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Campus+ Industry

MOREHEAD STATE’S contactless campus card system allows students to manage everything from vending machine puchases to laundry payment.

:: NEWS

EXPANDING OPENCOURSEWARE. The University of Massachusetts- Boston is expanding its OpenCourseWare offerings, to help increase the retention rate of students who enter the university as freshmen from Boston public schools. Funded by a $60,000 grant from the Boston Foundation, the project will publish the archives of 12 additional courses required by undergraduate students to earn a bachelor’s degree, as well as develop workshops to be attended by Boston high school teachers. The teachers will be trained on how to use OpenCourseWare resources and given strategies on using and integrating them into high school classrooms, so that students are better prepared when they enter UMass-Boston.

CONTACTLESS PURCHASING. Morehead State University (KY) has upgraded its campus card system with a large-scale implementation of iClass contactless card readers from HID Global. More than 220 iClass readers across campus are managing purchases and privileges for access control, dining services, snack/beverage vending, copying and printing, laundry payment, and more. Beyond improving convenience for students and staff, the contactless readers are also revenue drivers: Since the iClass readers manage purchases campuswide, it’s now easier for students to spend and manage funds via the school’s EagleCard campus card. EagleCardbased vending sales have increased nearly 10 percent since the system was implemented.

CAMPUSWIDE WIFI. The University of South Carolina has selected AT&T to provide high-speed wireless broadband in more than 160 buildings across the campus, as well as for outdoor spaces. The campuswide WiFi service will provide public internet access for more than 30,000 students, faculty, staff, and guests, and also will carry the university’s intranet traffic. AT&T’s WiFi Services will provide round-the-clock network monitoring and a complete turnkey managed WiFi network service, including site survey, design, installation, repair, maintenance, and warranty of equipment.

VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE. This summer, Texas Tech University hosted a virtual open house, held at CollegeWeekLive. The event included live video presentations from Texas Tech admissions, financial aid, and housing representatives, as well as a virtual booth where college-bound high school students could browse information and text chat live with campus administrators and current students. Additional booths featured details on campus housing and dining, where virtual tours of residence halls provided prospective students with a glimpse into campus life. The sevenhour open house event attracted nearly 500 visitors.

CONNECTING ON FACEBOOK. Partnering with customized Facebook application provider Varsity Outreach, Tulane University (LA), St. Norbert College (WI), and Pace Law School (NY) have launched Facebook communities where prospective and admitted students can build connections with each other, with current students, and with admissions staff. Via the schools’ Facebook applications, prospective students can find peers who live nearby, intend to pursue the same major, or share common interests. What’s more, the schools’ admissions offices can provide tailored information to prospective students and invite admitted students to network within a dedicated, invitationonly area.

:: PEOPLE

Darrell McMillonCCC CIO. Darrell McMillon has been appointed CIO at Camden County College (NJ). McMillon most recently served as a CIO with SunGard Higher Education Managed Services.

Ken UdasUMASSONLINE CEO. The University of Massachusetts has named Ken Udas as CEO of its online learning consortium, UMassOnline. Udas previously served as executive director of the Penn State World Campus.

Lee DodsonPREMIER PREZ. Premier Mounts has brought in Lee Dodson to lead the company as president. The 25-year veteran of the pro A/V industry most recently served as vice president of marketing at Extron Electronics.

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