The center’s services include classroom audiovisual equipment support, video production, graphics support including training classes, audiovisual equipment loans, broadcast distribution and video teleconferencing operations.

Started in the 1980s as the Educational Resources Center (ERC), MSC’s responsibilities grew as ''computer-based technologies morphed into multimedia.'' In August 2001, its name was changed to the more applicable Multimedia Support Center.

''Our goal is to ensure that Midshipmen, faculty and staff have the necessary tools to accomplish their educational and professional goals,'' said Larry Clemens, MSC’s director. ''From multimedia creation to classroom design, the MSC staff can meet all your audiovisual needs. We have a vast array of the latest technologies and powerful resources to help with individual projects and classroom presentations.''

MSC works hard to stay on technology’s cutting edge. ''We are tasked with staying up on the latest technologies and finding a way to bring that state-of-the-art capability to the faculty and Midshipmen,'' said Rich Clyborne, project manager at MSC.

''The role of the junior officer in today’s Navy and Marine Corps is changing rapidly based on technologies that incorporate more and more facets of the multimedia world. We are constantly expanding our efforts to introduce them to the media-saturated environment they will step into when they graduate,'' Clyborne said.

During the last five years the center’s engineering department has upgraded more than 200 classrooms with the latest in audiovisual equipment, including LCD projectors, document cameras and wireless mouse and keyboards. It has also served as a testing site for a centralized system that monitors classrooms for equipment needing maintenance.

''The system notifies us when the installed equipment requires routine maintenance such as lamp replacements or filter cleanings which in turn helps us with the scheduling of our preventive maintenance.''

MSC’s video production department documents all major events during the Midshipmen’s four years at the Academy. They cover Plebe Summer and Commissioning Week, football and basketball games and lectures. They also loan equipment to Midshipmen so they can make their own video productions such as Army-Navy spirit spots.

MSC occasionally brings home an award or two for their efforts. The center has been recognized with a Communicator Award, several Telly Awards and a Council for the Advancement and Support of Education Award. Not to be outdone, the Midshipmen received some acclaim of their own one year when a U.S. News & World Report reporter wrote in its Washington Whispers column about how the Naval Academy won the spirit war during the Army-Navy football game.

Faculty members and the Academy’s senior leadership can take advantage of the expertise of the MSC staff to set up video teleconferences. Five Naval Academy locations, including one at MSC, are set up for video teleconferences. Examples of these video teleconferences include distance learning classes in oceanography and opportunities to reach out to the fleet in leadership, ethics and law classes.

MSC distributes satellite and cable channel rebroadcasts and videotaped programs from commercial television and satellite stations via the Naval Academy Data Network (NADN). Programs can be used in the classroom and for educational purposes for up to 45 days after the program aired. The center also purchases videocassettes and DVDs, which Midshipmen and faculty can check out from Nimitz Library.

MSC’s multi-tasking continues in its graphics department, which offers classes in programs like Photoshop, Illustrator and PowerPoint and in other areas such as scanning, video editing and poster design. It also offers a self-help lab and graphic artists to help with classroom presentations.

''Our graphics department is a busy place,'' Clyborne said. ''Our graphic artists not only support the faculty and Midshipmen with academic projects, but they also support special events at the Academy such as Commissioning Week, Plebe Summer and more recently the Superintendent’s change of command.”

''We strive to cross train everyone on the staff so that no matter who is working a particular project or event they have some level of expertise in just about all facets of the job,'' Clyborne said.