Sue Hilton and student John Zylka display the new Clarion CD.
| Sue Hilton and student John Zylka display the new Clarion CD. |
Various publications or a home page on the Internet provide just about everything you want to know about student life, activities, admissions requirements, and more. Now Clarion is going one step further by using CD-ROM technology to tell its story.
Clarion's newest recruitment/informational tool grew from an arrangement between members of the departments of communication and computer information science with the Office of University Advancement. The primary initiators of the project were Jim Holden, assistant professor of communication science, and Sue Hilton '73, assistant professor of communication who also served as producer of the project.
The project started as an instructional tool for Sue's presentation graphics class in which the students prototyped two segments of the CD, one on student life and one on campus visits.
"The powers that be liked it, found the funding for it, so three students from the Computer Science, Communication, and Art Departments spent the last year working with me to develop it," Sue explains.
"It's amazing to think we did this ourselves," Sue says. "The CD includes over 30 pieces of original video. Other than the assistance we got from the software company that makes the real-time software we used, everything was done right here on campus using the equipment we had and on what amounts to a shoestring budget. It was also a wonderful experience for the students. They got to put their expertise to work on a real project."
The CD program contains about 600 different screens; interviews with students and faculty; highlights of academic programs, sports, and student organizations; an interactive map; a famous alumni section; academic program information; student life information; and admissions information all paced into a program jewel box. The project, because it was completed by students, cost a fraction of the estimated six figure cost a private firm would have charged to produce a product not nearly as inclusive. The CD also contains much information that was never before available in one place.
John Zylka, who graduated in 1996 with a degree in art, is currently working on a master's degree in communications. He hopes the experience also will enhance his chances for getting a job in the computer field.
"I didn't know much about Toolbox (the software program used in creating the project), but I had the chance to use it in my classes and on this project. It's really been an interesting project in terms of learning how to use some of the new technologies out there. Plus, I learned how to channel that knowledge into creating something that is going to be useful for the university and for prospective students. I'd really like to continue doing this kind of work in my career."
Plans are underway to distribute the CDs to prospective students and high school guidance offices. The Admissions Office is also investigating the use of the CDs on laptop computers that can be taken to high schools and on a stand alone computer that can be accessed in the Admissions Office.