Dean Poole,
The computer lab has been a testing ground for new ideas, a space for collaborative learning among students, a reliable space for completing studio assignments, and an essential means of working during times when laptops break or need lengthy repairs. Not a day went by that the lab wasn’t filled with students from various studios learning from one another.
Since the removal of the computer lab, a few laptops and “virtual machines” – which must be frequently checked in, and can only be checked out during unposted and often varied hours – have been made available to students experiencing technical issues with their own devices. Students regularly experience issues with monitors, hard drives, motherboards, and USB ports. These issues render the laptops worthless until they are fixed, which often takes an extended length of time. However, the limited laptops and virtual machines available are often checked out and thus unavailable to those that need them most.
The machines in the computer lab were more powerful and could quickly compute at speeds unavailable via laptop, calculating and interpolating copious amounts of data – amounts which laptops cannot handle. They did not require students to check them out and were available 24/7, allowing for a more flexible workflow in an area that was easily and efficiently monitored by cameras, faculty, staff, and fellow students. Additionally, the interaction between students of varied educational levels, backgrounds, and experiences provided a strong collaborative environment to supplement the studio experience, as well as to create a peer-based and peer-run learning environment.
First-year students, having purchased expensive laptops with four-year warranties, could be left in their fifth year without a computer, if something should happen to their systems. If their systems remain operational, the laptop itself has difficulty coping with technological advancements, especially those of programs and software, which will likely require students to purchase yet another expensive computer by the time they graduate. With no open, collaborative environment to employ in times of need, students could easily fall behind in studio courses and electives alike.
The recently distributed Annual Progress Report portrays the removal of the computer lab as an advancement for the college in terms of technology, but it has resulted in both a social and an academic loss for the students who benefited from its presence, and thus a loss for the entire Art + Architecture Building.
We are calling upon you to reinstate the computer lab for the betterment of the college, security of student work, and advancement of the technology and learning within the College of Architecture and Design.
Sincerely,
CoAD Students
Updates
February 1, 2017
I have spent hours in the library watching classmates struggle with laggy remote servers because our dedicated lab is gone. The administration has yet to acknowledge the depth of this disaster but the shared frustration in the hallways continues to grow.
February 1, 2017
Seeing this momentum grow proves that I am not the only one struggling to finish studio work without a proper lab. It feels like the entire department is finally acknowledging that we need a reliable space to get our projects done.
Reached 100 supporters
February 1, 2017
26 Comments
The Computer Lab was my favorite place to come together and test ideas. It brought us closer and helped us collaborate. It brought a diverse range of majors, year levels and different studios together in one place. A monitor on a desk is just not the same. Bring it back.
Additionally, I was able to get a job at a Pritzker Prize-winning architecture firm thanks to the computer lab, as my laptop didn't have the software or processing capacity needed to complete the 3D modeling part of the application.
Access to quality computers levels the playing field for students from all backgrounds. I could not have graduated top of my class without access to the lab considering in my five years I had two laptops crash and one hard drive fail. Technology setbacks are a hurdle our industry has yet to solve and will continue to be an issue as our dependence on it grows. The computer lab was a reliable and realistic backup plan that all students could depend on.
The computer lab at UT COAD gave me access to a more competent computer than I had (and could afford). It also creates a sub-community within the COAD that includes all years, undergrad and grad, interior design and architecture. I learn more in the computer lab than I would have on my computer at home or even in my own studio.
It's economically unjust to remove open access to one of the key tools in architecture education. The cost of architecture school is already prohibitive for so many -- removing a computer lab only exacerbates this situation.
The question the UTK College of Architecture and Design should be asking itself is, "Are we creating a creative environment that is both equitable and nurturing?" With the removal of the computer labs, the answer is seemingly, "No". It may be argued that students are required to purchase laptops when they enter the program or that laptops are available to be checked-out. For those who cannot afford these expenses, financial aid is available or a laptop may be lent for free for their time in the program. What is not considered are the hoops (barriers) and hassle (time) between these students and the laptops. We are told these laptops are essential for success and pressured to purchase them, even though, for some, money is in short supply. Applying for even more financial assistance becomes yet another burden. Returning and rechecking out laptops becomes a waste of your time. Knowing that if your purchased laptop breaks, you may not have the time or money to get it fixed because of both your financial situation and the impending studio deadline lingers in the back of your mind. All of these factors put certain young designers at a disadvantage compared to others. The computer lab not only served as a level playing field for all students, but provided a collaborative space for testing new ideas and building community outside of studio. Students of different years and skill sets, all using the same computers, were able to ask questions and learn from each other. Some may contend that if all students had a similar space to work in, but were using their own/loaned laptops, this would create a healthy environment. Or that, by every student having a laptop, they would have more flexibility in their work location. Again, what is not considered is the monetary/temporal burden of laptops. Students with fewer financial barriers are able to purchase faster, higher quality machines; this translates to more time left for engaging with other young designers and less e
Bring back the computers
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Dean Poole,
The computer lab has been a testing ground for new ideas, a space for collaborative learning among students, a reliable space for completing studio assignments, and an essential means of working during times when laptops break or need lengthy repairs. Not a day went by that the lab wasn’t filled with students from various studios learning from one another.
