News Update 04-29-2003
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USC School of Engineering Offers MS in CompSec
The University of Southern California (USC) School of Engineering will offer
in fall 2003 a master's of science degree in computer science with a specialization
in security. "We are working proactively to respond to a growing threat," said
Dean C. L. Max Nikias of the new 18-month curriculum. "We perceive an environment
in which computer systems and communications are under imminent threat, not
merely from malicious teenage vandals and would-be thieves, but from terror
groups and even nations with resources and know-how to do serious damage." Last
year the school opened the Center for Computer Systems Security (CCSS). "Our
new MS program is a natural continuation of this focus," Nikias said. Money
to support students pursuing security specializations is available through the
National Science Foundation's Federal Cyber Service program. The new program
will also be available through the USC Distance Education Network, school officials
said.
Sponsor: Syllabus2003 to Offer Special Day at Stanford
This summer's 10th annual Syllabus Education Technology Conference features
a day of learning and exploration at Stanford University—a special day to
see, feel, and experience the latest in technology for higher education. You'll
learn about high-performance learning environments, including Wallenberg Hall
and the Stanford Center for Professional Development, plus have the opportunity
to select breakout sessions covering areas of strategic importance to higher
education professionals. The day promises to be an insider's look at one of
the nation's premier campuses and is limited to the first 500 registrants. Sign
up now to attend Syllabus2003 July 27-31 at the San Jose Marriott and Stanford
University. Early Bird discounts are available until June 27. To register or
for more details, go to: http://www.syllabus.com/summer2003.
http://www.syllabus.com/summer2003
Gallaudet U. to Join in Video Relay Service for Deaf
Gallaudet University said it would partner with the developer of a video relay
translation system to help improve interpretation services for the nation's
28 million deaf and hard-of-hearing people. The school, which offers over 50,000
hours of interpreting services every year, will work with Sorenson Media to
offer a free video relay service. The system enables both deaf and hard-of-hearing
users to place video relay calls through a certified American Sign Language
(ASL) interpreter and broadband Internet connection.
The call is placed using
the Sorenson VP-100 videophone appliance and a TV or using a personal computer
with Sorenson EnVision SL or Microsoft NetMeeting video relay software and a
Web camera. The Sorenson VRS Call Center routes the incoming video relay calls
to an available ASL interpreter. The interpreter then contacts the hearing user
via a standard phone line and relays the conversation between the two parties.
The system captures the facial expressions, gestures, and emotions that are
vital in sign language communication.
Users can call (866) FAST-VRS toll-free to place a video relay call to deaf
or hard-of-hearing people.
Online Grad Student Survey Reveals Shift in Job Focus
According to a new survey from GradSchools.com, 35 percent of prospective graduate
students say the war in Iraq has made them more interested in government or
military jobs. In addition, more than one-third feel that opportunities with
defense contractors, the military, and the government have increased since the
war began. But at the same time, the war has not affected college students'
plans to study abroad, even though it has influenced their choice of destination,
according to StudyAbroad.com in a just-released survey of students thinking
of studying overseas. More than 1,300 students participated in the GradSchools.com
survey, which sought to identify how the war in Iraq has influenced students'
interests in going to graduate school. Respondents were recruited through a
link on the GradSchools.com home page. "It's clear that world affairs have had
an effect on both students planning to attend graduate school and those who
are thinking of studying abroad," said Mark Shay, CEO of Educational Directories
Unlimited Inc., the parent company of the research sites.
Noteworthy Products and Services in Higher Education
PUBLISHING—R.R. Bowker, a publisher of bibliographic information,
introduced a Web-based subscription of Spanish language books, audiobooks, and
videos available at www.spanishbooksinprint.com.
The product includes features that have not been offered in the United States
for Spanish language materials, including access to a database with in-print,
forthcoming, audio, video, and out-of-print titles. Users will be able to locate
Spanish language materials published in the United States, Spain, and Mexico
that are carried by U.S.-based suppliers. "We see the primary user of Spanishbooksinprint.com
to be the English-speaking collection development and book-buying personnel
at public, academic, government, and special libraries, as well as bookstores,"
said Michael Cairns, president of New Providence, N.J.-based Bowker.
COURSE ASSESSMENT—eCollege is offering an Online Course Assessment
application that was developed with input from the University of Dallas. The
Online Course Assessment evolved from eCollege's one-on-one course auditing
services. The product is structured as an online exam, providing faculty, instructional
designers, course auditors, and an institution's review committee with an assessment
guideline. Assessment results and specific enhancement strategies are presented
in the Gradebook feature, along with links to "Best Practices" and "How-To"
instructions. Additionally, institutions can modify the Online Course Assessment
to include information specific to their school.
Latest Deals, Grants, Contracts in Higher Education
CONTENT MANAGEMENT—The School of Advanced International Studies
(SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University signed a deal to use Site Executive from
Vision Multimedia Technologies to help implement its content management system.
The product has modules for calendar items, spreadsheets, and drop-down tools,
giving end users flexibility to create a Web site with advanced functionality
and extensibility. Site Executive offers meta-tagging strategies, which will
make the SAIS Web site more accessible to search engines. The solution will
record all updates made to SAIS' Web content, and provide a reporting module
that offers a comprehensive summary of activity in a format of their choice.
Pricing for Site Executive starts at $25,000.
SMART FACILITIES—Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell last week
announced a $2.5 million capital budget grant to Holy Family University for
the construction of a new education and technology center at the University's
Northeast Philadelphia campus. The new facility is designed to support teaching
and research of the University as well as its educational partnerships within
Philadelphia, especially with the city's school district. The new facility will
include the application of new technology in the teaching-learning environment,
including smart classrooms and interactive auditoria, new faculty offices, and
new computer laboratories. The school, which specializes in the education of
first-time teachers, ranks among the top institutions of learning for teachers,
including teachers that go to work in the school district of Philadelphia.
