Modernizing Classrooms

The IT Department at UMass Boston has a commitment to doing everything it can to ensure student success, while at the same time easing the lives of faculty and staff as much as possible. A key part of this mission involves consistently upgrading technology that has reached the end of its life cycle or for which better options have been developed. This past year, there were some exciting improvements to multiple rooms in University Hall, including room 1100—a 500-seat auditorium and the most utilized classroom space on campus.  

A total of $200,000 was spent on upgrading A/V controller systems and swapping out lamp projectors for laser ones across campus. The lamp projectors have a life of 2,000 to 3,000 hours, which meant yearly replacements at a cost of around $800 each. The new projectors are both environmentally and financially beneficial. “The lasers have a life expectancy of 20,000 to 30,000 hours, which would be over 10 years at 8 hours per day for 50 weeks,” explains John Jessoe, Director of Classroom Technology and AV Services. “The old lamps were also considered hazardous waste, so we are also helping the environment by not having to replace the lamps in these projectors every year.”  

The new technology has not gone unnoticed by faculty who teach in these rooms. Dr. Joseph Cooper, Chair of the Sports Leadership & Administration program, noted a higher quality of images when teaching in UH 1100 this past year (even when the shades were up). The dependability and user-friendliness of the A/V controls also helped Dr. Cooper run a smooth classroom. “Definitely, as a professor, it gives you confidence to know that you have more tools at your disposal to engage students and enhance their learning outcomes,” he says.