MicroComputer Services
We have the best IT staff around, Rick Williams, Mary Bausch, Larry Stroud, Richard Smith, Henry Fuller and Aaron Bueg.
The MicroComputer Services department has undergone many changes through the years. We started with 25 Apple IIe's in the Business lab where our Intro. to Data Processing classes were taught and now have 10 fully functional computer labs. These labs are: 4 IBM compatible labs of 25 computers each for classroom instruction on the South campus, a business lab on the North campus with 21 computers, a Learning Assistance Center tutoring lab with 32 computers, a Network Classroom with 17 computers, a Learning Assistance Center writing lab with 10 computers, and a CAD/Drafting lab on the North campus with 30 computers. All of these machines are connected to the college's academic network. We now teach word-processing, spreadsheet, database, accounting, desktop publishing, presentations, advanced mathematics, complete office suites, internet classes including introductory and advanced web page design , computer programming, and computer basics on the computers in these labs. These labs are also used for tutoring and research through the internet. In 1992, Northark joined the ARKNet consortium which connected many 2 and 4 year colleges into the Internet. The first use of the internet was primarily E-mail and basic internet functions which included telnet and FTP. (File Transfer Protocol). Since we have been connected to the "net" we have expanded these services to include World Wide Web (WWW) access and our own internet presence with Pioneer, our World Wide Web server, and Internet Classroom Server.
The MicroComputer Services department not only supports and administers the computer labs and network, but also supports and services all of the colleges computer equipment in the faculty and staff offices. This includes the repairing, installing and connecting the computers to the college's network. We also assist with the ordering of all computers. Currently, there are over 450 microcomputers that the department supports on two campuses.