In 1995 groupware applications such as Internet Relay Chat were removed. The playing of computer games has been severely restricted. An online touch-typing tutor is offered on the network to help students speed up their word processing. The management of user accounts has been almost completely automated by the integration of student registration with the computer accounts system. Costs have been reduced by the change, while much frustration amongst teaching staff due to wasted teaching time has been avoided.
Student needs The promotion of student centredness is a part of the university's mission.
Full and flexible access to computing facilities is part of allowing students themselves to cater for their needs more fully. The ease of achieving active user status is important to students, particularly part-time students, who lead a dislocated existence within the modular system and on widely separated campuses. Beyond the personal use of email mentioned above, much use is made of it by tutors and other students engaged on group work. This is necessary, on a modular course and with growth in part-time study, for adequate communication between students and with staff. Students may already own computers, but access to course-specific software is essential.