IT facilities

 IT_facilities

The College has extensive computing facilities available to students. These include computer rooms at both sites offering open access to students 24/7 during term-time, further complemented by machines located in the lending library. In total, students have 70 public access computers so there are no waiting times. All machines are networked and benefit from a fast 100meg connection to JANet.

As well as standard applications including SPSS on all machines, there are computers at both sites with specialist programmes such as mind-mapping software installed for students with specific learning difficulties. In addition to Internet access, the College operates and maintains an Intranet, providing staff and students with both in-house and remote access to materials such as electronic copies of lecture notes, course and module handbooks, office services, access to the library catalogue, electronic bulletin boards and useful contacts.

Underpinning all of the above, the College replaced its IT server infrastructure during 2005/06 in order to provide a cohesive, integrated network and the capacity to address growth. The new server infrastructure contains sufficient processing and storage capacity to allow for the development of existing, and the introduction of new services. During 2007, the College replaced most of the PCs used by students as part of its policy of three-year replacement of IT equipment. HEFCE capital funding is used to support IT infrastructure and hardware replacement.