Electical Engineering/Computer Science changing to Keller Hall

Electrical Engineering/Computer Science Building was renamed Kenneth H. Keller Hall on July 1 in honor of the University's 12th president. For more information, see Keller

Hall.

New additions to OCM website

The OCM website now includes information about student study space. You can find an overview about why OCM is managing student study space and information for finding student study space.

Over the next year OCM will be working on developing more information about student study space for the website.

If you have any questions about student study space, please email Facilities
Coordination.

Video equipment announcement

Individual VCR players have been discontinued by the manufacturers. As quality replacement
VCRs have became harder to find; we are no longer
able to purchase replacement VCRs for equipment that fails. New
installations of classroom technology
equipment utilize a combination DVD/VCR for VHS playback.

 

Older classroom
technology systems utilizing individual VCR players will be maintained as long
as spare units are available. Once our inventory runs
out, the individual units will be replaced with a combination DVD/VCR player.

 

In addition, some
classrooms offer multi-standard VCR capabilities; however, we are unable to
purchase replacement units. OCM will
offer multi-standard VCR playback devices in select classrooms as long as our
supply of spare units remains in good working condition. This feature will be
discontinued once that supply has been depleted. The current supply is
expected to last for several semesters.

 

Some
academic programs continue to rely upon pre-recorded videotapes for which there
is no available substitute. Faculty with videotape content should consider
converting any non-copyrighted VHS tapes to DVD or other digital media. Please
remember on-demand streaming solutions may be available. Classroom users should
consider playback capabilities when making media purchasing decisions.

Videotape
conversion services are available from Classroom
Technical Services
and OIT
Video Production.

Science Teaching and Student Services Building Update

There has been a lot of construction progress with the great spring weather. The exterior elevator is gone and the rest of precast brick panels was installed. The stainless steel column covers are about 98% complete and all grills are installed on the mechanical penthouse on the roof. The contractor has started on the foot bridge that will connect Pleasant St sidewalk to the foot bridge over Washington Avenue. The permanent electrical service was connected to the building to support the transition to more interior construction.

Drywall work and painting is complete on the fifth floor. Work is currently being done on the fifth floor flooring and finishes. The rest of the floors will follow consecutively.

The building is still on track to get LEED Gold Certification.

   Fifth floor classroom

Schedule viewer working

The general purpose and departmental schedule viewers are now functioning normally. Thank you for your patience while the issues were resolved.

If you experience any additional issues, please contact the Classroom Support Hotline 612-625-1086.

Schedule Viewers Down

We are currently experiencing issues with the general purpose and departmental schedule viewers. Technicians are working on the issue.



We will update you when this issue is resolved. We apologize for any
inconvenience this may cause.

Classroom Heating and Cooling

Classrooms on the Twin Cities campus may experience fluctuations in their normal temperature range throughout the year, especially during seasonal weather transition periods. The Office of Classroom Management and Facilities Management are committed to providing the best possible teaching and learning environment for University faculty and students. If you feel the temperature in your classroom is either too high or low, please contact the Classroom Support Hotline at 612-625-1086.

The following is a note from Facilities Management regarding the transition from heating to cooling in campus buildings.

With warmer weather just around the corner FM has begun transitioning buildings from heating to cooling season -- a process that takes several weeks. We will be posting daily updates to FM District Heating-to-Cooling Plans at the following links:

East
Bank District
Health
Sciences District
North-West
District
St.
Paul District

Unlike your home, the U's conversion process is not as simple as flipping a switch on an air conditioning unit. First, we drain antifreeze from the system. Then, we clean and test both pipes and pumps. Finally, cooling towers and coils are filled with water. 

The towers and coils can't be filled too early because they can crack if night time temperatures dip below 29 degrees. If a coil breaks, it must be custom ordered and can leave an area without cooling for up to six weeks.

Despite our best efforts, some spaces may experience uncomfortable temperatures for a limited time.  Our goal is to minimize this exposure.