HIGHER LEARNING

Students have thje benefit of three televisions, including a big screen television, in the computer lab in Robert a. Dempster Hall, which houses the Donald L. Harrison College of Business.

University officials hope that with the completion of the new technologically advanced business building at Southeast Missouri State University comes superior learning, a better education and more students.

The new three-story, 100,000-square-foot Robert A. Dempster Hall held classes for the first time last month as the 1996 fall semester began.

The new building offers business and computer science students use of 400 personal computers, audio-visual aids in most classrooms and capabilities for much more, said Gerald McDougall, dean of the Donald L. Harrison College of Business.

"I don't believe there's a comprehensive building in Missouri that offers comparable services for students to enjoy," McDougall said.

The new building has 10 classrooms, six computer labs, 90 offices for faculty and staff, three general seminar rooms, two mediated business policy classrooms, a full-service copy center and a 400-seat auditorium.

The old Dempster Hall was small and incapable of maintaining the technology that has emerged over the last 10 years, McDougall said. The new building was constructed around the newest technology, and 47 miles of internal wiring has gone into the building to ensure just that, he said.

The building also has two conference rooms with videoconferencing capabilities. This would allow conferences with students and instructors in other states or countries with similar capabilities.

A similar concept, distance learning, will take place in the new building, McDougall said. This will allow instructors to hold classes here and another class can participate in another building in another town.

"All of this must make learning and teaching more exciting," McDougall said.

Students and faculty both seem to be impressed with the building, which cost $15.8 million to build.

"It's 10-times nicer," said Reid Miller, 22, of Charleston. "In the old building, there were too many people in the classrooms."

Jennifer Kraft, 20, of Benton, said she likes that all of her business classes are in one building.

"Before, some were in Academic (Hall), some were in the old building," she said. "I like being in one building. And all the computers -- that really makes a difference."

Dr. Ben Uzoaru said the building is a lot better for teaching, too.

"It's easier, I like it much better," said Uzoaru, who teaches finance. "Classrooms are bigger, computer equipment is accessible and more exciting."

He also likes that there are projectors in every classroom and there are microphones so students will be able to hear him.

Dr. Stan Strough teaches management and he said there is no question about the superiority of the building.

"You have all these learning amenities," he said. "Overhead capabilities, computer and Internet access, CD Rom, I could go on and on."