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>>Theresa Bierer: Our next story looks at the Arizona Board of Regents who has a mandate
to graduate more Arizonans with baccalaureate degrees; ABOR is looking at Northern Arizona
University to help meet that goal. NAU offers classes in Flagstaff and at smaller
NAU campuses across the state. The Extended Campuses department has just moved into a
new facility, which will help employees' better meet, the needs of students.
>>Fred Hurst: Before all of our staff were in different locations, really all over campus
and now those on the flagstaff campus can be centralized and there will be some autonomies
from that. Bierer: Along with that centralization the
department's name has been changed to the Extended Campuses of Northern Arizona University
>>Lindajean Western: Distance Learning had been the name for some time but it really
wasn't representative of what we do. It was representative of the online audience. And
Distance Learning also sort of puts a buffer between you and the student and that's not
what we have. >>Bierer: NAU has campuses in 33 communities
around the state, with classrooms, computer labs, and faculty to support students. And
at a time with serious budget concerns in the state, Northern Arizona University is
working to meet the changing needs of an increasing number of students statewide.
>>Western: We don't have to build anything, we're already there. We have the partnerships,
we have the relationships, we have programs in place, now we're adding more innovative
programs, more student specific things that are needed for the economy in the various
communities where we have campuses. >>Bierer: In addition to expanding partnerships
with community colleges, NAU is expanding opportunities for people who are place bound
and unable to travel to one of the universities many campuses.
>>Western: So it's incredibly important for us to grow our online programming so that
we can meet the needs of the communities that don't have campus locations and to really
strengthen the relationships we have with the communities across the state. So that
students can select from the menu of opportunities that which fits their lifestyle.
>>Bierer: This facility is attached to the School of Communication on Northern Arizona
University's mountain campus. It brings together Extended Campuses employees from three different
buildings. The construction was completed with an eye towards sustainability.
>>Hurst: This new facility is going to be green righted which I think is part of the
institutions long-term goals that all new buildings will be green buildings using sustainable
technology. I think equally important it was designed in such a way to allow people to
collaborate in all areas of the organization to be able to fulfill the mission that the
university wants us to fulfill. >>Bierer: The building is the first in the
state to implemented "chilled beam" technology, where water is used for cooling instead of
traditional air conditioning units. A weather station on the fourth floor controls temperatures
by opening up windows and shades. And behind these walls is insulation made from recycled
blue jeans. While there is plenty of enthusiasm about the new building and the new name, there
is little down time on the horizon with the university working on new programs to serve
tomorrow's college graduate Inside NAU is planning a visit to the NAU
Yavapai College branch campus and will have a report in our next show.