Purdue News

January 12, 2003

PMU rolls out virtual welcome mat

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A newly installed visitor information center at the Purdue Memorial Union’s East Main Lounge is adding public Internet access to its traditional welcome.

remodeled visitor information center
Download photo - caption below

Starting today (Monday, 1/12), the lounge area adjacent to the Great Hall will feature six Internet-e-mail stations with uniquely designed, visitor-friendly portals and two television monitors that will air conference and building schedules, Purdue events and promotions, and breaking news. The new visitor center kiosk also offers courtesy phones to reach campus lines along with the traditional campus maps and brochures.

The new concept in visitor hospitality and service, which is in use or being developed at several Big Ten student unions and at universities throughout the country, is aimed at enhancing visitors’ experiences on campus.

Built off-site and installed in a few days by Campuslink, a communications services company, the new center incorporates the tradition décor of the union’s lounge while providing access to today’s technology, says PMU director Bob Mindrum.

"This project greatly enhances our information services and provides visitors with communication opportunities that have become such an important part of their lives," Mindrum says. "Students and guests on campus expect to have Internet and e-mail access wherever they are, and this new center allows us to meet that expectation.

"It also increases exponentially the amount of easily accessible information we can provide to visitors who bring many questions about the university and its programs – some broad, some highly specific."

Part-time Visitor Information Center volunteers will provide the human element and be available to answer questions for those visitors who feel more comfortable speaking to a person than using computers.

A limited number of advertising panels in the center will be sold to help fund the center's operation. In return, the Purdue Student Union Board will receive financial support for programs and activities that it provides to the campus community.

The center was developed in cooperation with the Purdue Visitor Information Center and Office of Community Relations.

Writer: Amy Raley, (765) 494-9574, araley@purdue.edu

Source: Bob Mindrum, (765) 494-8901, mindrum@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

PHOTO CAPTION:
From left, David Brown, Purdue Memorial Union systems administrator, and Kristie Bishop and Martie Cox, housing and food service technology support coordinators, check the newly installed computers at the remodeled visitor information center in the East Main Lounge adjacent to the union's Great Hall. The center officially opens today (Monday, 1/12). (Purdue News Service photo/David Umberger).

A publication quality photo is available at: http://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2004/visinfo.pmu.jpeg

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