Gadsden State’s Valley Street Campus to Host Open House

Gadsden State students, from left, Nadia Katbi, Kelsey Freeman and Blake Jenkins enjoy the new Student Success Lounge on the Valley Street Campus. An open house is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 11.

Gadsden State Community College’s Valley Street Campus is hosting an Open House for its new Student Success Lounge located within the Learning Resource Center. The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 11 at the area’s only campus designated as a Historically Black College or University.

“The new Student Success Lounge provides our students with a quiet place to read and study,” said Kassie Mathis, director of Gadsden State’s Title III program. “In essence, the lounge is an extension of our learning resource center with comfortable seating and additional technology.”

In the Student Success Lounge, students have access to a MacBook station with Wi-Fi. An Intel Compute Stick allows students to network and collaborate with classmates. A wireless listening center gives students the option of listening to multimedia presentations without disruption. Modular-style seats with device connectors are convenient and comfortable for students. An electronic sign-in system utilizing a Surface Pro tablet keeps up with the numbers of students who take advantage of the lounge.

“Because the lounge is paid for by U.S. Department of Education Title III funds, it’s mandatory that we report the number of students utilizing Title III grants and services,” Mathis said. “The electronic sign-in improves accuracy in the numbers we report.”

The Student Success Lounge is just one technology improvement project on the Valley Street Campus. The campus also has smartboards in the classrooms, Apple TVs and projection systems and GoPro cameras utilized by technical instructors.

“They use the headgear with the GoPro cams so they can project what they are demonstrating on the screen for their students,” said Kim Campbell, retention advisor at the Valley Street Campus. “It can be recorded and played back or students can see it live during a lab demonstration in real time.”

The college also has eight-port charging stations in all of the classrooms and public areas.

“It’s important that we provide our students with updated technology and an active learning environment,” she said. “We also have plans to transform the current campus media room into a multipurpose room equipped with computers and patented open access hide-away tables.”

The Open House is a “come-and-go” event and is open to the public. Apple cider and brownies will be served and tours of the lounge and facility will be available.

For more information, call 256-549-8679.

Gadsden State students, from left, Alex Ledbetter, Nadia Katbi, Kelsey Freeman and Blake Jenkins spend some time in the new Student Success Lounge on the Valley Street Campus. An open house is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 11.

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