Monthly Archives: June 2012

27Jun

EDUCAUSE Publishes Top-Ten IT Issues Report

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The much anticipated EDUCAUSE annual report Top-Ten IT issues, 2012 reveals key technology trends across the institutional enterprise. In this year’s report, CEOs, CIOs, and VPs weigh in on the key institutional issues of 2012. Top issues include readying staff for emerging technologies and new service delivery models, supporting the “bring you own device” effect that we see on today’s campuses, developing an institution-wide cloud strategy, and improving organizational efficiency and decision making.

This year’s list, the authors point out, transcends the IT “org chart” and instead aligns with two predominant themes: “the IT organization’s obligation to the institution; and the IT organization’s relationship to technology outside the institution.”

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TAGS: , , CATEGORY: Technology Today
27Jun

Colleague by Ellucian Certified on Microsoft SQL Server 2012

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 If you’re a Colleague by Ellucian customer running your system on the Microsoft platform, we’ve got great news. Colleague is now certified on Microsoft SQL Server 2012.  This early certification allows institutions to take advantage of SQL Server 2012’s new features, which will help to increase system reliability while improving total cost of ownership.

More than 250 Colleague institutions have selected Microsoft SQL Server as their database platform.  “SQL server provides our Colleague customers with a robust and cost effective database option for running Colleague,” said Toby Williams, senior vice president, corporate development at Ellucian. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with Microsoft as we deliver a range of technology solutions that help higher education institutions meet their strategic goals.”

TAGS: , , , CATEGORY: Technology Today
27Jun

American Council on Education Publishes Six Recommendations to Improve Accreditation Quality and Accountability

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“Higher education created accreditation and we are responsible for ensuring it continues to serve its public and private purposes. This responsibility cannot be taken lightly by academic leaders,” said Edward Ayers, co-chair of the American Council on Education’s (ACE) National Task Force on Institutional Accreditation and President of the University of Richmond (VA).

Recognizing that accreditation as a measure of quality is a complex undertaking, ACE created the National Task Force on Institutional Accreditation to support institutions searching for the best ways to assure quality. The initial project of the task force is to evaluate the current state of self-regulated accreditation—its effectiveness and value—and to make recommendations to further preserve and guarantee an environment of academic quality.

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TAGS: , , , CATEGORY: Higher Education Trends
27Jun

Cost of Education Continues its Steady Climb, According to Department of Education

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Institutions have been feeling the crunch of funding cuts for years and consequently many students are feeling the pinch of continually rising tuition costs.

The U.S. Department of Education published its annual College Affordability and Transparency lists this month and year-over-year climbing costs remain the norm.

As reported by the Associated Press in USA Today, on average, in-state tuition at public four-year institutions has increased at a rate of 5.6 percent per year in the last decade. The AP additionally reported that, by comparison, community college increases averaged less than one percent.

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TAGS: , , CATEGORY: Higher Education Trends