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The Rhoades Science Center is the hub of the Division of Math, Science, Health, and Physical Education.
The facility includes labs and classrooms for Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Biology, Earth Science, and
Fish & Wildlife. In addition, a Macroinvertebrate laboratory funded by a $1.9 million INBRE grant located
in McCarthy Hall provides unique opportunities for undergraduate research. Rhoades also houses the VCSU
Planetarium, a 24' multimedia theatre capable of projecting over 2,000 stars onto a dome-shaped screen for
entertaining and educational presentations on astronomy that attract thousands of visitors each year. A
fully-equipped greenhouse provides an environment for students to grow and study both regional and exotic
species of plants.
The Science Center also houses the VCSU Information Technology department, including the
Help Desk
where students receive and return notebook computers at the beginning and end of every semester receive
technical support and resolve issues related to their network account. The Help Desk has a variety of the
latest multimedia equipment available for check-out including LCD projectors, tripods, speakers, microphones,
digital cameras and video cameras.
Multimedia Labs
located in the Help Desk allow users to scan pictures,
capture video, write DVDs, and more! VCSU's server and network infrastructure is known for its use of advanced
technology, and was one of the first institutions of higher education in the U.S. to base its enterprise applications
on the Sun Java Enterprise. VCSU has received recognition from Sun Microsystems for its advanced implementation
of this state-of-the-art technology.
One of two campus interactive video network (IVN) rooms is located on the first floor. This room has a
telecommunications link to other, similar rooms around the world. It is used for meetings and classes that wish to
communicate with off-campus people via "live" two way interactive video and audio.
The Rhoades Science Center is named for L.D. "Dusty" Rhoades, who taught chemistry and physics from 1919 to 1961.
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