The Communications Program relocated its television/broadcasting studio from Scotus Hall to the lower level of Schwab Hall over the summer.
The Communications Program now has both its TV studio and its iMac computer lab – which features brand-new iMacs – located within Schwab.
“Co-location is always a good thing,” said Kelly Rhodes, Chair of the Communications and Criminal Justice Department. “When you have facilities right at hand, it’s much more likely that you’ll use them.”
Communications faculty members are hopeful that the new TV studio space – which will also be utilized by various clubs within the Shields School of Business – will inspire students to use the facility for out-of-class, independent projects such as podcasts and recording sessions.
The studio is located near Adamucci’s and right across the hall from the COMM Program’s computer lab, making it much easier than it was in the past for students and faculty to utilize both spaces and move back and forth between them, as necessary.
Communications adjunct faculty member Matt Hankinson said that students did not enjoy trekking from Schwab Hall to the former Scotus TV studio during the winter months.
“I love that they moved the studio over to Schwab,” said senior Communications major Maddy Perry. “It will be a lot easier to use that space now, especially with it being swipe access.”
Swipe access to both the studio and the computer lab is granted to all Communications majors, as well as other students who are enrolled in courses that utilize the facilities.
Students interested in using either facility for independent projects who are not registered for COMM courses may request access from Rhodes.
The relocation was a collaborative effort that involved many logistical challenges. Rhodes explained that members of the Physical Plant had to install lighting, relocate and adjust the department’s news desk and backdrop, cut out and remove several wall-mounted desks, and repurpose some of the furniture in the room.
“We had to figure out how to format everything to fit the new space, which involved a lot of detailed work,” said Rhodes.
“It didn’t cost us money to do this project, just a lot of effort,” said Hankinson.
Rhodes and Hankinson both expressed their gratitude to everyone involved in the transition.
