News Update 07-15-2003
Today's Issue Sponsored By:
* The All New CDW*G Technology Services Center
http://info.101com.com/default.asp?id=2140
* Best Practices, Innovative Solutions at Syllabus2003
http://info.101com.com/default.asp?id=1814
Consortium Fights for Status of Online Degree Programs
The Online University Consortium (OUC), founded to promote the quality
and reputation of online degree programs, said eight universities
joined its network, bringing to 220 the number of degree programs it
represents. The new members are: the University of Illinois, University
of Florida, University of Massachusetts, University of Oregon,
University of Denver, Upper Iowa University, Thomas Edison State
College, and New Jersey Institute of Technology.
OUC said studies show the reputation of the institution backing online
degree programs is critical to learner acceptance and future success.
It cited a poll showing that 50 percent of the HR professionals at this
year's Society for Human Resources Management conference said they'd
pick a job candidate with a degree from a traditional school such as
the University of Southern California over a candidate with a degree
from a non-traditional organization. Only 22 percent said they'd select
candidates graduating from an education business such as University of
Ph'enix.
"The [OUC] continues to gain strength and momentum as it sets the
standard for quality online degree programs. This is the most important
decision factor driving student enrollments," says Greg Eisenbarth,
OUC's Executive Director. "Schools that meet the consortium's
membership requirements have earned a reputation for quality education
with proven track records that non-traditional schools haven't
achieved."
For more information, visit: www.onlineuc.net/topuniv.html
SPONSOR: CDW*G Technology Services Center
The All New CDW*G Technology Services Center
Because investing in the right technology d'esn't
stop at purchasing your hardware and software.
From service protection and custom installations
to leasing and training solutions -- CDW*G has you covered!
http://info.101com.com/default.asp?id=2140
Prof Wins Maryland Distance Course of the Year Honors
Chikao Tsubaki, an assistant professor of English at Baltimore City
Community College, was awarded the Distance Course of the Year for 2003
by the Maryland Distance Learning Association for his online English
course. Tsubaki's Composition Skills II (ENG 82) features traditional
English instruction with self-paced, multimedia instruction. It
features Interactive English, a writing program with a flexible
curriculum of writing lessons, readings, and grammar exercises, as well
as a management system to help track student progress.
The course was recently adopted for use by the Maryland Online
Consortium, and will be offered through the consortium's network of 24
member colleges and universities in Maryland.
For more information, visit: www.bccc.state.md.us/
SPONSOR: Best Practices, Innovative Solutions at Syllabus2003
This summer's 10th annual Syllabus Conference offers five days of not- to-be
missed keynotes, general sessions, breakouts, and more for education technology
professionals. Join us July 27-31 at the San Jose Marriott and enjoy five new
program tracks on topics of strategic importance. Plus, a special day on the
Stanford University campus will allow you to experience the latest technology
innovations first hand. All this, including networking and exhibits, in Syllabus'
traditional collegial atmosphere. Hurry! Classes are filling up with only 12
days left before the conference. Register today! For details and to register
go to: http://info.101com.com/default.asp?id=1814.
Microsoft Sponsors Stanford Humanitarian Tech Fellowships
Microsoft Corp. will sponsor fellowships for the Reuters Foundation's
Digital Vision Fellowship Program at Stanford University for the 2003-
04 school year. The program provides technologists a sabbatical year at
Stanford to work on information technology projects that will have a
humanitarian impact in the developing world. For the school year 2003-
04, 19 Digital Vision Fellows will attend the program compared to 13
this year and 6 in 2001-02, the year the program began. They have
submitted a range of projects applying Internet and IT to the problems
of the development of literacy, healthcare, and economic generation in
developing countries. Digital Vision fellows are located full-time on
the Stanford campus for up to one academic year.
Additional information can be found at: http://reuters.stanford.edu/index.html
Columbia, New Orleans, IBM, Make Nanotech Breakthrough
Scientists from Columbia University, IBM Corp., and the University of
New Orleans have discovered a new, three-dimensional designer material
assembled from two different types of particles only billionths of a
meter across. In the June 26 issue of the scientific journal "Nature"
the team describes the precision chemistry methods used to make the
nanotech breakthrough. Designing new materials with otherwise
unattainable properties, sometimes referred to as "metamaterials," is
one of the promises of nanotechnology. Two-dimensional patterns had
previously been created from gold nanoparticles of different sizes and
mixtures of gold and silver. Extending this concept to three dimensions
with more diverse types of materials demonstrates the ability to bring
more materials together than previously realized. The structures may
have novel magneto-optical properties as well as properties key to the
realization of quantum computing.
For more information, visit: http://domino.research.ibm.com/Comm/bios.nsf/pages/selfassembly.html
National U. Tops in Granting CS Masters Degrees to Latinos
National University, a non-profit San Diego-based school founded in
1971 to provide adult education, said it provided more master's degrees
in computer and information science to Hispanic students than any other
college or university in the United States during the 2001-02 school
year. In total, National conferred 16 master's degrees in computer and
information science to Hispanics last year, representing a 433 percent
increase over the previous year and 24 percent of all recipients
receiving that degree from National University. "Ironically, National
University has no affirmative action policies in place," said National
University Vice President Thomas MacCalla, Ed.D. "We have traditionally
catered to working adult students. Consequently, our student body more
closely reflects the diversity of the state population."
