News 10-11-2002
School Launches Latin Pan Regional Network
A company that earned its reputation in outer space technology said it will
supply the University of San Martin, in Bogotá, Columbia, a flexible, pan-regional
network that integrates broadband Internet access, videoconferencing, telephony
and data transfer for campuses throughout Colombia, Peru, Panama, Aruba and
Brazil. CyberStar, a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications, will integrate
a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) system that will provide voice, data and
video services -- and a flexible one-way or two-way connection to the Internet
backbone. Mariano Alvear Sofan, President of San Martin said the technology
will give it the ability to "offer high-quality instruction and facilities everywhere,
not just at the home campus in Bogotá."
Sponsor: Early Bird Deadline for Syllabus fall2002 Extended to 10/11
There's still time to receive the substantial 15% early bird registration discount
for Syllabus fall2002, the Fourth Annual Boston area conference on Education
Technology presented by Syllabus magazine. Held November 3-5 at the Boston Marriott
Newton Hotel, Syllabus fall2002 offers thought-provoking speakers and sessions
where administrators, IT professionals and faculty can learn about the latest
in technology for higher education institutions in a collegial atmosphere. Keynote
speakers are James Oliverio of the University of Florida and Gerard Hanley,
California State University. Inspire your thinking and expand your knowledge
on technology trends at Syllabus fall2002. Register at http://www.syllabus.com/fall2002.
Don't delay! The 15% early registration discount expires October 11 -- sign
up today.
Tulane, Xavier Awarded GeoMedia Grants
The Center for Bi'environmental Research, a joint venture of Tulane and Xavier
Universities in New Orleans, received a GeoMedia research grant totaling $55K
from mapping and GIS technology firm Intergraph Corp. The gift, which includes
$5K in cash and a $50K software donation, is designed to encourage scientists
to collaborate on environmental problems. The Center - known for its research
on aquatic ecosystem health - will use the grant to update its data access and
integration capabilities. The award will also enable departments at Tulane and
Xavier to have a desktop GIS that will serve as a universal geographic client.
CBR plans to immediately implement GeoMedia technology in three projects, including
the Citizens Comments Database, the Long-Term Estuary Research Group, and the
Louisiana Arbovirus Database.
For more information, visit http://www.teamgeomedia.com/rrl/default.asp
Online Subs Edge Print at Ohio State Paper
A company specializing in providing technology and marketing services to the
college media market says a web-based subscription program it instituted at
Ohio State University's has doubled the total circulation of the student newspaper.
The Lantern, serving a student population of 50,000, started using the subscription
model from College Publisher Inc.
in Jan. 2002. Since then, "we've experienced
more than a 100 percent increase in average monthly page views," said Ray Catalino,
business manager for The Lantern, who added that at the height of the publishing
cycle combined monthly page views and emails served reached 1,000,000. The subscription
model operates much like the New York Times' online service, whereby visitors
must register to gain full access to the newspaper's site.
Chicago Schools Collaborate on Virtual Job Fair
A consortium of eight Chicago colleges will hold a virtual job fair to benefit
a combined student body of 38,000. The group has partnered with New York-based
College Central Network to present the JobQuest Virtual Job Fair, which is being
co-sponsored by UPS and the local Daily Southtown and Star newspapers. The fair
will enable employers to post an unlimited number of job openings -- and search
resumes -- for $300. The fee will cover a virtual ad running for the six-week
duration of the fair, as well as an ad in the Daily Southtown. Students from
the eight consortium schools will be able to post resumes and search through
registered employer information free of charge.
For more information, visit: http://www.collegecentral.com/jobquest/.
Research Web Site Launched for Study Abroad
Foreign universities are seeing a rise in the number of applicants from the
U.S., according college administrators. The increase may be due in part to media
coverage of former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton on campus at Oxford, or because
foreign schools can be a high-quality but lower-cost alternative to U.S. schools,
or that the schools offer a base from which to pursue international cultural
or business studies. To take advantage of the rise, a web site has been launched
as a resource for researching four-year college programs overseas. CollegeAbroad.com
offers U.S. students the opportunity to research 550 four-year programs throughout
Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland. In addition,
the site offers international universities and colleges a targeted way to market
to U.S. students.
Awards, Deals, Contracts in Higher Education
*Data Storage -- Dell Computer Corp. said a series of big awards it won for
storage solutions at U.S. universities is part of a trend toward greater demand
for large data storage systems and connectivity across campuses. The wins include:
-- Case Western Reserve is installing a 5 terabyte Storage Area Network (SAN)
valued at more than $1 million, as well network attached storage (NAS) and a
tape backup management solution for the 16,000 users at the university.
-- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro recently completed a storage-consolidation
project involving installation of a SAN valued at nearly $670,000. The storage
area network will provide faculty, staff and students with two-and-a-half terabytes
of storage.
-- Houston Community College System (HCCS), the nation's second largest community
college system, has installed Dell servers across its 19 locations. The systems
are used for aiding instructors in training City of Houston paramedics through
HCCS' Emergency Medical Services Program.