ASNIC club room gets new equipment

Recent upgrades and changes to the ASNIC office and club room are more than a new look, they are a glimpse into the future.

Anyone visiting the ASNIC club room might notice the new furniture and computers. Desks that raise and lower with the push of a button. Multiple computers and monitors. Chairs that look and feel like a dream for someone who works at a desk all day.

Newly upgraded workstations are designed for accessibility and comfort. Photo by Jamie Sedlmayer.

The desks are designed to be accessible for any ability and any height. The computers are equipped to accommodate the visually and hearing impaired, and the chairs are intended to be comfortable and ergonomical for any student using them.

“We’re working on installing universal workstations,” said Kyle Johann, Coordinator of Campus Life Programs. “One of the first groupings of workstations is getting installed in the club room since it’s used by such a variety of students and is meant to be a place where all people can use the workspace.”   

As part of a grant through the State of Idaho, two years ago NIC received nearly $500,000 for student access, according to Graydon Stanley, vice president of Student Services. The grant helps with funding to ensure there are accommodations to help with individual success for students.

The ASNIC suite is also home to the offices of ASNIC president, vice president, and senators. Photo by Jamie Sedlmayer.

Johann said he hopes the new club room workstations will be something that can be used by everyone.

“The goal is that eventually, everybody will see this not as a computer that’s for specific people, it’s a computer that is designed for everybody and everyone’s needs,” said Johann.

The changes come as Stanley has his eye on expanding ASNIC’s area.

 “We probably need more space than what’s been provided to them,” Stanley said. “That’s our future, to create more space.”

 Stanley said the long term plan would be to move Advising Services to Lee-Kildow Hall, and Trio to another space. Those moves would open up that entire section of the second floor of the SUB for ASNIC use.

Johann who accepted his position with NIC in early August 2018 said he is glad to see the changes and future plans for his department. He said there’s work going into how information is presented in the club room. The physical resources have been made available such as a printer, poster making stock, craft collection, and tabling supplies, but he said he wants to bring more information to students.

The club room provides a place for students to enrich their club and academic involvement. An array of tools are provided at no charge to promote student success. Photo by Jamie Sedlmayer

“Rhonda Rohde and I are working to change the club room so there’s also some informational resources there for clubs,” Johan said. “Students will know what more they can use and what resources NIC has for clubs.”

Johann said he hopes by providing more information for students in the clubroom, it will help encourage even more success for them and the clubs they represent. Up to the point of the renovations, he was the key holder for most of the details students were seeking in the room.

“We want to make sure clubs can survive on their own and they don’t have to rely on me,” Johann said. “These changes, and if there are further changes to the room, [are] so clubs can be more self-reliant and can really use the resources NIC has.”

The ASNIC club room is located in the ASNIC office on the second floor of the SUB and can be accessed Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 5 pm.