News 11-13-2001
Syllabus fall2001...Like Dessert After Thanksgiving
The full menu of sessions offered at this year's Syllabus fall2001 conference
is a feast for anyone who relies on IT within higher education. Choose from
tracks on emerging technologies, ERP, Web-based environments, evaluation strategies,
case studies, and an all-new series from the TLT Group.
Less than three weeks remain. Make your plans now to join us in Danvers, Mass.
(just north of Boston) for the main conference (November 29-30) and post-conference
workshops (December 1-2). Register online at www.syllabus.com.
HP, Red Hat Provide Linux Software Grants
Hewlett-Packard Co. and Red Hat, Inc., will donate the Red Hat Linux 7.1 operating
system software to 40 universities chosen as part of HP and Intel Corp.'s Itanium-based
Systems Grants program. Via the $2.5 million joint effort, HP servers and Itaniam
processor-based workstations will be donated to the universities, which plan
to use them in areas ranging from bio-informatics to data mining. The donation
of Linux software is intended to support the use of open source software in
education environments. Wen-Mei Hwu, a professor at the University of Illinois,
said the grant "will enable us to accelerate our research in code optimizations
and operating system performance and, in turn, make Itanium-based systems and
Linux even more powerful solutions in the research community."
University Transmits Video for Orthopedic Surgery
Toronto-based Queen's University is using a collaborative video system to create
a "virtual operating room" with Kingston General Hospital. Students
in the program will develop a suite of diagnostic and surgical software tools
to help surgeons plan and perform computer-assisted orthopedic surgery. Using
laptops and software from Avaya Inc., 30 graduate students and professors can
observe orthopedic surgeries, share documents, audio files, and high-resolution
images such as x-rays, CT scans and arthroscopies. "Computer-assisted surgery
is the way of the future and will be instrumental in providing improved health
care services to Canadians," said Dr. Randy Ellis, a professor in Queens's
Department of Computing and Information Science.
Financial Aid Companies Offer Assistance Via New Web Site
American Education Services (AES), a financial aid organization, and Allfirst
Bank plan to provide affordable student loans to African-American students through
HBCUmentor.org, a new website providing information, electronic tools and applications
for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Through a web interface,
students can search for HBCUs that best meet their needs, take multimedia campus
tours, communicate directly with schools via free email accounts and submit
applications online. The system provides students 24-hour access to a virtual
"mentor" that interacts with the student, counseling them according
to their interests, academic abilities, high school course studies, extracurricular
activities and special needs. During the website's first month online, it registered
more than 7,700 visitors.
For more information, visit: <http://www.hbcumentor.org
Hong Kong U. Wins Automated Systems Award
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's Advanced Manufacturing Institute
won a 2001 award for excellence in enterprise integrated manufacturing from
the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and its Computer and Automated Systems
Association (CASA/SME). Neil Duffie, chairman of CASA/SME's award committee,
said the group was impressed with the "excellence and dedication of the
faculty and the focus on global manufacturing." The manufacturing program
at Hong Kong, established in 1991 to enhance manufacturing competitiveness in
the Pacific rim, focuses on product and process development, e-commerce driven
logistics, and mass customization.
For more information, visit: <http://www.sme.org>.
U. Houston Starts Hospitality Finance and Tech Programs
The University of Houston's Conrad Hilton College and a hospitality industry
professionals group has started an institute to provide research services in
hospitality finance and technology. Frank Wolfe, chief executive officer of
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals, said "because (HFTP)
has positioned itself as the source for hospitality finance and technology information,
we continually receive questions and requests for research ranging from information
on the uniform system of accounts to ways of using technology for streamlining
operations." In addition, HFTP has developed an undergraduate degree program
with Hilton College, with a curriculum focused on finance and technology in
the hospitality industry.
U. Memphis Alumnus to Head FedEx Technology Institute
James Phillips, chief executive officer of media software company Interactive
Pictures Corp., was named executive director of the FedEx Technology Institute
at the University of Memphis. The Institute, a partnership between Federal Express
Corp. and The University of Memphis, will prepare students for technical, cross-functional
business environments. Its graduates are expected to be fluent in information
technology and will have access to the most up-to-date information technology
for learning and research. Ground was broken in May 2001 for the building that
will house the Institute. Completion is expected in 2003.
Telecom Firm Awards Oklahoma U. $1.1 Million Grant
Williams Communications is giving $1.1 million gift to the University of Oklahoma's
College of Engineering to help build a new student services center and endow
a Williams Professorship in Engineering. The new facility will provide a consolidated
location for engineering faculty and students, including a conference room with
telecommunications capabilities available for student use as well as for the
center's programs and a student lounge, which will be wired for laptop network
hookups. Williams chief Howard Janzen said the center will provide "state-of-the-art
technological tools for students, which will further high-tech innovation."
He called the grant "an ideal way to build a robust workforce of the future."
Online U. Offers Continuing Ed Web Services
Online Capella University has launched a web-based assessment tool for adults
considering continuing their education. The "2-Minute Advisor" is
an interactive tool designed to provide people individual course and program
recommendations based on their interests and specific needs. The Advisor online
questionnaire provides recommendations on courses or programs that best match
a person's interests and goals; an assessment of their learning style; reference
and research material to help with their decision; and information on financial
aid. "Everybody has questions about continuing their education, but few
people take the time to meet with an advisor, said Steve Shank, chancellor of
the school. The advisor gives people "quick access to the information they
need to make an informed decision."
For more information, visit: <http://www.capellauniversity.edu>.
Kentucky Virtual U. Adds Online Tutoring
Kentucky Virtual University opened registration for Spring 2002 with new online
services, including free online tutoring, Sunday call center hours and an online
writing center. Acting chief executive offier Daniel Rabuzzi said the services
"are designed to create a high-touch environment for students plugged into
class over the Internet. Live tutors are now just a click away, and in some
subjects, are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week." Students can
schedule tutoring sessions in subjects ranging from basic math to Calculus II,
accounting, chemistry, economics, Spanish and statistics. The tutoring will
remain free through mid-May 2002 and is available through an arrangement with
the University of Kentucky.
For more information, visit: <http://www.kyvu.org>.
Indiana Statesman Launches New Web Site
The Indiana Statesman, the campus newspaper of Indiana State University, launched
a redesigned website to provide more comprehensive news and campus information.
The site enables the staff to run breaking news, feedback on stories, and to
use stories from other campus newspapers around the country. The newspaper developed
the site with Digital Partners Inc., a Lincoln, Neb.-based company which provides
technology and marketing services to online college newspapers. The company
syndicates stories through a network that includes newspapers at the universities
of Wisconsin, Nebraska, Oregon, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and North Carolina
at Chapel Hill. The Indiana Statesman publishes three times a week to 7,000
copies to students, staff and faculty.
For more information, visit: <http://www.indianastatesman.com>
Don't Miss This Event from 101communications
Syllabus fall2001 "Next Steps: Moving Forward with Campus IT"
November 29-December 2
Danvers, MA.
Online registration available: http://www.syllabus.com
