It began as a vision by one faculty member, and with the help and collaboration of other faculty at IU Southeast, the vision turned into a reality.

The Writing Center has undergone a major facelift since the summer.  The room is structured completely different than in the past. There are now three collaboration stations around the room.  These stations are equipped with Dell laptop touch screens and a 50” flat screen for students to project their work from the laptops. There is an easy-to-use switch which can conveniently connect the laptops to the projectors at the touch of a button.

In the middle of the Writing Center is a conference table. This station is used for conference meetings, but it can also be used as a fourth collaboration station.  The conference table is also equipped with Dell touchscreen laptops, but this station includes a 70” computer, also called an interactive board. The screen is large enough for the entire room to see and professors can use it to teach a class.

The Writing Center changes did not stop with the new technology. Each station has new specifically designed tables which sits on new carpeting and the walls have been freshly painted.

One major reason behind the changes was to give the room its own identity. In the past, students came into the Writing Center because they perceived it to be a computer lab. Prior to the summer, the room was looked like a computer lab equipped with the same computers and printer as other labs on campus.

Writing Center Director, Leigh Ann Meyer, said, “The transformation has greatly cut down on the confusion. Students may not know what the room is but they don’t confuse it as a computer lab.”

Another reason for the changes was to make group collaboration easier and more accessible. Students can use the room for group work, but the way the room was set up before made it difficult for collaboration. The projectors give students a larger screen for group work, rather than crowding around one computer screen.

The old computers in the Writing Center did not allow much space for students to work. Now students can close and move the laptops around if they want to use books or write with pen and paper.

The changes to the Writing Center began as only a vision for Meyer. She wanted the space to look and feel open to students who need help with writing, and saw an opportunity with the space she was given.

“Since I started working at IUS in 2008, my goal was to create stronger writers. It is still our goal to focus on the writer, but it helps having an environment that encourages talking and collaboration,” said Meyer.

According to Meyer, the planning and redesign took a village.

The redesign process started with drawing and collaboration with the IT Department and Physical Plant, as well as the instructors in the Writing Center and the Dean of Arts and Letters. Then the Indiana University Architect’s office sent in their interior design group to look over and approve everything such as the colors of the walls to the American Disabilities Act guidelines, which assured the room was accessible for students with disabilities, according to IT manager of Communications and Special Projects, Lee Staton.

The process of redesign took close to eight months and was finished by August 22.

“We took a space built in the seventies and brought it to the 21st century,” said Physical Plant Director, Jim Wolfe.

Meyer feels blessed and supported by the faculty members who made the changes happen. According to Meyer, Vice Chancelor, Dana Wavle, The Dean of Arts and Letters, Samantha Earley, members of the IT Department, members of the Physical Plant, and members of the Writing Center all played key roles in making the transformation happen.

Students are taking notice of the redesign.

“It looks like it serves a purpose, and before it didn’t look like anything but an extra computer lab,” said Erica Parley, senior education major, “The room is welcoming and relaxed.”

Staton said, student feedback is important. If students would like to make comments or suggestions about the Writing Center, they can talk to the Writing Center, School of Arts and Letters, Student Government Association, or go to the IT webpage.

There are more plans in the works for the Writing Center.

According to Meyer, the Writing Center is collaborating with the art department to have an art exhibit. Each semester, one student will have their art displayed on one of the walls for students to observe in the Writing Center.

With all of the changes and the new plans to come, it is safe to say Meyer is happy.

“To me it’s wonderland. I feel like I am in heaven,” said Meyer.