OBJECTIVES To provide the opportunity for minority students in economics to routinely use computers for their assignments. To provide a computer laboratory for economics majors who need to import data and use advanced statistical methods and quantitative models. To provide the opportunity for non-engineering or science majors_e.g., architecture and humanities students_taking electives in economics to use computer applications. To provide computer support for an undergraduate program being developed in Telecommunications; which will be supported mainly by Economics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Management courses. METHODS TO BE EMPLOYED A dedicated computer facility will be established in proximity to the Department of Economics office in CCNY's North Academic Center. This will initially be furnished to accommodate at least 18 students at a time, and be a highly secured and supervised spaced. A separate secured room within the facility will house the file server computer. The NSF and matching funds will be used to purchase the following: One file server computer with a high capacity printer; eighteen terminals; and the required hardware and software for networking through a LAN and accessing the Internet. SIGNIFICANCE TO ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION The proposed PC lab will enhance the quality of existing economics courses that involve the teaching and use of: economic and managerial modeling, including forecasting and simulation; applied statistics; empirical data analysis; and what-if (scenario) analyses. It will also enable the introduction of new courses heavily focused on empirical application and experimentation. Literature searches and data gathering for papers will also be greatly facilitated. Most importantly, these capabilities will be available to a sizable population of minority students.
