Upgrades and specific class software is installed in a similar manner. Support Staff Hiring and Training As with most units responsible for computer classrooms, Lab Management employs students to provide front line support. When a new computer classroom is built away from any existing computer classroom, a new support staff is hired. Job postings and ads are used to get a pool of applicants. Interviews are conducted and focus more on customer service than on technology savvy.
Training is conducted in both a formal process and informal process.
The training focuses on basic skills such as customer service, trouble-shooting, use of web tools to support the operations of the computer classroom, and on general familiarization with the technology resources on campus. Because of increasing concerns over the appropriate use of computers, authentication has been a major concern. Lab Management has employed a system that requires students to logon to use the computer. The system is similar in design on both the Mac and PC platforms. The logon connects the student to the appropriate server for the room and allows them to use applications on both the server and the hard drive and to print documents.