COLA handbook on CD-ROM

by MAKIKO SASANUMA
reporter

Student handbooks and Infotech Guide CD-ROMs have been distributed to College of Liberal Arts students to help them succeed at Marshall.

COLA is one of the first colleges nationwide, and the only college at Marshall, to make this information available to students said Dr. Joan Mead, COLA dean.

The Student Handbook contains information about academic policies, regulations, fees, the university calendar, student activities and organizations.

The handbook also contains a daily planner.

Donna Spindel, associate dean of COLA, said the student book and daily planner will help students familiarize themselves with academic requirements and opportunities as well as the many activities available to students outside the classroom.

Although the handbook is available only to freshmen, the Infotech Guide CD-ROM is available to every COLA student.

The Infotech Guide is a CD-ROM containing information similar to the handbook. It also includes the entire undergraduate catalog.

The CD-ROM offers students information about both the academic and non-academic sides of the university in an accessible and portable format.

The Infotech Guide contains direct links to professors' e-mail, campus maps, services and a list of places to eat away from campus.

Mead said the Infotech Guide is a good reference for students and should contribute to students' success at Marshall

COLA introduced its first version last year. This year's version contains more information with expanded content and easier access.

Tiffany Bailey, Bluefield junior, said using last year's version was difficult because it was not user-friendly.

Mike McCormick, Princeton junior, agreed.

"I like using this CD [2000 version] a lot," he said. "It's Web-based and user-friendly."