Summer Snapshot

Katherine GraysonHere's a fast glance at the Campus Technology 2007 sessions you simply won't want to miss, next month.

Year after year, teaching, learning, and associated technology challenges shift and evolve as campuses change and the world changes, too. But two things never change: 1) Campus technologists want to help guide their schools to positions of institutional leadership and competitive edge, and 2) Campus technologists are understandably interested in advancing their careers—especially as more and more CIOs join presidential cabinets.

That is why Campus Technology 2007 (Washington, DC, July 30-Aug. 2) is designed to deliver attendees a true "Roadmap to IT Leadership." Let me share with you a quick sampling of the results-focused workshops, sessions, and plenaries you should not miss.

For instance, in "Your Personal Guides to IT Leadership," Tufts' Mely Tynan, the indomitable Annie Stunden (formerly of U Wisconsin), and Ron Bleed (Maricopa Community Colleges) will serve as personal consultants to attendees, helping to develop actionable institutional and career takeaways. Then, in his workshop, "Protecting Con- fidential Data: From Task Force Blueprint to Your Institution," Boston College's David Escalante will drill down through the complex layers of potential data breaches, and detail the precise steps needed for attendees' customized data-protection blueprints. In workshops and sessions focused on the newest teaching and learning technologies, Jim Wolfgang (U System of Georgia), Keith Politte (U Missouri-Columbia), and Frank Lowney (Georgia College & State U) will share the keys to successful social software and academic podcasting initiatives, while an expert panel from Appalachian State will walk attendees through "Teaching and Learning in a 3D Immersive World," and Wake Forest IT leaders will share their MobileU program model for "Moving to the New Converged Device Campus."

Included in the 50-plus sessions are in-depth focuses and dynamic panel discussions on "smart" classroom decision-making and funding; the use of gaming, iTunes, and other edgy technologies to educate; the cuttingedge use of ePortfolios; the next wave of community source initiatives; the newest success keys for online learning programs; and even the centralization of high-performance computing for increased impact and efficiency.

What's more, they will tackle the impact of business intelligence and data warehousing on competitive edge; disaster recovery and security, post-Virginia Tech; overcoming faculty barriers to IT integration; positioning IT as an entrepreneurial application service provider; surviving and thriving in a Web 2.0 world; and so much more.

But this special leadership-centered conference is also crammed with opportunities for attendees to hone their personal leadership skills, including: "Self-Mentoring to Leadership Success," "Understanding Your Critical Leadership Stages," "Diary of a New CIO," and "The Leader's Toolbox," all topped by "Leading in a New IT Environment," delivered by keynoter Ken Klingenstein, director, Internet2 Middleware and Security.

So, join us for an invaluable networking experience, and tour the University of Maryland's innovative tech implementations while you're at it. You'll head back to your campus with IT leadership skills elevated to a new level.

--Katherine Grayson, Editor-In-Chief
What have you seen and heard? Send to: [email protected].

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