Campuses take interactivity to a new level ; Private colleges using technology to attract students

At Niagara University, students can do library research fromtheir laptops. Communications majors have access to laboratorieswith computerized Web tools for video editing.

Students can also register online for classes.

Those are some of the ways in which being wired in creative ways -as well as being wireless - is increasingly de rigueur on collegecampuses, said Harry Gong, Niagara's director of admissions.

"When we're recruiting students, people often ask us about Website and Internet access. Being a wireless campus seems to be agiven when talking to students," Gong said.

Niagara's example is typical among private colleges anduniversities in Western New York, who all recognize that student-friendly technologies are attractive to a generation thatincreasingly expects and even demands them.

That's true at Daemen College, where administrators are able totout a variety of technological offerings.

Using Web conferencing, podcasting and other Internettechnologies, it's now possible for students to participate andinteract off campus or to access whole lectures, both audio andvideo for later viewing, said Chris Wilson, Daemen's director ofacademic computing services.

After a major network upgrade last September, Daemen can alsoboast high-speed Internet for transferring video and large amountsof data between educational institutions.

Daemen's upcoming media center will have technological bells andwhistles, too.

The new technologies also help Daemen be involved in partnershipswith other institutions, including a biotechnology and health careconsortium with colleges in Ireland, Finland and Germany, as well asPitzer College in Claremount and New College in Sarasota, Fla.

"A number of these collaborations involving internationalpartners would not be possible without the new technologies. Theseare also some of the things that make us unique," Wilson said.

Daemen's Web-enhanced courses for full-time nursing students areparticularly popular with students living in the Jamestown area,Wilson said.

Like Daemen, the wireless campus of Medaille College will offer adedicated blog for students beginning in February, according to TomBurns, assistant vice president.

Another selling point is that resident students receive a freesubscription to Napster, allowing them to download music. Commuterscan do so for a nominal fee.

Canisius is one of a number of educational institutions thatmakes available through iTunes a place to store instructionalmaterials, including lectures and videos that can be accessed at anytime.

"If a student wants to reference a lecture already given whenthey're studying, they can do that," said Joel Cohen, associate vicepresident for library and information services.

Jill Conlon, Canisius' associate vice president for enrollment,said the college is constantly looking to upgrade or add newtechnologies.

"It's very difficult to stay ahead of students as far as dazzlingthem, as much as it is to keep up with the world they live in," saidConlon. "More and more, they just expect it."

Like some other area schools, Canisius is upgrading its softwareprogram Blackboard, in which faculty and students can communicate,post materials and transmit assignments.

Canisius is also looking to allow students to customize homepages.

"If you want to reach them, if you want to be in their world, youhave to do [these sorts of things]," Conlon said.

Applicants are also able to take advantage of new technologiesfrom the get-go at a number of schools, including Niagara.

"They are able to log into an account and check the status oftheir application, see if anything is missing, read important dates,those sorts of things," said Gong. "It's a virtual orientation."

e-mail: msommer@buffnews.com