Thursday, February 28, 2013

A New Generation of Learning


Remember when messy chalkboards went out-of-date and sleek dry-erase boards were the way to go? Many classrooms throughout Cal Poly Pomona have gone completely with digital multimedia instructor stations and projectors. 

All of these are things of the past. 

The Collins College aims at making an even bigger step toward the future of education by adopting a new and improved method of learning with a flex classroom. Plans to transform the Hilton Great Room into a flex classroom are underway and will be completed this spring.

“The new Hilton Flex Classroom will be a dynamic instructional environment that will contain an enhanced array of presentation and interactive technologies in a flexible room design,” said Dean Andy Feinstein.

The new Hilton flex classroom will have the ability to form itself to the class subject and needs of the students, and will serve as a blueprint for transforming existing classrooms on campus into more dynamic learning settings. 

The room will feature four interactive projectors, five Apple TVs, a Blu-ray/DVD player, a PC computer, a surround audio system with a wireless microphone, two independent points of control, a ceramicsteel markerboards with two smaller size, portable markerboards; 24 mobile chevron-shaped tables, and a mobile lectern and instructor station.  

All of this advanced technology and equipment will allow for interactive student participation. The markerboards will permit students and instructors to electronically or physically write on the board while the image is displayed on the projector.

Presentations can be flawlessly facilitated with the incorporation of five Apple TVs, which will allow students and faculty to bring their personal mobile devices to display photos, videos and feature presentations.

The technology found in this new flex classroom will be completely supported via the campus I&IT network and Help Desk, and the room will have wireless network capabilities.


Friday, February 15, 2013

Student, Career Services Suite Created


A Student and Career Services Suite has been created in Building 79B, Room 2210. The room, which was most recently used as a faculty office and a testing area for students, was re-purposed as an area that can be used for meetings with prospective students, employers and more. 

Renovations included a fresh coat of paint and contemporary furniture similar those in the new computer lab and quiet study lounge. The furniture includes a six-person conference table, two comfortable reading chairs, a side table, and a credenza filled with informational pamphlets and brochures about the college. It also features a 55” Plasma screen TV for Skype video conferencing as well as showcasing promotional videos and presentations about The Collins College. 


The Collins College Expansion Naming Opportunities


The Collins College is offering several naming opportunities for donors to support furnishing the expansion and preserving their legacy at the college. 

More details on naming opportunities 
The Collins College expansion addresses the college’s growth needs in a sustainable way by striving to achieve LEED Gold certification. In addition to more classrooms and faculty offices, this expansion creates a home base for the new master’s program and provides a student commons for studying and co-curricular activities. The classrooms will utilize cutting edge technology and innovative “flex” furniture designed to move and adapt to the evolving needs of today’s classroom. 

Naming Opportunities Include:


Learning Center
Flex classroom $200,000
Flex classroom (2) $250,000 each

Undergraduate Student Commons
Grab N Go $50,000 – Reserved  
Main courtyard  $75,000
Group study room (1) $25,000
Group study room (2) – Reserved  
Graduate classroom (2) $150,000 each

Faculty Building
Conference room $75,000
Faculty lounge $50,000
Student work room $10,000
Executive office (2)      $50,000 each
Faculty office (6) $25,000 each
Graduate courtyard  $20,000 

For more information about supporting The Collins College of Hospitality Management please contact: Gina Johnson, M.P.A., Director of Major Gifts at (909) 869-5349 or gljohnson@csupomona.edu.



Thursday, February 7, 2013

Quiet Study Lounge Now Open

Students were thrilled with the opening of the computer lab at the beginning of the school year, and asked the Dean Andy Feinstein for another space where they could study quietly by themselves.

The old student government room in 79B-1215 was underutilized and served mostly as a storage room for clubs, so with private donations, The Collins College decided to renovate the room into a quiet study lounge where students can get away from the excitement or noise of the student lounge or computer lab and crack open the books – or a laptop.

Now open, the quiet study lounge features a dozen study carrels which allow for privacy and efficiency. Each carrel has its own power strip with three outlets to plug laptops, iPads, phone chargers or any mobile devices in need of a power source. An overhead lamp on every station lets users control the lighting on his or her desk for optimal comfort. As an added convenience, the partition has temporary storage capability to free up desktop space.

Students don’t have to worry about rushing around looking for a printer for that paper that was due yesterday. The quiet study lounge has a black and white printer station for student use with a similar setup to that in the computer lab.  For anyone who does not already have the software to print installed in their laptop, the software to access the printer in the room can be requested and downloaded at the reception desk on the second floor of building 79B.