 
          44
        
        
          
            ACADEMIC SUPPORT
          
        
        
          Section Seven
        
        
          
            SERVICES
          
        
        
          
            ACADEMIC STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
          
        
        
          Other Student Support Services include the Academic Computer Support,
        
        
          Instructional Support Labs, Instructional Technology and Distance Learning Services,
        
        
          Library, Military Opportunities, and Veterans’ Services.
        
        
          
            A.  Academic Computer Support
          
        
        
          Technology Services operates the computer labs and computer classrooms on campus
        
        
          to provide students and faculty the support necessary for the academic programs.  Darton
        
        
          recognizes the dynamic changes in the computer industry and offers services using the
        
        
          latest in technology within its reach.  In addition to hundreds of PCs in the labs and
        
        
          classrooms, Technology Services operates several systems, including Windows, UNIX,
        
        
          LINUX Servers, as well as, ORACLE databases, in a networked environment with internet
        
        
          connection to thousands of sites around the globe.  Web-based courses are supported for
        
        
          distance learning, while many faculty maintain web pages as adjuncts to their courses.
        
        
          The College encourages students to be competent in the use of computers.
        
        
          Competence is defined as the ability to use computers in analyzing and solving problems in
        
        
          order to increase productivity.  All students are provided an e-mail account and networked
        
        
          storage space during their first term of enrollment.
        
        
          MyDC is Darton State College’s web portal – students can check their campus email
        
        
          account, view and save appointments on their personal calendars, receive reminders about
        
        
          important class and campus events, check their grades, register for classes, and pay their
        
        
          fees through Banner Web.
        
        
          Technology Services supervises a central computer lab of over 70 computers and 4
        
        
          printers available to students.  Windows 7 is installed on each Pentium-class PC with Office
        
        
          2007 Professional, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Visual Studio, and
        
        
          other software required for classes; also, Apple McIntosh computers running Mac OSX.  A
        
        
          worker, usually a student, will be in the lab during all open hours to assist in using the
        
        
          computers.  The lab worker is not responsible for helping students with their homework
        
        
          assignments.
        
        
          
            B. Instructional Technology
          
        
        
          Technology Services staff and facilities support the design, development, and
        
        
          production of instructional content. The department also facilitates the integration of
        
        
          instructional technology into traditional academic settings, distance learning initiatives, and
        
        
          community enrichment programs.  Instructional technology is implemented across the
        
        
          curriculum through the use of multimedia courseware and content, web-based instructional
        
        
          materials and activities, and other appropriate presentation technologies.  Faculty and staff
        
        
          development, one-on-one faculty support, technical assistance, and helpdesk support are
        
        
          also available.
        
        
          
            C.  Instructional Support Labs
          
        
        
          Darton State College instructional support labs offer academic support to students
        
        
          seeking assistance in writing, reading, mathematics, and foreign language. Each lab
        
        
          provides a stress-free environment that supports college curriculum and methodology,
        
        
          yeteach offers alternati
        
        
          
            ve tutorials that address diverse learning styles.  The labs offer
          
        
        
          
            students one-on-one
          
        
        
          tutoring conferences or small group sessions on particular skill areas.
        
        
          In addition, professional administrative staff is available to assist with special concerns and
        
        
          to provide expertise in related fields.  Each lab offers access to computer technology,
        
        
          including computer-assisted instruction in math, grammar, reading, and foreign language.