Author Archives: adowning

North Campus HVAC Project Update

by adowning

As reported earlier this month, Baruch College—in partnership with the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY)—is working to upgrade the HVAC systems of the North Campus. An important piece of this $14 million capital project is replacing the cooling towers on the roofs of the Newman Vertical Campus (NVC) and the Information and Technology Building. These towers play a significant role in the maintenance of temperature.

Unfortunately, this work has been slightly delayed. Here is an update:

This past Saturday, Jan. 28, a street crane successfully removed the existing cooling towers of the Information and Technology Building (see image left). The downside of removal, however, is that there is no direct way to modulate the temperatures throughout the NVC and the Information and Technology Building while work is in progress.

Crane lifting temporary cooler in place

Be advised that campus engineers are doing their best to accommodate temperature-related complaints. The problem: When heat is reduced in one area, another area becomes even colder, and vice versa. Unfortunately, we anticipate that this situation will continue through this week, until the temporary chiller‒moved to accommodate the crane and other connections‒is back in operation.

Expected to be operational by Monday, Feb. 6, the temporary chiller will make it easier to modulate temperature. The first of the new cooling towers should be operational at the end of March or beginning of April, and the entire project is scheduled for completion this summer.

When completed, this upgrade will allow campus engineers to control the numerous components that balance the heating and air conditioning to the North Campus floors and rooms.

We apologize for any inconvenience and will continue to keep you apprised of developments.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Lisa Edwards
Assistant Vice President of Campus Facilities

New Look for the Home Page Search Box

by adowning

Today, we are updating the library home page with a redesigned search box that offers easier and more intuitive access to key library resources students and faculty want. Featuring a more modern, clean look, this new design draws on insights gained from a year’s worth of research into the preferences and habits of our users. With their participation in three rounds of usability testing, Baruch students played a central role in shaping the look and feel of the search box.

Old Design (2011 – 2016)

Old Library Search Box

 

 

New Design (2017)

Library Search Box 2017

 

 

A drop-down menu in the new design offers a clearer set of search options (as well as a few new choices):

library-search-box-2017-submenu

 

We hope you’ll give it a try and share with us any feedback you have about the new look.

 

 

 

The Renovation of Baruch College’s Main Student Computer Lab Has Begun!

by adowning

The Project

Baruch College is undertaking a complete renovation and upgrade of the main student computer lab on the sixth floor of the Information and Technology Building at 151 East 25th Street. Work will begin on Wednesday, November 16, and is expected to last through Summer 2017. Our goal is to have the entire facility renovated by the start of classes in Fall 2017.  Although we regret the inconvenience students will experience during the renovation period, the College looks forward to providing an outstanding, new student-centered facility.

The new features of the lab will include:

  • An expansion of the total area of the lab with student seating extending to the windows through the removal of the interior wall on the north side of the floor
  • Easy access to the help desk, relocated to the entrance hall area
  • 6 new student collaboration rooms with special presentation and conferencing equipment
  • New computers at every seat plus new printers, scanners, and other equipment for student use
  • New furnishings— tables, chairs, and lounge seating— to support group work as well as individual work
  • Electrical outlets at every table
  • A bring-your-own-device area

Schedules and Accommodations: What to Expect

The renovation will be accomplished in two phases.

Phase one will start with the construction of a temporary wall to separate the lab’s north and south sides. Full-scale construction will then begin on the south side, while the north side remains open. Once the south side renovation is completed, the south side will reopen.

Phase two of the work will focus on the north side.

Note: While each side is under construction, lab computers will be relocated and available on various floors of the Newman Library. To accommodate extra use of the library, temporary additional seats will be available on each floor for the duration of the project.

The architectural renderings of the renovated lab are provided below.

 

lab-rendering-south-side-with-collaboration-rooms

South side of the lab including collaboration rooms

 

 

lab-rendering-south-side-with-help-desk

South side of the lab showing the help desk

 

 

lab-rendering-south-side-from-above

South side of the lab from above showing help desk and entrance

 

 

lab-rendering-north-side-from-above

North side of the lab with lounge seating and individual work stations from above

 

 

lab-rendering-printer-alcove-and-byod-area

Printer alcove and bring-your-own-device area

 

 

 

 

 

Baruch Presentations at the 15th Annual CUNY IT Conference on 12/1/2016

by adowning

The 15th Annual CUNY IT Conference will be held on December 1 and 2 at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

The full conference program and registration information are available on the conference web site.  Listed below are the sessions that include presentations by Baruch College faculty and staff.

