What would YOU like to see on a virtual university campus?

I agree with him for once.
Universities are elitist and not required here. Professors are unapproachable and snobbish. I wouldn't encourage them even if I am partnered to an academic in sl. Which I happen to be.
Any other university "type" is always forbidding and patronizing from my experience.
I prefer surveys.

That wasn't my experience with my professors. Of course, you have an apparent problem with authority and following rules, so it is no surprise that you feel this way.

Hahahahaha - I was *describing* the attitude of *my* professors!

Pie (Read "The History Man" Jig!)

PS And weep!!!

Okay, let's be serious on this. I admit I am anti-authoritarian and I do not need a degree. But some people may.

Who is going to pay for all this? Fees will be astronomical. I do not think any tax payer is going to feel comfortable paying for classes in a virtuality. And what else do we really need from a university? Unless it's a site for a small rock gig?

I know they are unsuccessful but computer-courses - I mean courses disseminated by computer (for long distance education) - are already in place in many parts of the world. However, even the briefest of contacts as avitars may likely to improve on those. So that is a plus for you.

What type of courses will be offered? PLEASE DON'T OFFER more of those computer studies classes! It reminds me of a saying "When in doubt ... " Thus, "When in doubt, offer a computer course." - so, literature, art, rock music, poetry, history of Industrial Age, post-colonial politics, women's studies - and men's. But please, please, please offer something other than computer studies.

Please, please hire people who do not patronize. I won't be in any of your classes but please hire normal instructors who have normal egos. And who actually understand and appreciate the topic they are teaching.

But, as Baz Luhrman says, "don't forget to wear sunscreen" and establish who will pay for all this. Coz, we won't.

I think a better way of phrasing it, Jig, is "what is the purpose of this virtual campus?"... it could simply be a way to provide information about the university... a 3d website.

I might be misunderstanding, but I'm given the impression that the OP wants to put in a virtual, or RP university - not a virtual extension of a RL university. The latter would be interesting, to say the least, but not likely to get accreditation as a real university or even a real academic program.

Like HardRock Elementary kinda thing? Or Naughty School?
You sure?
We need clarification.

Or, yes, it could be that, too.

A virtual, RP university sounds more fun though.... TO-GA! TO-GA! TO-GA!!!

guess it all depends on the point of the build. as an actual representation of and for a University, I'd say the best things to see would be a virtual tour built off actual pictures of the place, with people there. throw in student generated cultural notes, things like "X club/frat/sor/group meets here at this time kinda info... things that a webpage ISN'T going to show.

as for RP type of use... the place should be alive... bikes in the stands, cars in the lot, food left on cafeteria tables, books unshelved in the library... it shouldn't just look accurate, it should look occupied, even if it isn't.

actually, do that second thing for both.

But it needs a reason for people to come, and to come back. Which is why putting course materials and materials for career services in here is a good idea. Opportunities to meet and talk with current and former students... stuff like that, so the place is not just a virtual museum.

We'll include some National Guardsmen as well, just for you.

It'd be cool to bring in lecturers from around the world; you could host guest lecturers from Thailand, Japan, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, where-ever anyone can access SL. They could bring slide shows, examples of music, clothes, etc. Students could engage in a cultural role play in order to more fully understand other societies.

Psych classes could require students to play a member of the opposite sex, a person of a different color, an overweight person, etc, to see how SL society reacts to them.

Business students could pick a product and run a small business in SL, and be required to keep detailed accounting books for business classes.

Graphics students could design clothes/skins for the business students.

Computer students could design scripted products for the business students.

Architecture students could design the entire university.

There are a gajillion ways to bring students into SL. The only requirement of YOU is that you keep an open mind about it all.

This!!

In this case please have fun things that will bring people in so that the place does not look like a nuclear bomb just hit...vaporising the population. Creepy.

Jig, people pay for online courses now - around $20k (not Lindens) a year for some. It's the only way some can attend university/get a degree.

Not sure if the OP meant actual classes/working university though, or publicity/roleplay.

Not over here. We used to have very small, polite, civilised "riots" - while the pubs were closed of course.

Pep (the vital issue: creches for the kids of student mothers, except we couldn't actually find any)

I've done this for fun in lots of places within SL... I'm forever curious that way.

PS I really love the cultural guests idea... I'd show up for that. Anthropology and Sociology are fun topics to me.

I guess I'm strange, I enjoy creepy day after types of scenarios, so that would be ok by me too

Right, you guys riot over soccer games instead.

I don't know too much about that. Rugby man myself.

Pep (A game for hooligans played by gentlemen)

League or Union?

So consenus seems to be that a university in SL should be some poor, unimaginative imitation of Animal House?

Sorry to tell you all this, there's a reason you missed it the first time around.. you either weren't bright enough to get in or when you did you were very, very unpopular.

Obviously there are those who are going to say.. "didn't go because I didn't want to go".. in that case, why so petulantly interested in a pale, silly wanabe exercise this time around?

I'm sure SL is a valuable environment for education, but I'll believe that when I see a thread like this with even one contribution concerning curricula.

All I've seen so far are pleas for virtual beer and cheer leaders.. seriously if that's all it takes to satisfy you, just get off your pale flabby behinds and spend £50 in the local RL "gentlemans club".

Longcats and memes. Lots and lots of memes. (^_^)

Sale at home against Newcastle was a decent match.

Union of course . . .

Pep ( . . . from the days when there *was* a difference)

I avoid watching English matches if I can help it.

Pep (Another successful season for the Welsh already)

Actually... If I find myself taken away from the pixel frolic SL has to offer; I'd probably sooner be watching lolicon-hentai Anime. RL fails to interest me in great ways. (^_^)y