The need for more classes that satisfy upper-division writing requirements has led to the addition of two new computer classrooms in the basement of Shields Library.

The new rooms in 90A and 90B Shields have 28 and 31 seats respectively. Information and Educational Technology set up the locations in December, to be ready when winter quarter instruction starts on Jan. 6.

About 1,500 students were waitlisted last year for classes that met the UC Davis upper-division writing requirement for graduation. The provost, and vice provost of undergraduate education, wanted to ensure those students could graduate on time, and therefore added 31 sections of classes that fulfill the requirement, said Tim Leamy, who manages Information and Educational Technology's Computer Lab Management unit. To support the added sections, the campus needed two more computer classrooms, and asked IET to install and run them.

The locations had been underused student study spaces. Student employees who staff IET's existing labs in 163 and 182 Shields upstairs will monitor the new rooms, which will be used only for instruction and not for open access.