-connected computer to participate in a bridged videoconference from any campus office. Additional plans call for ISDN capabilities to connect any outside entities directly to Nicholls State University. Distance Education and Academic Computing also plan to begin services which will connect streaming capable codecs to streaming servers for future playback.

Other Technologies

A number of other technologies are in use at Nicholls State University. For example, access card systems allow students to use a declining balance transaction system in order to purchase food and books, access computer labs, and use other campus venues. Additionally, courses in biology, chemistry, nursing, allied health, and physical sciences use other specialized equipment such as the following: Gas Chromatograph Spectrometers, Mid-IR Spectrometers, Digital Oscilloscopes, P-Chem Optical Systems, Thermal Cyclers, defibrillators, and various specialty medical devices.