Dr. Terri Lenox, Westminster College associate professor of computer science, and Dr. Mandy Medvin, Gibson-Drinko distinguished chair of psychology, will present "Student Computer Use: New Perils and Findings" at Faculty Forum Wednesday, Feb. 21, at 11:40 a.m. in the Sebastian Mueller Theater of the McKelvey Campus Center.

"Our forum will focus on college students and their use, and possible abuse, of technology," Lenox said. "We have been exploring the influence of computers and other technology on college students in our research. We have collected data from first-year students at Westminster College in Fall 2003 and Fall 2004 and have conducted a follow-on survey of the Fall 2003 cohort as juniors in Spring 2006. We are currently in the middle of collecting the last set of data from our current juniors. The purpose of this project is twofold: (a) to describe the nature of college students' computer use, and how it changes over time, and (b) to explore how type, frequency, and satisfaction with computer use, as well as prior adjustment, affect adjustment to college in the first and third year."

Faculty Forum, established in 1990, serves as a venue for the exchange of ideas and information among Westminster College faculty. Speakers present their research, teaching ideas, lectures, performances, special programs, and uses of technology to keep faculty informed about the work of colleagues from many disciplines.

Lenox, who has been with Westminster College since 1999, earned her undergraduate degree from Grove City College and her master's and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.

Medvin, who has been with Westminster College since 1992, earned her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and her Ph.D. from the University of Washington.

The event is free and open to the public. Contact Lenox at (724) 946-7284 or e-mail lenoxtl@westminster.edu; or Medvin at (724) 946-7360 or e-mail mailto:medvinm@westminster.edu for more information.

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