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14 | MARCH 2022

CSU LIFE | FACULTY & STAFF

CSU team designs accessible custom podium

By Allison Sylte

The podium inside Colorado State University’s Alder Hall classroom 123 might look simple at first glance, but it will make a world of difference to those who use it.

“It’s not rocket science, and that’s why I want to talk about it,” said Eric Tisdale, the director of IT for the College of Health and Human Sciences. Tisdale spearheaded the podium project, which is the culmination of a year of work involving multiple groups on campus. It is optimized to ensure that people with special needs have the same access to important teaching tools as everyone else.

Instructors who use wheelchairs are able to raise and lower the podium, which also comes with a moveable AV system with a touch screen that anyone can operate as long as they have a laptop. The podium will also benefit those who have recently been injured or have acquired a physical condition that requires extra accommodation.

“It will be nice to have something available so I can independently teach in the classroom,” said James Peth, an assistant professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, who uses a wheelchair.

He said he has previously had to bring in his own equipment to ensure that he’s able to teach his classes, and was tapped to provide feedback in order to ensure that the new podium design would actually be functional.

A cross-campus collaboration

The need for the podium first came to the attention of the Assistive Technology Resource Center in the Department of Occupational Therapy in January 2021. It was later prioritized by the Inclusive Physical and Virtual Campus Committee, and pitched to the Classroom Review Board, of which Tisdale is a member.

Tisdale started looking for solutions and reached out to Facilities Management for their input on what an Americans with Disabilities Actcompliant podium should look like.

Classroom Support Services has experimented with adjustable heights podiums in the past, but has not found a “universally good solution,” according to Allen Sneesby, an IT technician with classroom support services.

“When we met with Facilities and the College of Health and Human Sciences, I knew that this build was going to be different,” he said.

3D printed model of the podium

Before construction, Kyle Presnell printed a 3D model of the Alder Hall podium. Project Manager Drew Douglas worked with architectural intern Kyle Presnell on a design.

“The old podiums weren’t really universal, they were oversized, they were too tall, and they looked like they were from the 1990s – they were just big and bulky,” Presnell said. “I was thinking about coming up with a design for a sit-stand desk that can be placed in any of the classrooms across campus.”

This included ensuring the new podium was ADA accessible and had a document camera that was available to everyone. Presnell was able to build a 3D model of the podium over the course of a weekend, and the final version was ultimately constructed in CSU’s own carpentry shop.

“We wanted it to be universal, we wanted it to be cost effective, we wanted it to be timeless,” Presnell said.

Since it was built in house at a cost not significantly more than the average classroom revamp, Douglas said he’s hopeful the podium’s design becomes more common.

“It’s kind of gained momentum around campus, and hopefully we will see this design in a lot more classrooms and hopefully get more feedback from it,” Douglas said.

“We hope to do more in the future, since the reviews have been good so far,” Sneesby said.

A universal design

One of the true benefits of the adjustable height podium is the fact that it can benefit everyone, not just those who use wheelchairs.

“The podium is really an example of universal design because if you’re really tall or really short, you have the ability to make it work for you,” said Marla Roll, the director of the ATRC and member of IPVCC . “It meets the needs ergonomically; it meets the needs of people in wheelchairs.”

The podium is an example of a successful collaboration between the College of Health and Human Sciences, the ATRC, the IPVCC, Facilities Management and instructors who use wheelchairs and were able to guide the design process.

“I know there are only a few of us teaching from wheelchairs right now, but maybe having podiums like this available will increase the likelihood that faculty with disabilities would want to come here,” Peth said.

The IPVCC would like to see these podiums become a campus standard, similar to other standards the group has helped to create.

“Even though it’s a small thing, it conveys a lot, like we’ve thought about all kinds of people who come into these classroom spaces,” Roll said.

To request a podium like the one in Alder Hall, visit col.st/DWCah.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

CSU:

ACT Human Rights Film Festival Kickoff Party

Tuesday, March 8, 7 – 9 p.m. Odell Brewing Join us for the seventh annual ACT Human Rights Film Festival's Kickoff Party at Odell Brewing in Fort Collins. Check out the 2022 festival’s trailers, brush up on your ACT trivia to win festival passes or tickets, and sample our signature ACT Screening Sessions festival brew by Odell.

FITlife Wellness Event

Wednesday, March 9, 1 – 2 p.m. Virtual Starting March 9, employees will have an opportunity to join us for virtual Wellness Wednesdays to learn from wellness experts on a variety of topics. Full program schedule is on the HR website.

Unsettling Universities' Legacy of Settler Colonialism

Wednesday, March 9, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Virtual Leigh Patel is a writer, educator, and cultural worker. Her work is based in the knowledge that as long as oppression has existed so have freedom struggles. She is a community-based researcher as well as an eldercare provider. Prior to being employed as a professor, she was a middle school language arts teacher, a journalist, and a state-level policymaker. She is also a proud national board member of Education for Liberation, a nonprofit that focuses on supporting low-income people, particularly youth of color, to understand and challenge the injustices their communities face.

Market Poultry

Tuesday, March 15, 7 – 8 p.m. Virtual CSU Extension Poultry Production Webinar Series that is open to youth and adults with interest in poultry production. Register to all webinars at tinyurl.com/2p8d8f5a.

Virtuoso Series Concert: Drew Leslie, Trombone

Monday, March 21, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. University Center for the Arts & Virtual Faculty artist Drew Leslie presents an evening of exciting new pieces written to feature the trombone in a recital setting. The program includes Colorado premieres of several works, including “Secure. Contain. Protect.” by Composition Professor James David, “Song of Survival” by Susan Mutter, and “Nostos” for trombone and guitar by Spiros Exaras, with faculty artist Jeff LaQuatra.

Rams without Borders Gala Fundraiser & Networking Event

Friday, March 25, 6 – 9:30 p.m. Lincoln Center Please help us support Rams Without Borders in our mission to assist communities in need through engineering projects that give experience to young engineers and empower students to make a difference. All proceeds from this event go to our club operations and projects domestic and international. Stay for the food, drink, networking, silent auction, fun and more.

Service Saturday

Saturday, March 26, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. CSU Environmental Learning Center Join our monthly volunteer event to tackle the most pressing needs on the property. Please RSVP if you plan to attend by emailing elc@csuelc.org. Volunteers often work on removing invasive plant species, trail maintenance and repair, trash pick up and/or garden care. Volunteers will spend the entire time outside, please dress for the weather.

Virtuoso Series Concert: Faculty Chamber Music #1

Monday, March 28, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. University Center for the Arts & Virtual With Nicole Asel, Mezzo Soprano; Margaret Miller, Viola; Tim Burns, Piano; Michelle Stanley, Flute; Barbara Thiem, Cello; Jooyeon Chang, Piano; Pablo Hernandez, Oboe; Wesley Ferreira, Clarinet; John McGuire, Horn; and Cayla Bellamy, Bassoon; Drew Leslie, Trombone; Jeff LaQuatra, Guitar.

Tour of Chrisman Solar Field

Wednesday, March 30, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Chrisman Solar Field Come join us as we take a tour of the Chrisman Solar Field. This is CSU's main solar array, as well as the main producer of solar energy for CSU's consumption.

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