Welcome
Welcome to C2 (pronounced "C Squared"), the eLetter designed to open
an exclusive forum for discussions on technology among top-level campus
administrators: chief executives, provosts, vice presidents, and directors
across all areas of the campus who are concerned with the progressive
use of technology to further learning and streamline campus business
and instructional processes.
In each edition, you'll find one-on-one "behind closed doors" interviews
or C-level opinion pieces, quick bites of who's doing what where, and
career moves of interest to the top campus echelon.
C2 was created in response to the need for a personal dialogue among
top-ranking campus officers concerned with technology as a bridge to
the next generation of higher learning. We hope you will see this twice-monthly
letter as an opportunity for C-level information sharing, mentoring,
expression, and enlightenment. Feel free to send your thoughts, ideas,
commentary, and pertinent news items to Mary Grush at [email protected].
IN THIS ISSUE
FROM THE TOP
NEED TO KNOW
WHO'S WHERE
PAST ISSUES
From the Top
Overcoming the Biggest Barrier to Student Success
By Ron Bleed,
vice chancellor, information technologies,
Maricopa Community Colleges
In order to overcome the biggest barrier to student success, higher
education must understand that the residential experience that is portrayed
in many glorified forms and memories is a reality today for only a small
minority.
Although my research is from the Maricopa Community Colleges
(AZ), the results are applicable to many other types of colleges--an
estimated 87 percent of all students in the US now commute to their
campuses, according to the National Clearinghouse for Commuter Programs,
University of Maryland.
Another realization is the importance of successful course completion
rates: One of our primary businesses is the offering of courses. The
vast majority of the budget dollars is spent on courses, and the primary
use of capital funds is to build and maintain facilities that hold courses.
Most employees are hired for the purposes of teaching and supporting
courses. Numerous research studies have been conducted on student retention
or attrition in courses.
The results of these works attempted to explain student retention upon
a student’s experiences and interest prior to enrollment and the amount
of the student’s academic integration with the college environment.
Colleges implemented intervention strategies, orientation programs,
and mentoring programs in attempts to improve retention. All these strategies
and programs are good and needed. However, the biggest barrier to student
success is overlooked.
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Need to Know
Since the announcement about the closing later this year of the American
Association for Higher Education (AAHE), concerns over that organization’s
highly regarded BEAMS (Building Engagement and Attainment of Minority
Students) have been addressed. The Alliance for Equity in Higher Education
(
www.msi-alliance.org) has
assumed ongoing leadership of the project. Project funding from the
Lumina Foundation for Education continues through 2007, supporting work
at more than 100 minority-serving institutions.
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Catch that Wave: Trans-Pacific Net
The National Science Foundation awarded $5 million to the University
of Southern California to join in the collaborative development
of Pacific Wave, a 10-gigabit network to connect international researchers
from institutions as far-flung as Australia, Japan, Korea, and other
trans-pacific locations via points of presence along the US Pacific.
coast.
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Who's Where
University of Rochester’s Thomas LeBlanc Makes a Move
Thomas J. LeBlanc will join the University of Miami (FL)
this coming July as executive vice president and provost, serving as
the university’s chief academic and budget officer. LeBlanc leaves his
post as vice provost and dean of faculty at the University of
Rochester (NY).
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Qatar University Looking for Help with Total Overhaul
Over the next five years, Qatar University (State
of Qatar) will undergo a thorough overhaul and expansion of all of its
existing facilities, curriculum, and technology infrastructure, with
the objective of becoming one of the leading universities in the Middle
East. HQA Group, which is leading the development and design of the
new project on behalf of the State of Qatar, is looking for an individual
to serve as the technology project director/lead technology consultant
for the university expansion project. For more information, contact
Ahmad Atwan, [email protected].
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