Industry Briefs

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TECH SECTORS

NEWS

PRESERVING HISTORY. LexisNexis (www.lexisnexis.com) has teamed up with the University of Maryland to preserve images from the US Serial Set maps in a repository that will be easily accessible and searchable online. The US Serial Set is a vast historical resource that contains an ongoing collection of US government publications. LexisNexis has digitized nearly the entire set spanning from 1789 to 1969, including 325,000 documents drawn from nearly 13,000 volumes, 52,000 maps, and other official state papers. NEW TO CSUN. California State University-Northridge will begin providing its engineering students with Web-based synchronous content from Elluminate Inc. (www.elluminate.com) to add dynamic interaction to its distance learning program. Company spokespeople say Elluminate Live! will replace an expensive and antiquated satellite-based teleconferencing system. TRAINS, PLANES, AND BIKES? Bicycle theft has been an issue ever since the two-wheeler was invented. To combat it, the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) and Clancy Systems International (www.clancysystems.com) have teamed up to launch a new security program for bicycle locker use. The program allows members to reserve a locker space, locker location, and code, online or by phone; UCLA bike riders won’t be walking home bikeless anytime soon. OVERHAULING THE STUDENT LOAN SYSTEM. Sierra Systems Group Inc. (www.sierrasystems.com) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (www.thecb.state.tx.us) have signed a $4.3 million contract to develop and implement the new Texas Loan Program System. The migration project will enable the THECB to more effectively and efficiently process loans while allowing borrowers and higher ed institutions the ability to transact and access loan or grant information anytime, anywhere. The THECB is responsible for administering the state’s student financial aid programs, as well as providing support for a broad portfolio of loan products to help enhance students’ access to higher ed institutions in Texas. The migration project will continue until July 2006. LIBRARIES GET NEW SOFTWARE. Sixteen university and college libraries are in the process of implementing an electronic resource management system from Endeavor Meridian (www.endinfosys.com). The Endeavor Meridian database will allow users to view and control a library’s electronic collections, reducing staff effort required to manage, deliver, and analyze eContent. Several of the universities include: The University of British Columbia (Canada), Ithaca College (NY), Syracuse University (NY), and Kansas State University .

M&A, ETC.

AGREEMENT TO SELL. Proxim Corp. (www.proxim.com), a provider of Wi-Fi and broadband wireless equipment, has announced it will sell all of its assets to Moseley Associates Inc. (www.moseleysb.com), in a deal worth $21 million. Moseley will assume most of the domestic and foreign operations of Proxim.

PEOPLE
COURSEN HONORED
. Jeff Coursen, executive VP and COO of integrated communication and managed security services provider ATX Communications (www.atx.com), was honored at Drexel University’s (PA) LeBow College of Business Annual Awards and commencement ceremony. Coursen was recognized with the Outstanding Alumni award for his “service to profession.” Coursen was recently promoted to executive VP after guiding the company through a complex corporate reorganization completed in April 2005.

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