It's been nearly one year since Interim President Ray Kieft began releasing $853,800 in additional funds to the college's three schools, and departments are reaping strong returns. The one-time money was earmarked for equipment and technology purchases and was allocated based upon priority lists that each department and school submitted.

The largest allocation was $150,000 for a new digital media lab, to be used for the new digital media minor, which incorporates courses from the Art, Communication Arts and Sciences, and Technical Communications and Media Production departments. Students choose from four concentrations—still media, interactive media, motion media and content design.

"The interest in this is just booming," said Assistant Professor Clare Cornell, who oversees the Art Department's computer imaging offerings.

The lab, located in Arts Building 277, will be furnished with computers, cameras, large screens, cinema displays and a sound booth to handle high-end video editing, animation, rendering and CD/DVD production. Also included in the area is a new Art Department computer lab, which Cornell explained will be solely for using digital processes to make fine art.

"We're trying to meet the needs of students," Cornell said. "Demand for this type of instruction is only going to increase. If I had two additional labs I could fill them with students right now."

Even on a smaller scale, the additional funds are making a difference.

Director of Criminalistics Chris Tindall used $7,000 to buy two used high-end microscopes to add to the department's one microscope. "Now three students can be working at once, and some of the accessories have enhanced what I can teach," he said. "It definitely enhances the learning experience."

Similarly, in the School of Professional Studies the funds have been used to repair and replace outdated equipment. "Much of our equipment, especially in some of our equipment-intensive areas, had grown old," said Sandra Haynes, interim dean of the School of Professional Studies. Among the upgrades were new generators for engineering technology, new software and hardware that are used to teach technology in the classroom for Teacher Education and new flight training equipment for Aerospace Science.

Ken Engelbrecht, chair of the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, is in the process of creating a new integrated science lab to be used mainly by secondary teaching students. Mindful of limited funding and space on campus, Engelbrecht has worked out an arrangement with Community College of Denver to provide the space and Metro is converting it into the lab. Both colleges will use this dedicated classroom and laboratory space. The integrated science class, in which chemistry, physics, astronomy and earth science are combined and integrated into a two-semester course, needs the classroom and laboratory space to enable all four subjects to be covered. "It's great that we've been able to do this, especially in cooperation with CCD," Engelbrecht said.

In the School of Business, the vast majority of funds went to upgrade a computer lab used by computer information systems, finance, marketing, management and accounting classes. The lab provides an interactive, hands-on learning environment and is equipped with new hardware. "We've had nothing but good feedback about the lab," said CIS Professor Kathy Marold.