————————————————–

Thursday, December 1 at 1:00

“Technology Accessibility Task Force: An Update on Initiatives to Promote IT Accessibility Across CUNY”

Explores IT accessibility needs at CUNY and recent initiatives to promote accessibility tools and awareness at CUNY. Will highlight the new Accessibility website, recent surveys on needs in classrooms and other spaces, and recent initiatives to make IT more accessible to those with disabilities.

Arthur Downing, VP for Information Services and CIO, Dean of the Library, Baruch College

Caryn Giananti, Senior Research Analyst, Office of Institutional Research, CUNY Central

Carlos Herrera, Task Force Coordinator; Assistant Director, Services for Students with Disabilities, Queensborough Community College

Joseph Sherman, Accessibility Specialist, Office of Computing and Information Services, CUNY Central

————————————————–

Thursday, December 1 at 2:15

“Redefining ‘Success’ in the Hybrid Course”

How have hybrid courses complicated traditional notions of success in a classroom? What are the challenges in comparing the “success” of a hybrid course with the “success” of a traditional course? Current and former Center for Teaching and Learning directors and the faculty liaison at Baruch College discuss how hybridizing has created shifts in assignment design, student learning outcomes and student self-perceptions of learning that challenge and redefine success.

Allison Lehr-Samuels, Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), Baruch College

Kannan Mohan, Former Director of the CTL, Baruch College

Cheryl Smith, Faculty Liaison to CTL, Baruch College

Laurie Hurson, Hybrid Coordinator at the CTL, Baruch College

Lindsey Albracht, Hybrid Coordinator at the CTL, Baruch College

Construction on Library’s 3rd Floor Related to Possible New Shelving

by adowning

Library 3rd Floor Construction

 

Library users will notice that several areas of the book stacks on the third floor have been temporarily closed for construction.  During September a work crew will be drilling in the ceiling above these areas to analyze the load strength of the floor above.  We would like to install high density shelving on the fourth floor to allow us to increase space for student seating.  The plastic enclosures around the drilling locations will prevent plaster and dust from spreading across the library. The actual drilling is scheduled for late in the evening to minimize disruption to our users.

Library users who need any books or bound periodicals from an area that is closed should inquire at the circulation desk on the second floor.  Please do not enter aisles that are roped off with caution tape.

The idea to install high-density shelving emerged from planning discussions with students and faculty.  During that process it was very clear that increasing the seating capacity of the library is a high priority.

We regret the inconvenience that this work may cause during this month, but we expect that library users will appreciate the benefits that result.

 

Introducing Textbook Express!

by adowning

In a hurry to study for final exams? Reserve your textbook on your way to The Newman Library and it will be ready for you to pick up from the Express/Quick Return Window when you arrive!!

Beginning Monday, May 4 and extending through Thursday, May 21, you can simply text “Baruch” to 66746 and then send the textbook/course information for the book you need. If the book is available, you will receive a confirmation that it will be held for 20 minutes.

Textbook Express is a pilot service during final exams, available when the Circulation Desk is open. Only reserve textbooks can be requested via Textbook Express.

Internet & Wi-Fi Service Interruption in Library Building – April 3 – 6

by adowning

Due to essential air conditioning repairs in the Library & Technology Building there will be no network services, including Internet access and Wi-Fi service, in that building and the Annex Building on Friday, April 3 beginning at 7:00 a.m. and continuing until Monday, April 6. Network services are planned to be restored in the building by 9:00 a.m. on April 6. The Building will remain open its usual hours during the service outage. Services will operate as normal on the rest of the campus network.

 

Limited Access to Library: December 24 – January 1

by adowning

Once the fall semester has ended, the library will be closed December 24, December 25, December 27, December 28, and January 1.

We will  be open, though, on December 26, December 29, December 30, and December 31, but only to the following groups:

  • Baruch College faculty
  • Baruch College students who need to return items they have borrowed or need to pay fines

For details on library hours in January and next spring, go to the Hours page on the library website.

Extended Library Hours During Finals

by adowning

The library will be open continuously from 7 am on December 16 through 11:59 pm on December 23. Only currently enrolled Baruch College students may remain in the library between the hours of midnight and 7 am.

For details on library hours throughout the semester, go to the Hours page on the library website.