IV. PUBLIC SERVICE

Potsdam College has made a significant commitment to public service in the North Country. The Computer Center assists this role by acting as a resource to non-profit groups/institutions and public schools in the area which have computing needs or questions.

Center for Interactive Computing

The Center for Interactive Computing (CIC) would provide technical expertise and support to the North Country's small business community, non-profit institutions, computer users groups and individuals in the community. It will support a broad range of services including demonstrations and presentations of leading technology for high-technology and business-related activities; workshops on technology developed at Potsdam College; information, news and reference material related to leading technology; fee-based consultation, laser printing and other computing resources.

Goals:

To establish the CIC and provide technical expertise and support to the North Country's small business community, non-profit institutions, computer users groups and individuals in the community

Users Groups

Users groups provide an invaluable service to the public. In the absence of strong dealer support, these groups provide users with public domain software, tips and techniques for the use of computing hardware and software answers to technical questions and problems, and the chance to share their computing experiences with others. For the North Country, this is often the only means for acquiring any support in the use of computing equipment.

Goals:

To assist in the establishment and maintenance of campus-based users groups for computing hardware and software

To support users groups with technical information and consultation where possible

To support these groups with a conference area on the Potsdam College Conferencing System which addresses their particular interests

To distribute public domain software, when available, to users groups

Public Access to Computing Resources

Potsdam College currently offers limited access to its centralized computers to public schools, non-profit institutions and other local colleges and universities. This access isoften used to gain access to Potsdam College's communication services (conferencing and BITNET).

Goals:

To provide public access to public institutions and non-profit groups which provide them with access to communication services and the Potsdam College community of computing professionals




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Document prepared by Robert Jewett. Email: jewettrj@potsdam.edu