A Call for a Spam Summit for Higher Education

Terry Calhoun, Commentator
Society for College and University Planning (SCUP)
University of Michigan

Spam is killing the "killer app," e-mail being the one acknowledged "killer app" of the Internet. We've all come to rely on e-mail communications in our professional and private lives. Not too long ago, although it's beginning to seem like a different world already, those of us with quick fingers and good hand-eye coordination were lecturing everyone else: "Just use the delete key. What's the big deal?"

Now there is no one unaffected. Overnight, last night, I received 334 e-mail messages and the majority were spam, the "Keep-Your-Septic-Tank-Running-Like-Brand-New" type of spam … and there were plenty of the sordid, source-of-embarrassment types, as well. Worse, it only takes a little bit of research to reveal an IT world full of solutions that may be worse than the problem. (Read on for some examples.)

Even though we still can have a sense of humor about spam, I think it's time for higher education to have a Spam Summit. Time to get our brightest minds together—just like we are doing for cybersecurity—to define the issues unique to higher education, and put our institutions' research and programming abilities to work! …
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Stanford Shuts Down External E-mail to Fight Bugbear

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First-Ever Wireless Technology Petting Zoo

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Student Use of Tech Blurs Line Between Toys and Tools

"I don't become obsessed with a new device or revolve my life around one," said John Stockdale, a Stanford freshman, whose technological arsenal includes a laptop, a desktop computer with two CD burners and dual processors, a Unix server, Bose stereo, iPod MP3 player, and cell phone. "I've embraced technology as simplifying and improving my life. I bring my iPod instead of lugging around hundreds of CDs. It makes life easier." No comment. (The Stanford Daily)
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A complete list of university Web sites detailing outcomes assessment tools and programs from around the country.
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eLearning Web Log

A blog on all facets of eLearning by Mike Kemmler, a consulant and industrial designer with over 12 years of experience working with eLearning technologies.
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N.C. State Vet School Buys Handhelds for Students

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