Communicating in Times of Uncertainty

Throughout recent history, Universities across the United States have been tasked with creating efficient ways to inform students of campus emergencies and/or significant events. During my time here at IUB, the systems and protocols that IU has in place to deal with campus emergencies have luckily never really been used for an actual crisis or imminent threat, only two tornado warnings… This all changed this past week, though, when inches of ice and snow were predicted to blanket the entire Midwest region and possibly make traveling a nearly impossible task. Beyond the obvious knowledge of an impending storm front that most students heard or read about, many students did not know where to go to find out information regarding the cancellation of classes, updated weather emergencies or even general information about the status of the IUB campus. The following are ways that IU tries to reach all students during important campus events.

Email

Obviously, email is the fastest and easiest way to address every student at one time for campus administrators. All students, faculty and staff receive emails from IU that illustrate the current threat to campus and/or students and any information or action that is required or recommended from students. Unfortunately, not all students are able to check their email at all times of the day if they are in class or don’t have a smart phone with email access.

Text Message (SMS)

Another quick, convenient way to reach the overwhelming majority of students at one time by sending a brief description of any current or future events happening on campus and brief instructions or recommended actions. Given the nature of SMS service, most communications will be incomplete compared to Email or official IU website communications. This service also requires that your emergency contact information is up-to-date in IU’s emergency notification system.

Phone

Again, assuming that your contact information is up-to-date in IU’s system, all students will receive an automated recording of the text message described above. This ensures that even those who may not have text messaging capabilities will receive the same information.

Official University Websites

Both iub.edu and emergency.iu.edu will be the first to display campus threat, emergency and/or weather information, along with the actions being taken by the University and the recommended actions to be taken by students, faculty and staff. Placing information on these sites first allows any individual to immediately access this information from any internet-enabled device. The other services listed above, as you might imagine, cannot possibly reach every student at exactly the same moment. With over 35,000 students enrolled at IUB, data must be sent in segments to ensure that networks do not become overwhelmed. Although, despite the rolling release of information, I personally have never received the same information more than five minutes later than another person. 

For anyone that was wondering how a campus as diverse as IUB communicates with more than 35,000 students in times of emergencies, it is clear to see that multiple forms of redundancy exist within IU’s communications system to ensure that regardless of where you are or what phone service you have, some form of information will reach you. Likewise, the exact same information can always be obtained through various sources.

Class Sizes at IUB

The question no one ever knows while walking to class on the first day of classes – how many students will be in this class? Of course, the observant student will notice the “Total Enrollment” of each course in their schedule, but what does that number really mean? Will 400 students equate to a classroom the size of my gymnasium in high school, or a square box with 395 seats, all of which are slightly larger than a sheet of paper? Honestly, it’s hard to tell during your first few semesters on campus, but depending on the class, you can typically expect the following arrangements. 

For most general education classes, including economics, psychology, and most 100 level math courses, classrooms will typically have room for 250 to 400+ students. Also, many popular classes that are required for admission into specific degree programs, Chemistry for example, will also be in large classrooms to accommodate the largest number of students possible.

Other introductory courses, communications classes, and classes that may have other alternatives will be held in much smaller classrooms throughout campus. Classes in these settings will often seem reminiscent of high school in many aspects. The most notable of these similarities will be the fact that you will actually know everyone’s name before the end of the semester, as will your instructor (strongly encourage you to attend these classes).

As one continues to move up into more advanced courses, elective courses, and courses not immediately required for admissions or labeled as prerequisites for other courses, most students will find that class sizes will typically not exceed 50 students. Also, as these classes begin to fill one’s schedule, the locations for these classes will also become for unique as they can often extend to the corners of campus or inside residence halls.

Taking pictures of an actual class proved to be quite difficult (impossible actually), so hopefully these pictures will help to illustrate the types of classrooms that you will see as your academic career at IUB progresses.

Tips for Winter Commuting on Campus

As snow continues to fall across campus, mustering enough motivation to face the elements and walk to class is exceptionally difficult this time of year. And because winter occupies the majority of the spring semester, I don’t recommend skipping classes because of the cold weather (or at all for that matter). With that out of the way, I shall tell you my approach for getting to class on those bone-chilling, teeth-chattering, well-below-freezing mornings that make you question the nonchalant weather forecast you just watched before leaving.

