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VGCC Students Can Now Get Technical Support from a Fellow Vanguard(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) HENDERSON, N.C., Aug. 28 -- Vance-Granville Community College issued the following news release: Vance-Granville Community College has introduced a new resource for students who need help with information technology issues. The "Student Peer Technical Support" service began with the start of the fall semester on Aug. 18. This new initiative was first proposed and developed by VGCC's Institutional Technology Committee, which includes faculty and staff from throughout the college. "Student Peer Tech Support is designed to help students with common technical problems they encounter with their computers, such as having the wrong version of a software program," said Tom Edwards, an instructor for Office Administration and Computer Education who chairs the Institutional Technology Committee. "We want to eliminate for the students any technology barrier that might prevent them from being successful in their classes, including both online and traditional face-to-face classes." Providing the technical support is student David Glover of Oxford. He has already completed a degree in Computer Information Technology (http://www.vgcc.edu/business-applied-technologies/Computer-Information-Technology/index.cfm) at VGCC and is set to graduate in May with a second degree in Networking Technology (http://www.vgcc.edu/business-applied-technologies/Networking-Technology/index.cfm). Glover said he was excited to be the first to staff the new support service because "I wanted an opportunity to help my fellow students learn how to take advantage of the wealth of resources that VGCC has to offer." He added, "I am looking forward to broadening my experience in the information technology field and to improving my communication skills." Glover has already had numerous students come in seeking assistance, most of them new students who need help connecting to VGCC's wireless network. "It is really beneficial for students to have a fellow student as a technical support contact because, as a student, you share common ground and you have frequently experienced or are experiencing the same obstacles," Glover noted. The new service is only meant to help students with technology and software used in classes, and cannot answer general questions about financial aid or other services. Student Peer Technical Support also cannot respond to requests about students' passwords for Moodle or WebAdvisor (You can submit a WebAdvisor Help Desk request here (https://vgcc.wufoo.com/forms/webadvisor-help-desk-request/0). Through the Work-Based Learning program (http://www.vgcc.edu/News/newsarticle.cfm?recNo=3558), Glover is employed by the VGCC Office of Information Technology (http://www.vgcc.edu/OIT/index.cfm) approximately 20 hours per week, including some evening hours. His office is located in the Library on VGCC's Main Campus, in room 2225. Currently, students can be served by simply walking in, or they can call Glover at (252) 738-3498. In the future, college officials hope to add a robust system for students to receive support from the peer service online or via e-mail. CC AutoTriage9as-140829-30FurigayJane-4841794 30FurigayJane (c) 2014 Targeted News Service |