News Update 05/20/2003
Lower your TCO with innovative upgrades from Intel
The increased security risks of many older systems, combined with high maintenance
costs and reduced worker productivity, may mean those systems are costing more
than you think. Upgrade to the latest desktops featuring Intel technology! Find
out more now to save time and money!
http://info.101com.com/default.asp?id=1482
Students Vie for Recognition in Tech Competitions
A number of high tech competitions have been held in recent weeks, as the school
year draws to a close. At the Anderson Business School at UCLA, XieHou Entertainment
won the first place prize of $10,000 in a venture capital competition for a
plan to use wireless applications for matchmaking services in China, a market
that will have the largest number of cell phone users in the world. A team of
MBA candidates from Anderson took third place honors with a plan to develop
software and hosted services to streamline trade fulfillment for transactions
between the United States and Asia-Pacific rim.
Elsewhere, life sciences have been reigning over information technology: MIT’s
annual $50K Entrepreneurship Competition awarded for the fifth year in a row
first prize to a medical-based entry over an IT proposal. SmartCells, a once-a-day,
self regulating insulin delivery system for diabetics, was selected as the Grand
Prize winner. Its technology uses a new kind of biodegradable polymer to produce
stimuli-responsive nanoparticles for controlled drug delivery. The runners-up
were: NeuroBionics—a "pacemaker for the brain," and Brontes, a low-cost,
real-time 3D camera system that can transform standard 2D instruments (still
and motion cameras, microscopes, endoscopes) into high performance 3D devices.
And last, but not least: Microsoft has invited a group of college students
to showcase their desktop computing skills and compete for a title of "world
champion" in the first annual Microsoft Office XP Competition. More than 30
students from 17 countries will be tested on their expertise in effectively
using Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel programs.
Sloppiness, Serendipity, and Openness in Educational Materials
James Boyle, Duke University Law School, Featured Keynote at Syllabus2003
Heated debates have taken place on campus about the role and extent of intellectual
property in education. Law Professor James Boyle of Duke University weighs in
with his thoughts in a keynote address at Syllabus2003, July 27-31 in San Jose,
Calif. Boyle argues that we are on the tipping point between two different economic
and technical systems for delivery of intellectual content, and two different
communications architectures. Don't miss out on five days of outstanding keynotes,
breakout sessions, panel discussions, and networking, as well as a special day
of activities at Stanford University. Register by June 27 and save up to $200.
For complete conference details or to register, go to http://www.syllabus.com/summer2003.
Morehouse Offering Minor in Telecom
Morehouse College is offering a new multidisciplinary program in telecommunications,
which will lead to a minor degree in telecommunications. The program is one
of the few of its kind at an undergraduate liberal arts college, according to
school officials. The Morehouse program includes studies of the management and
politics of telecom including management practices/structures, government usage
of telecommunications, as well as regulation and law on the local, national,
and international level. Course titles include topics such as: Wireless Communications;
Voice Over Internet Protocol; Phone Installation and Electrical Properties of
Telephony; Traffic Engineering; History of Telecom and Regulation; and Introduction
and Review of Network and Transmission Technology.
New England College G'es Digital on Student Loans
Maine’s Husson College has adopted an online loan administration and delivery
system that will allow faculty, students, and their families to perform virtually
all of their loan-based activities on line. The system, OpenNet from student
loan services firm Sallie Mae, enables borrowers to partially or fully complete
a loan application online, save their information, and come back later to make
changes or updates. Borrowers can also go online to accept, reduce or decline
loan amounts approved by schools. "When it comes to technology, we need to stay
ahead of the game to keep up with our students who want to do everything online,
and OpenNet helps us do that," said Amber Wood, assistant director of financial
aid for Husson College. "If students want to go online to apply for a loan,
we need to be able to receive their information."
New Products, Services, Technology for Higher Ed
SPAM FIGHTER—Sunbelt Software is offering higher ed institutions
"deep" discounts on its anti-spam software, iHateSpam Server Edition, designed
to dramatically reduce spam on Exchange 2000-based systems. The discount is
being offered under a marketing program called, "Save Our Schools from Spam."
The Clearwater, Fla.-based company says the product features fast setup, high
spam detection, a constantly updated spam engine, tunable parameters, and customizable
treatment of spam. It includes an option to quarantine spam to a folder on a
user's Outlook inbox, a benefit for public institutions concerned about protecting
free speech.
Deals, Contracts, Awards in Higher Education Market
THIRD-PARTY IMPLEMENTATION—Utah State University picked
Collegis to help implement a new administrative data management system. The
company will lead a multi-year migration to SCT Banner, the university's choice
for an administrative data management software platform. The selection of Collegis
as third-party implementer for the new software came after a formal bidding
and Request for Proposal (RFP) process mandated of public higher education institutions
such as Utah State. The agreement with Collegis invests approximately $3 million
over three years for comprehensive technology implementation services and assistance
with the management of the new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.