My first recommendation, one that should not come as a surprise, is to wear warm pants, coats, gloves, hats, and most importantly, boots. An added note about hats: Those things that would alleviate the “I can’t feel my ears” phenomenon should not be left hanging at home simply because you did your hair this morning

My second suggestion would be to ensure that you have everything you need for all of your classes that day before leaving your room. Sounds redundant, I know, but when I leave for class I only want to return when I’m finished. Walking twice as far as you have to in this weather is never fun, so make sure you don’t have to do it.

Finally, consider planning out your trip so that you follow the bus routes on your way to and from classes, even if it is slightly less direct. Buses circle campus every few minutes throughout the day, and finding one that is going where you are is never a difficult task. And if you happen to be walking past a stop while one pulls up, you just made your trip less exhausting.

So there you go. That’s how make it to class while staying as warm as possible during the freezing cold winter months in Bloomington. There’s nothing you can do about the weather, but little things here and there can make dealing with it much easier and more tolerable.

The Evolution of the Classroom

The new classrooms at Union Street Center are finally completed and already being used for class sessions throughout the week.

With innovative styling and technology not found anywhere else on campus, these classrooms provide a promising glimpse of what may be to come in terms of classroom design. In addition to the technology present in each new classroom, uniquely styled, fully adjustable, ergonomic furniture has been selected to outfit each room.

No longer are the days of toggling between multiple content windows. The most advanced room at USC presents instructors with the ability to display numerous visual elements through an array of projectors, monitors and imaging equipment, all of which can be controlled from intuitive, touch screen displays.

Without a doubt, I would love to have at least one class in these incredible classroom facilities that offer students and instructors unique tools and amenities to keep the learning environment interactive and comfortable.

It’s that time of the semester again: finals week. The week that everyone seems to dread, whether it be the end to an easy semester, the stress of having to study for an exam in almost every class, or just the fact that you must now walk to class at some undesirable time for a test you didn’t really study for… Whatever the reason, there are a few simple ways to make this final week of classes and exams more enjoyable and productive. 

For starters, and despite what you may do throughout the rest of the school year, get plenty of sleep. Don’t stay up until the early hours of morning. Regardless of whether you’re truly studying or not, nothing is going to stick as well as it would if you got plenty of sleep and woke up at a decent time the next morning. And just because you don’t have anything to do until later in the day doesn’t mean you should sleep until noon. Get up at a reasonable time and do something productive or mind-stimulating to help get yourself ready and focus on the exam.

Breakfast is the meal that seems to have been removed from every college student's menu since the absence of a personal chef (Mom) makes this chore so inconvenient when class starts mere minutes after you finally roll out of bed. Luckily for those that have nightmares about cooking, there are quick and easy options that will still allow you to run (literally) to class while getting that essential nutrient jump start. I recommend cereal as it has proven to be gentle on the stomach in the early hours, while keeping you plenty satisfied until lunch. But eggs, oatmeal, bagels and all those other tasty options are never a bad investment either.

Studying, that thing everyone claims to be doing at the library during finals week. I’ll kill two birds with one stone for this topic. Personally, going to the library to study is a decent idea, if you:

• Go alone (unless it is a group project or you need legitimate help)
• Don’t have Facebook lurking somewhere on your task bar
• Don’t sit next to a ground floor window, or one overlooking sidewalks or roadways 
• Leave your phone on silent and in your book bag

But let’s think about the last time you walked into Wells Library, how many people go there to study (hundreds), who are they there with (friends), what do they all seem to be doing when you walk by (perusing facebook), and what always seems to be missing (academic books and thought processes)… If you can manage to find a spot where you aren’t talking, texting, “people watching” or surfing (the web of course), then the Library really isn’t a bad investment of your time. But if all these potential “traps” seem to be calling your name, go someplace more unique. Nearly all academic buildings are sparsely populated during finals week, but still have open labs and libraries that aren’t being used for class any longer.

Whatever you do, take advantage of the various resources across campus to study, relax and hopefully survive (academically) throughout finals week.

