Stop for a minute and think about what you've done in the last 100 days. You might recall a pleasant summer vacation, a more recent trip up to Apple Hill, or coaching your child's soccer team. But, if you're a member of the Instructional Technology and Digital Media Center (ITDMC) in Surge II, your memory of that same time is probably filled with PowerPoint presentations, slide shows, recording sessions, and organizational meetings. Information and Educational Technology (IET) established the Center to help reorganize services offered to faculty who seek Web or other media assistance for a teaching or research project.

Since Harry Matthews, professor of Biological Chemistry in the School of Medicine, was hired as the Center's first director, the staff has been engaged in a tremendous amount of work. "We're doing more work now than in any quarter I can remember," says Paul VerWey, video producer/director. And the campus is the big beneficiary. During the first 100 days under Matthews' direction, the Center produced more than 600 images and animations for PowerPoint lecture presentations and videotaped and edited more than 30 campus seminars and guest lecture presentations, including Ralph Nader's recent campus rally. During the same time, the Center has continued to provide scientific illustrations and original artwork for poster displays, slide shows, and presentations. Staff is also videotaping more than 20 undergraduate classes and departmental colloquia for reference and future use by the instructors and departments.

"I guess the word is starting to get out about us, what we can do, and the value of our work in the classroom," says Steve Oerding, artist. "I think it also helps to have the driving force behind our organization be a part of the faculty," Verwey adds.

Accomplishments from the first 100 days of the Center are showcased on the "ITDMC - The First 100 Days" Web site. Using sound and video clips, the Web site highlights examples from video, multi-media, art, and photography projects. One video clip shows the Emmy award-winning Public Service Announcement developed for University Relations as part of a fundraising campaign for the Performing Arts Center. Other examples include projects for the School of Veterinary Medicine, the UC Davis Medical Center Cancer Center, Theatre and Dance department, and Student Housing.

In addition to all of the project activity, even more has been going on in the background to prepare for the future, according to Matthews. He recently outlined three major accomplishments from the first 100 days that will set the tone and direction for the Center heading into Winter 2001:

• Using input from clients and business partners, the Center has structured its services into three areas: video; art and photography; and course development. Staff are also working toward putting a new management support structure into place. These changes are intended to improve service for the Center's customers.

• Project managers, who will guide the progress of a work order through the Center and provide the primary contact with faculty, have developed a new process for outlining clearly how each project should be routed through the Center. This process will result in faster, more efficient service for Center clients.

• A tentative policy has been developed for how to handle billing for instruction related projects. The proposed rate structure, currently under review by both the Office of the Vice Provost for Information and Educational Technology and the Office of Planning and Budget, suggests rates that provide all faculty with minimum instructional technology support each quarter at no cost to either them or their departments. The proposed policy also helps to ensure there is campus support for work the Center is asked to do and that the highest priority projects advance instructional technology in general on campus.

The Center is now working at a heated pace to develop materials faculty will use in classes during Winter 2001. An associate director position and several other management positions are under recruitment. Matthews and his management team are also considering some innovative proposals to help faculty learn more about and use instructional technology. To keep abreast of the latest updates, visit the Center on the Web at http://itdmc.ucdavis.edu/.

"Over the last 100 days, it's been a thrill for me to see the professionalism the staff of the Center brings to every project we've worked on," says Matthews. "It's evident in our 100 Days Web site. Sometime before the quarter is over, I encourage faculty who are unfamiliar with our services to drop by Surge II for a visit. We'd love to show them more of what we can do, and see how our services could integrate into their teaching."