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August 13, 2009

ULM’s Department of English receives $110,000 renovation and upgrade grant

Three professors received a grant from the Board of Regent’s Support Fund, with matching funds from ULM, to renovate and update Computer-assisted Composition Classrooms (CCC’s) in the department.

Drs. Edward Eller and Chris Harris from the Department of English and Rhonda Adams-Jones from Continuing Education received notification of the grant money for $110,000, which will be used to replace outdated machinery and older projectors in the CCC with new, innovative and interactive projection systems.

A fourth computer-assisted writing environment will be added to the three established classrooms in the CCC complex in the Administration Building, according to Eller.

In addition, Eller will direct the installation of upgraded classroom management software. “The renovations will not only improve the classrooms’ overall ambience, they will enable professors to more easily manage instruction and provide students with a computer friendly environment,” he said.

Upon the project’s completion, the department will host 75 percent of its writing intensive courses in rooms equipped with the latest computer equipment. Each student will also have access to a computer for immediate and on-the-spot application of writing strategies and techniques learned in class, said Eller.

The room renovations, which are scheduled for completion by summer 2010, are under the direction of facilities manager, Christie Hemphill. Said Eller, “What with the saturation of computers in every aspect or our life today, our aim is nothing less than total immersion of students in writing with computers--teaching them how to use the computer as a writing instrument as surely as they would use a handbook, dictionary, pen and paper."

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