The West Tower of Wells Library

The West Tower of the Wells Library, probably the only place an undergraduate student will ever explore during their time at IU. While it is located inside of the main library at IU, the West Tower really doesn’t contain that many books or research material. Although, what it lacks in books it more than makes up for in technology, group and individual resources and study areas. 

Beginning on the first floor of the West Tower is what is known as the Information Commons. This entire floor is where students have access to numerous black and white printer stations, group and individual computer terminals, two large format, color plotters, a color laser printer, information clusters for large groups or classes and the UITS Help Desk. All of the resources on this floor are available to all IU students at little or no cost.

The second floor is what I consider to be a quiet study extension of the Information Commons area. This floor prohibits cell phone use, loud talking, group work and any other noise generating activities. Some reading/research materials are available on this floor, as well as individual computer workstations, couches, work tables with individual power outlets, and a print release station and printer.

The third floor is also dedicated as a quiet study floor for individual work. In addition to all the features of the second floor, this floor is also home to Writing Tutorial Services (WTS). WTS offers free planning and revision assistance to IU students on writing assignments and other written coursework. Students must usually schedule an appointment with WTS as many students utilize this resource.

Moving on to the fourth floor, students will find an enormous sea of desk clusters that are intended for group work. Although more private stations are available for presentation practice or skype interviews, these facilities must be requested/reserved and are often in use throughout the day. Regardless, plenty of space is available on this floor for any size group with no noise restrictions.

Finally, the fifth floor of the West Tower is a smaller version of the fourth, with large group computer workstations. Large tables and wide screen monitors make this the perfect floor for groups working on PowerPoint presentations, Excel spreadsheets or just writing a group research paper. No reservations can be made for these workstations, but there is almost always an available station. A printer and UITS technology consultant are also available at all times.

So if you haven’t already explored the West Tower, now is the perfect time. With the semester coming to a close and finals just around the corner, the right place to study, print and collaborate on your final project(s) may just be at the Library?

When the Weather goes South

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As the weather situation here in Bloomington continues to gradually approach freezing, the outdoor activities that many students once enjoyed have now become little more than fond memories of warmer times. For many, these very memories are of physical activity, and not just merely walking to class without freezing. I’m talking about biking, running, football, Frisbee, tennis, swimming, and even the leisurely round of golf that some find time to squeeze in. All of these activities that students frequently enjoy during their first and last months on campus are seemingly lost and forgotten during the winter months, or so it seems…

Two facilities exist on campus to rediscover these activities during the winter months, but for brevity’s sake I will focus on the newest facility that many students prefer. The Student Recreational Sports Center, or SRSC, is an enormous complex that contains just about every kind of recreation area one might want. There are indoor pools, basketball, volleyball, tennis, racquetball and squash courts. Spacious workout studios designed for group sessions feature sectioned areas for everything from cardio to strength training, and there is even a one-eighth-mile indoor track.

All SRSC facilities except the tennis courts are available for student use during the regular academic year by simply presenting an IU Student ID card. Once inside, students have access to state-of-the-art fitness equipment and rental equipment. Rental equipment is available on the lower level and includes everything from pingpong paddles to volleyball nets. If there is an activity that the SRSC can accommodate, there is rental equipment available at no cost.

Those who see exercise facilities as breeding grounds for germs and other unsightly adventures can rest assured that the utmost care is taken by the SRSC staff and administration to ensure that conservative dress codes are followed and that equipment is thoroughly cleaned before and after each use. But don’t get the impression that this place is all about rules. It’s truly about you and what you want to do while you’re there. And if you don’t know what you want or how to accomplish it, just ask anyone wearing a dark blue SRSC polo shirt for help. Whatever you do, don’t sit inside all winter lamenting the lost days of warm weather!

So now that you’ve proven that you have enough focus and determination to read this entire blog post, jog over (you’ll be out in the cold for less time) to the SRSC and get started early on a New Year’s resolution that you might actually stick to this time. And if you really need some extra motivation, you can even drive your car and park for free (for up to two hours) in the SRSC’s parking lot. Sorry, but there are no excuses left. Hope to see you there…