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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (March 12, 2010) — A new state-of-the-art computer lab at Milligan College provides students with hands-on training that makes them more competitive in the computer information systems job market.
The lab began as the brainchild of Tom Barkes, who officially retired from Milligan in 2005 and has been teaching adjunct ever since. Barkes opened the original lab in 1992 and is impressed with what it has become today.
The lab, located in Milligan’s Derthick Hall, teaches students to configure and maintain a complete computer system—on site and remotely. Students have the opportunity to experience the daily work situations of professionals such as Information Technology (IT) architects, database managers, network administrators and IT technicians.
“The Barkes Technology Development Lab is a cutting-edge facility,” said Teresa Carter, assistant professor of computer information systems (CIS) at Milligan. “The technology used in the lab is the latest offered, and plans have already been put into play to move forward in the near future to the next operating systems available.”
Paul Rufenacht, a junior CIS major at Milligan, appreciates the “real world” environment the lab presents.
“The hands-on experience I get in the lab has provided me with both the confidence and ability I need to be more competitive in my field,” Rufenacht said. “It’s one thing to read about concepts in a textbook, but it’s something entirely different to put those principles in action every day as part of my class work.”
Students have used the lab for the last two years, but the facility reached its goal this year when it supported the new computer information systems-mobile (CIS-M) major at Milligan. Now the lab is used at its full capacity by both traditional and online CIS students.
The CIS-M major is a flexible, online degree program for working professionals who are not able to complete their degrees or add a second major in a traditional college setting. The degree allows students to complete their work from the comfort of their own homes or offices. Courses are delivered to CIS-M students via Milligan’s Internet course management system.
Milligan graduates are already reaping the benefits of the hands-on training offered by the college’s CIS program and the new technology development lab.
“Our CIS graduates are enjoying the prestige of jobs in the IT departments of places like Nuclear Fuel Services, BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin, which require high-security clearance, and in the financial sector as IT support personnel,” Carter said.
Barkes is proud of the lab and proud of Milligan’s students.
“The faculty and students have done a fantastic job getting this all to come about,” Barkes said. “It’s a wonderful facility and I am proud of their work.”