PHYSICAL FACILITIES

Study space (2.8/8), Classrooms (2.9/8), Lounge (4.7/8)

Student Concern: Students felt strongly that the amount of medical student study space should be increased and that there should be classroom renovations throughout the Bio-Medical Center, including better chairs, lighting, climate control and AV equipment. They also expressed some concern that the amount of medical student lounge/recreational space should be increased.

Response: A number of important steps have been taken already to address this concern. Pembroke Hall has been reopened for medical student use beginning with the time period needed for preparing for Step 1 of the national boards. Discussions are underway with University officials to make the assignment permanent. Many improvements have already been made in the classrooms. Room 202 underwent a $50,000 renovation in the summer of 2000 that provided new rugs, chairs, paint and hanging plants. Room 291 (Eddy Auditorium) is scheduled for a similar face-lift in the summer of 2001. We are exploring ways in which to enhance the technological capabilities of Room 291. Currently, the AV technology in the BMC is considered among the best on campus and the building is staffed with professionals with expertise in all the equipment.

As mentioned in the student senate report, new space will open in the BMC when the new life sciences building opens, however, short-term solutions are needed now. Peter Holden and the physical facilities committee have been looking at ways to improve the existing space in the BMC. A proposal to reorganize the student lounge and the lounge space next to the mailboxes to make the area more functional is currently being put together. Consideration is being given to purchasing two computers that could be attached to moveable carts and used by the students in the basement study rooms.

Even with some of these changes, space is a perennial problem at Brown for both study and classroom space. Most of the rooms in the BMC are university controlled. We are working with the university to increase space in the building for medical student use. Currently, room 202 is reserved for the second-year medical school class and 291 is reserved for the first-year class. The primary purpose of these rooms is for medical school class space. Its secondary purpose is to serve as a multipurpose meeting space for the Division of Biology and Medicine. For study purposes students can use other rooms for study purposes by reserving them through MDL. Card access makes these rooms available at all times. Still, study space is scarce. Students can reserve study carrels by filling out a form available at the circulation desk at the libraries and bringing it to Alex Morang for her signature.

The physical facilities committee is currently working with Peter Holden to design a detailed proposal that will meet the needs of the student body. A student lounge with recreational space, study areas, phones, photocopying machines, computers and other equipment is part of that proposal. When completed, the proposal will be used in the final planning for renovations for the Biomedical Center.

Library Resources (3.1/8)

Student Concern: Students felt strongly that the library resources for medical students need to be improved.

Response: During the 2000–01 academic year, the library has added access to over 3,000 electronic journals, including 350 new clinical journals. A new proxy server has been installed which is making it easier to access electronic resources from off-campus. This year the library also added STAT!Ref, a database of 30 medical textbooks.

The medical school is committed to doubling the budget for the medical library through a combination of the capital campaign and the appropriation budget over the next three to five years. This will enable the library to add new journal titles, to acquire back files of online journals, and to add monographs. The library works continually with its users to determine the most useful mixture of journal subscriptions and book acquisitions.

The Library is reducing its reference collection on Level A at the Sciences Library. Once this project is completed, an area will be set up for medical students on Level A. The area will include medical textbooks and some research tools, workstations, and a sign stating that this area is for the medical students. This project should be completed by the fall of 2001.

Computers and Web Access (4.9/ 8):

Student Concern: Students were moderately concerned that the Biomedical Center needs more computers and web access in the small group rooms in the basement. Students remarked that at peak hours, the Biomedical Center computer cluster is very busy and it would be useful to have more computers. More importantly, students noted that existing computers and printers must be maintained at a functional level and replaced when they become outdated (underlines in the original report). Students also pointed out that it would be very useful to have computers in the small group rooms in the basement so that Internet resources could be accessed during small group discussions.

Response: The medical school reviews technological needs on an ongoing basis and is working to improve both hardware and facilities as well as technical support.

Staff checks the cluster daily, restores software on all machines regularly, and makes sure any broken equipment is sent to repair immediately. The computing office provides staff consulting and its number is posted.

Equipment is replaced a minimum of every three years and often more frequently. The replacement schedule is more generous than the one kept for faculty and staff equipment. Installation and maintenance of computers in the small group rooms is complex, because of the many uses to which those rooms are put. The computing office is examining the issue and will make a recommendation.

In response to the concern expressed in the report, a committee of faculty, students and staff will be formed to deal with computer related issues. It is expected to begin its deliberations by mid-April.

Parking (5.1/8)

See Section 8 discussion under the autonomy paragraph.

Call Rooms (5.9/8)

See Section 9 discussion under advocating for medical school interests at the hospitals.

Medical School Sign (6.2/8)

See Section 8 discussion under the autonomy paragraph.