Friday, April 17, 2009 The Behrend Beacon 1 3
COPUS NEWS
Growth
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academic sectors of the univer
sity. For other departments,
however, technology can be
utilized in many other ways.
Andrea Konkol, an admis
sions counselor, keeps a con
stant eye on developing modes
of communications to market
to perspective students.
Dave Christiansen, an
Associate Dean at Behrend,
generally directs the e-learning
section, where online seg
ments of courses are integrat
ed into regular class schedules.
Ron Hoffman, who directs
the Computer Center and is the
Manager of Information
Technology services at
Behrend, works to increase
capabilities and efficiency of
current equipment, while
watching out for the needs of
the academic community at the
college.
While the effort to use mod
ern technology comes down to
several different departments,
the effort to maximizing the
utility of these emerging tools
is a University-wide project.
Technology as a
Marketing Tool
In the last 70 days as of pub
lication date, the amount of
adults 35 or older on Facebook
has doubled. As adults join an
ever-growing network of mil
lions online, schools are
increasingly trying to figure
out ways to use the new social
networking revolution to mar
ket to perspective students.
Ms. Konkol, who has worked
as an admissions counselor for
eight years, says that Behrend
started using Facebook to
appeal to students by creating
groups for incoming classes.
"Look, this is the world of our students.
Why would we want to sanitize their
voArldn
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04 1P-
The group for the "Class of
2012" has 620 members, while
the "Class of 2013" group
already has 378. Often, she
says, students will join the
groups to attain a better idea of
whether or not they want to go
to the college. Groups with stu
dents that already attend the
university (like the one for this
year's freshmen) often morph
into pure discussion boards
containing threads on paint
ball, sports and intramurals, or
requests for roommates.
"These groups also allow us
to get a good idea on what stu
dents want," Konkol says.
Academic affairs
to change advising
system
By Rachel Reeves
editor in chief
rcrsos7(u psu.edu
Academic Affairs has been
receiving numerous com
plaints from students about
Behrend's academic advising
system. Matthew Foulk and
Steven Burger, involved in the
Academic Affairs Committee
of the Student Government
Association, have decided to
make some changes.
Right now, "advisors have
the option of a training ses
sion," says Foulk. The problem
is that it is optional, not
mandatory. As a result, some
advisors can miss information,
and the process can become
more complicated for students.
Foulk and Burger would like to
see an online module set up in
order to provide another ele
ment to the advising system.
"The best thing we can do is
set up an online module to help
students," says Burger.
Burger says that the point of
the module is to be a last resort
for students who are having
"There were a ton of groups
this year dealing with snow
boarding - where students get
their equipment repaired, trips
to [Peek 'n Peak], where they
buy new equipment that allows
us to get a better bead on what
students care about."
Konkol has also started a
Twitter account for
Admissions, which only has 44
followers. This, she says, is
partly due to the fact that it
only started last month, and
there hasn't been much of an
effort in getting the word out.
One of the most successful
additions to the digital market
ing coming out of Admissions
this year has been the utiliza
tion of a student blog, written
by Jennifer Villarroel, which
has over 1100 hits. Located at
jovso2l.wordpress.com, it fea
tures an "inside scoop" of
Behrend.
"Lots of students have seen
the blog and told me, That's
exactly what I was looking
for,"' Konkol says. The blog is
not officially connected to
Penn State, and does not go to
the Admissions department for
review before publication, but
has gotten great reviews from
incoming students. Villarroel's
most recent post is one dealing
with what students at Behrend
generally do during weekends
or in time off.
Though there has been very
little negative feedback to
Behrend's attempt to market
the college with digital com
munications, there have arisen
several problems with the site,
including the censoring of
feedback.
Konkol says that she refuses
to censor things like Behrend
made Facebook pages. "Look,
this is the world of our stu
dents," she says. "Why would
we want to sanitize their
world?"
The world of students,
though, is quickly becoming a
narr..
Andrea Konkol
Admissions Counselor
world shared by all. "It's sort of
to the point where if I search
for a business on Google, and
they don't have a website, I get
frustrated," Konkol says. "And
now, a lot of students search
for a business or school on
Facebook, and if they don't
have a page, the students feel
frustrated too."
