Tech Center Fete
“No other community college in the Commonwealth has a facility like this one dedicated to helping students succeed in today’s technological world." – Chief Information Officer Kim Florek
Holyoke Community College celebrated the grand opening of its new Tech Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 3.
Located on the second floor of the HCC Campus Center, the HCC Tech Center is a newly renovated space dedicated to providing students with all the technological support they need to be successful.
“No other community college in the Commonwealth has a facility like this one dedicated to helping students succeed in today’s technological world,” said Kim Florek, HCC’s chief information officer and head of the IT Department.
Funding for the Tech Center came from a $250,000 “Tech Rise” grant HCC received from the Employment and Training Administration, which is part of the U.S. Dept. of Labor. The money was principally used to buy furniture, computers, and other technology for the center, as well as the hiring of student interns.
“We provide the first level of support to students and all their personal devices – laptops, cell phones, tablets,” said Tech Center manager Walter Pfau. “If it’s got a screen and a power button, we’ll help them troubleshot it. But the heart of this space isn’t about fixing devices, it’s about helping students feel more capable, more technologically independent, and, ultimately, more connected.”
Besides Pfau and other IT staff, the Tech Center will be run by a team of student interns who can also offer one-on-one support to their classmates who need assistance with their devices, and computer programs and apps.
“Interns not only provide peer support but also co-develop resources, assist and lead training sessions, and bring fresh ideas to campus-wide technology conversations,” said Pfau. “This spirit of innovation and collaboration aligns with HCC’s mission to ‘educate, inspire, and connect,’ empowering students to build digital confidence and community at the same time.”
Previously, students, along with HCC faculty and staff, had to go across campus to the first floor of the Frost Building to the IT Help Desk for all their computer needs. The HCC Tech Center is more centrally located, across from the Student Engagement office, adjoining the HCC Bookstore, and steps away from the cafeteria and food court, where students tend to congregate between classes.
In addition to one-on-one tech support, the Tech Center has computer stations for students to use, a classroom for interactive workshops and meetings, and cubicles where other HCC support staff, such as financial aid counselors, can set up shop during special events, like Registration Express and Accepted Students Days.
“The Tech Center is an extension of the IT Help Desk, but it goes beyond the physical repairs that the Help Desk is set up for,” said Scott Conrad, director of IT services. “This will allow us to spend more time on the in-depth problems students might have.”
PHOTO: President George Timmons gets ready to cut the ribbon officially opening the new HCC Tech Center on Wednesday, Sept. 3.
