For immediate release
UTB/TSC, AT&T to Unveil Virtual Kiosk
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BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS – JULY, 31, 2008 – The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College will unveil its first interactive kiosk at Sunrise Mall in Brownsville at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 5.
The UTB/TSC Virtual Info Shop will be at the UTB/TSC Go Center/Info Shop near J.C. Penney. It will be operational during the mall’s business hours of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Saturday and noon to 7 p.m., Sunday.
The kiosk will be one of six that will also be located in each of Brownsville’s five public high schools. Four of the kiosks were paid for from a $25,000 grant from the AT&T Foundation, the philanthropic arm of AT&T Inc.
The Brownsville Independent School District will purchase the other two kiosks with their own funding. The high school kiosks are expected to be operational this fall.
“By facilitating interactive enrollment, the kiosks help support our national goal to reduce the high school dropout rate and encourage students to further their education and improve their lives,” said Sergio Contreras, an AT&T regional manager of external affairs in McAllen.
Kiosk users can interact in real time through videoconferencing with UTB/TSC staff working with admissions, financial aid, registration, enrollment, testing and other areas. Users can also receive some printed materials from university staff. The kiosk is equipped with a web cam, microphone and speakers to facilitate communication between students and staff.
Staff training has been offered in instant messaging etiquette and the university’s enrollment process.
“This is a great opportunity for our community,” Director of Admissions Rene Villarreal said. “Not only will it provide extended hours of service, but it is an additional means of accessing a college education at UTB/TSC.”
The kiosk concept came from discussions among campus leaders on how to better reach out to potential and current students.
“We thought this would be a way to improve access and to improve the speed of communication,” said Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Linda Fossen. “It is instant.”
Fossen said plans are being developed to expand the presence of virtual kiosks to other locations in Brownsville and in the Texas Southmost College taxing district.
For more information, contact Linda Fossen, associate vice president for Enrollment Management, at (956) 882-8213 or linda.fossen@utb.edu.