Since the removal of the computer lab, a few laptops and “virtual machines” – which must be frequently checked in, and can only be checked out during unposted and often varied hours – have been made available to students experiencing technical issues with their own devices. Students regularly experience issues with monitors, hard drives, motherboards, and USB ports. These issues render the laptops worthless until they are fixed, which often takes an extended length of time. However, the limited laptops and virtual machines available are often checked out and thus unavailable to those that need them most.
The machines in the computer lab were more powerful and could quickly compute at speeds unavailable via laptop, calculating and interpolating copious amounts of data – amounts which laptops cannot handle. They did not require students to check them out and were available 24/7, allowing for a more flexible workflow in an area that was easily and efficiently monitored by cameras, faculty, staff, and fellow students. Additionally, the interaction between students of varied educational levels, backgrounds, and experiences provided a strong collaborative environment to supplement the studio experience, as well as to create a peer-based and peer-run learning environment.
First-year students, having purchased expensive laptops with four-year warranties, could be left in their fifth year without a computer, if something should happen to their systems. If their systems remain operational, the laptop itself has difficulty coping with technological advancements, especially those of programs and software, which will likely require students to purchase yet another expensive computer by the time they graduate. With no open, collaborative environment to employ in times of need, students could easily fall behind in studio courses and electives alike.
The recently distributed Annual Progress Report portrays the removal of the computer lab as an advancement for the college in terms of technology, but it has resulted in both a social and an academic loss for the students who benefited from its presence, and thus a loss for the entire Art + Architecture Building.
We are calling upon you to reinstate the computer lab for the betterment of the college, security of student work, and advancement of the technology and learning within the College of Architecture and Design.
Sincerely,
CoAD Students
Updates
February 1, 2017
I have spent hours in the library watching classmates struggle with laggy remote servers because our dedicated lab is gone. The administration has yet to acknowledge the depth of this disaster but the shared frustration in the hallways continues to grow.
February 1, 2017
Seeing this momentum grow proves that I am not the only one struggling to finish studio work without a proper lab. It feels like the entire department is finally acknowledging that we need a reliable space to get our projects done.
Reached 100 supporters
February 1, 2017
26 Comments
I thought for sure this wasn't true when I saw it. The computer lab serves those who need a place to collaborate, work on a dependable machine, and to help those who don't have access to the financial resources to buy the nicest laptop available. As an alumni, I'd hope my donations are supporting students and not being lost.
The Computer Lab was my favorite place to come together and test ideas. It brought us closer and helped us collaborate. It brought a diverse range of majors, year levels and different studios together in one place. A monitor on a desk is just not the same. Bring it back.
Additionally, I was able to get a job at a Pritzker Prize-winning architecture firm thanks to the computer lab, as my laptop didn't have the software or processing capacity needed to complete the 3D modeling part of the application.
Access to quality computers levels the playing field for students from all backgrounds. I could not have graduated top of my class without access to the lab considering in my five years I had two laptops crash and one hard drive fail. Technology setbacks are a hurdle our industry has yet to solve and will continue to be an issue as our dependence on it grows. The computer lab was a reliable and realistic backup plan that all students could depend on.
The computer lab at UT COAD gave me access to a more competent computer than I had (and could afford). It also creates a sub-community within the COAD that includes all years, undergrad and grad, interior design and architecture. I learn more in the computer lab than I would have on my computer at home or even in my own studio.
It's economically unjust to remove open access to one of the key tools in architecture education. The cost of architecture school is already prohibitive for so many -- removing a computer lab only exacerbates this situation.
The question the UTK College of Architecture and Design should be asking itself is, "Are we creating a creative environment that is both equitable and nurturing?" With the removal of the computer labs, the answer is seemingly, "No". It may be argued that students are required to purchase laptops when they enter the program or that laptops are available to be checked-out. For those who cannot afford these expenses, financial aid is available or a laptop may be lent for free for their time in the program. What is not considered are the hoops (barriers) and hassle (time) between these students and the laptops. We are told these laptops are essential for success and pressured to purchase them, even though, for some, money is in short supply. Applying for even more financial assistance becomes yet another burden. Returning and rechecking out laptops becomes a waste of your time. Knowing that if your purchased laptop breaks, you may not have the time or money to get it fixed because of both your financial situation and the impending studio deadline lingers in the back of your mind. All of these factors put certain young designers at a disadvantage compared to others. The computer lab not only served as a level playing field for all students, but provided a collaborative space for testing new ideas and building community outside of studio. Students of different years and skill sets, all using the same computers, were able to ask questions and learn from each other. Some may contend that if all students had a similar space to work in, but were using their own/loaned laptops, this would create a healthy environment. Or that, by every student having a laptop, they would have more flexibility in their work location. Again, what is not considered is the monetary/temporal burden of laptops. Students with fewer financial barriers are able to purchase faster, higher quality machines; this translates to more time left for engaging with other young designers and less e
Bring back the computers
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I thought for sure this wasn't true when I saw it. The computer lab serves those who need a place to collaborate, work on a dependable machine, and to help those who don't have access to the financial resources to buy the nicest laptop available. As an alumni, I'd hope my donations are supporting students and not being lost.