Shown above: Information Systems staff member, Sheila Heather, checks out a Gateway notebook computer to a student at the Electronic Campus Support Center, soon to be the Gateway Electronic Campus Support Center.

Northwest's Electronic Campus Support Center and the Alumni Call Center will soon be changing their names due to a $2.5 million partnership with Gateway, which is the third largest PC company in the United States.

The partnership will allow Northwest's Information Systems to continue to provide students, faculty and staff with affordable, high-quality computing hardware, as well as, quality service, including warranty repairs, for Gateway hardware.

With this partnership in place, Northwest is renaming its technology support and alumni call centers the Gateway Electronic Campus Support Center (GECSC) and the Gateway Call Center.

A dedication ceremony for the two newly re-christened centers took place at 3 p.m. Friday, September 8, at the GECSC (formerly the Armory), which is located at the corner of College Park Drive and Memorial Drive. The ceremony consisted of remarks by Northwest officials and Gateway representatives followed by a reception.

According to Vice President of Information Systems, Dr. Jon Rickman, "Gateway computers are truly an integral part of the learning process for students at Northwest."

Since 2001, Northwest has received more than 4,000 Gateway notebook and tablet computers. Every student living in campus housing received a notebook computer. A notebook computer rental program is also in place for students living off-campus.

The GECSC provides support to all users with university owned notebook, tablet and desktop computers, as well as, support for all campus users who have Gateway notebook or tablet computers under warranty. The GECSC building is where students check-out and check-in notebook computers. Nearly 1,000 students came through the GESCS on one single day (Thursday, August 24) to check out notebook computers prior to the start of classes on Monday, August 28, 2006.

For more information about the dedication ceremony, contact the Office of University Advancement at 660.562.1248.