And the best thing about
using social networking?
"It's free," says Konkol. "We
still will use traditional ways
like print, radio, or a website,
but these new elements can be
laid on top of those with very
little cost, and it has been very
successful."
trouble with their advisors.
"It's not meant to replace advi
sors," says Burger. "If they
have questions, the module is
for when they can't see their
advisor."
Foulk and Burger say that
the Division of Undergraduate
Studies is excited about the
new idea. "They're very enthu
siastic, and they want to help
as much as possible," says
Burger. Behrend's website is
potentially being upgraded
soon, and if that were the case
Burger hopes to get prominent
placement on the site for the
module. "We don't want any
one to have to dig to access it,"
says Burger.
The two students have "big
plans" for the module. They
are looking into a basic down
loadable link with structure
similar to a Powerpoint.
Burger says that they will meet
with the Division of
Undergraduate Studies to con
tinue work on the project.
"We hope to have our ideas
on the table by the end of the
year," says Burger.
Technology as an
Academic Tool
While a more in-depth look
at how academics are utilizing
technology to enhance class
room learning will be printed
in next week's issue, it's worth
a look to see how Behrend is
investing in new ideas and
strategies to help the college
grow intellectually.
One of the biggest additions
to Behrend's technical "arse
nal," says Dave Christiansen,
an Associate Dean at Behrend,
has been the advent of "e
-learning."
"We've been introducing
teachers to online e-learning
tools," he says. "These usually
have an online component,
making them what we call a
hybrid class. About ten to
twenty percent of our classes
have this online component in
some degree."
Wayne Anderson, who heads
up the e-learning initiative at
Behrend under the director of
Christiansen, says that the
highest priority is first finding
out what is needed, then find
ing what technology can get
the university to that point.
"My role is to support faculty
in order to help them teach
online," he says. "A lot of my
time goes to workshops to
show teachers what is out
there. Those tend to be a blend
of 'why do it' and 'what's avail
able.'"
Much of the rest of his time,
he says, goes towards creating
courses online. "We need to
make sure that they have qual
ity that is equal to or better
than a face to face course,"
says Anderson, who was
involved in creating at least
three online courses. "It's not
just something you can throw
up there. To be able to make a
high-quality course at the Penn
State standard is very time
consuming and challenging."
Despite the challenges with
Greeks
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hosting the event were not
allowed to know who received
awards until the event itself.
"We didn't know anything. I
knew I was presenting when I
got here, but I didn't know
what I was saying until I went
up there to read it."
This year, many individuals
were recognized for outstand
ing efforts. Todd Ericson, 2008-
2009 President of the
Interfraternity Council, and
Lauren Brake, 2008-2009
President of the Panhellenic
Council, announced a few of
the awards given out at the cer
emony. The Most Valuable
Chapter Member Award was
given to Todd Ericsson of Delta
Chi and Elizabeth Warheit of
Alpha Sigma Tau. The
Outstanding Alumni/ae
Programming Award was
given to the Alpha Sigma
Alpha and Delta Chi organiza
tions. The Oustanding Chapter
Programming Award was
awarded to the Alpha Sigma
Tau and Delta Chi organiza
tions. The Outstanding
Chapter Advisor Award was
presented to Patty McMann
who currently advises the sis
ters of Alpha Sigma Alpha. The
chapters that received the
Highest Chapter Grade Point
Average Award were Theta Phi
Alpha and Sigma Tau Gamma.
The Highest New Member
Computers on campus will be receiving substantial upgrades througth 2010
creating hybrid elements and
integrating them into current
courses, Anderson sees cours
es with an online portion grow
ing. "Nationally, it's growing
significantly still," he says.
"Penn State has lots of
resources, and is very
advanced technologically, so
it's very easy to expand."
Students who are just start
ing at Behrend should look out
for increased quality in online
components, and an increased
use of digital elements.
Feedback for quality of these
elements will come from built
in surveys, focus groups, and
will also pull in statistics from
national studies.
Both Anderson and Todd
Say, a manager at the
Computer Center, have an
interest in increasing possibili
ties for collaborative group
projects online. The challenge
comes from finding a program
that meets the standards of any
program, and is easy to learn.
