05/27/2026
As we continue working through materials in the Lake Land College archives for our Phi Theta Kappa project, it has been interesting to come across moments that reflect how much the college has changed over time. One clipping from 1983 announced Lake Land’s purchase of its first “microcomputers” through a $125,000 agreement that would help expand computer access across the college and local school districts.
At the time, the article described plans for computer labs, instructional programs, and a “computer-sharing consortium” designed to help students and educators prepare for emerging technologies. College leaders recognized that computers were becoming increasingly important in both education and the workplace, emphasizing the need for students to develop the “new skills necessary to meet the challenge of new technologies.”
More than 40 years later, many of the goals outlined in the article remain visible in student life at Lake Land today. What once began with a small number of microcomputers and printers has expanded into online and HyFlex courses, laptop rentals through the library, virtual learning resources, and technology that allows students to complete coursework both on campus and remotely.
Looking back at this clipping provides an interesting snapshot of a moment when computer technology was still relatively new, while also showing how Lake Land has continued adapting its resources and services to meet changing student needs over the decades.
-Sarah Housh, PTK President
