BUSINESS INFORMATION CENTER

FACILITIES

Podcasting Studio / Group Presentation Room

The Podcasting Studio will accommodate two to eight users. This is the first widely-available podcasting studio on campus and has been made possible by funds provided by a Provost Instructional Technology Grant awarded to ITOM Professor Amy Puelz. It is open to all current students, faculty, and staff with a valid SMU ID. The Podcasting Studio is located in a sound-proof room for creating or editing quality digital audio or video presentations. The Podcasting Studio supports creation, editing, and sharing of original academic work for class assignments, group projects, interviews, or production of audio presentations. To enhance users' mobility for creating off-site podcasts, two iPods and a digital video camera kit may be checked out with a valid SMU ID for short-term loans.

The Group Presentation Room will accommodate between two and eight students. The Group Presentation Room has been made possible by funds from a President's Partners Grant and from a Friends of the SMU Libraries grant. The new room is equipped with a computer, LCD overhead projector, projection screen, StarBoard, and other items to facilitate the practice and refinement of students' classroom presentations.

Patrons checking out these rooms or resources on their SMU ID accept full responsibility for lost or damaged equipment or facilities. Use of the rooms, equipment, and reservations process is described on the Policies Page.

Study Space

Quiet space for studying and quiet space for using the computer are available in the BIC. A few carrels have been converted for group computer use on an expericmental basis starting in Fall 2008 and the number may be expanded in the future.

Computer Resources

69 iMacs which with access to networked library resources are available for patrons to check out with a valid SMU ID or alumni card.
For added convenience, a walk-up Quick Print Computer Station is available up to 3-minutes per user to print out assignments or a fast check of email. The BIC supports students and alumni seeking internships or jobs with a resume computer workstation and attached laser printer.
High speed laser printers are available, as well as a color laser printer. Printers are attached to Pay-for-Print stations which accept SMU PONI or Copy Card payments for networked printing. A "CSVT" unit in the copy room allows users to add value to their PONI account or purchase Copy Cards.
All of our computers can access the campus shared data systems through the campus Ethernet fiber optic network.
E-mail and Internet service are accessible from any computer in the BIC.
All computers are equipped with Microsoft Office, Firefox, Internet Explorer, web authoring software, and course-specific software.
Special analytical databases are available on a limited number of computers within the BIC, including DataStream, WONDA, Bloomberg, and SAS.
Each computer has a CD/DVD drive, and USB ports.
The SMU IT Department offers faculty and students additional applications such as SAS, SPSSX and LINDO. Please visit the SMU ITS department www.smu.edu/its website for additional information.
A scanner is available.
Two copy machines and essential office supplies are available, including a hole punch, stapler, paper cutter, scissors, paper clips, etc.

Networking for Laptops

There are plug-in local ports for Ethernet access to the LAN located throughout the BIC as well as wireless connections for IEEE 802.11b compatible devices. Information about configuring laptops for wireless access in Cox can be found at http://www.cox.smu.edu/intranet/bic/pubs/handouts/wireless. Information about configuring computers for use on-campus may be found at: http://www.smu.edu/help/Documentation%20and%20Download/ For special problems and in-depth assistance, please check with Cox Technical Support, located across the hall from BIC in 170 Maguire. Information about wireless printing is available at http://www.smu.edu/intranet/printing/.

Updated October 2008