"We don't want students to
spend all their time learning
how to use a tool," says
Anderson. "Rather, we want
them to spend their time using
-it,to help them larn,"
Say thinks that the project
will likely resemble the "P
Drive" currently available to
students by providing an
online collaborative storage
space that groups will be able
to access. "The Computer
Center has seen the need and
drive from faculty and students
for that," he says. "It will
pro'ably be something 'home
grown,' that the University or
some of its students can
make."
Emerging technologies and
improvements at Behrend
Ron Hoffman and Todd Say
at the Computer Center define
one of their top priorities as
improving the capacities and
efficiency of current technolo
gy, rather than simply adding
"It's hard not to get energized around these girls. Everyone does so
much. Winning and even being recognized is an honor in itself.
Winning meant a lot to me because Greek life means a lot to me."
Class Grade Point Average
Award was given to Alpha
Sigma Alpha and Sigma Tau
Gamma. The Outstanding
Sorority and Fraternity
Leadership Awards were pre
sented to Alpha Sigma Alpha
and Kappa Delta Row, respec
tively. The Greek Spirit Award
was awarded to Lauren Brake.
Lauren Brake expressed her
apparent enthusiasm towards
her personal victory and her
sorority's accomplishments. "I
put in a lot of effort because I
feel like the organizations
deserve a lot of effort to he put
in. Everything I have done has
been for the betterment of the
community. It's hard not to get
energized around these girls.
Everyone does so much.
Winning and even being recog
nized is an honor in itself.
Winning meant a lot to me
because Greek life means a lot
to me."
To continue with the awards,
the 2008 Greek Week Winners
were Theta Phi Alpha and
Kappa Delta Row. The Sorority
Recruitment Excellence Award
was presented to the Alpha
Sigma Tau organization. The
Fraternity Recruitment
Much like the e-learning ini
tiative. much of what the
Computer Center does is dic
tated by the needs of faculty.
"We don't go out looking for
technology," Hoffman
'We don't want to grab
something just because it's
brand new. If it just came out,
we don't necessarily immedi
ately need it in our labs."
"We don't go out looking for new technolo
gy. We don't want to grab something just
because it's brand new."
Aside from following faculty
use, though, increasing effi
ciency and going "green" have
rounded out the schedules of
Computer Center employees.
"Thin client blade technolo
gy," which runs an operating
system from a server as
opposed to running it from a
local tower, is something that
Behrend has already utilized.
g The Computer Center plans to
r'►xpand use of these, especially
in some more of the RELIC
labs. While it will help with
space and energy conserva
tion, it will also assist the col
lege in increasing its efficiency
of current space. Long-run, it
can also save some significant
costs in energy, too.
Making Behrend more ener
gy-efficient will also mean that
any and all new equipment will
be Energy Star compliant,
meaning that it must meet gov
ernment-set regulations on
energy use. Behrend and the
Computer Center will need to
evaluate some current process
es to see where additional con
servation can occur; right now,
computers must be turned on
at all times in order to allow for
updates, and for the conven
ience of students using the lab.
Excellence Award was present
ed to the brothers of Kappa
Delta Row. The Outstanding
Individual in Community
Service and Philanthropy
Award was rightfully awarded
to Jessica Lynch of Alpha
Sigma Tau. The Outstanding
Individual Community Service
Project Award went to the
Alpha Sigma Tau and Delta
Chi organizations. The
Outstanding Individual
Philanthropy Project Award
went to the Greek organiza
tions of Alpha Sigma Tau and
Delta Chi. The Outstanding
Individual Philanthropy
Project Award went to the
Greek organization of Theta
Phi Alpha. The Overall
Excellence in Community
Service Award went to Delta
Chi and Alpha Sigma Alpha.
The Overall Excellence in
Philanthropy Award went to
Alpha Sigma Tau. The
Outstanding New Member
Education Program Award
went to Alpha Sigma Tau and
Kappa Delta Row. The
Outstanding New Member
Award went to Alpha Sigma
Tau's Sonia Rosales and Kappa
Delta Row's Bryan Monroe.
There could be a possibility
that a process could be used to
shut down computers while in
non-use, and start them back
up for updates and upon
usage.
Also, students should expect
an upgrade to Windows 7 in
the summer of 2010. "The plan
was Vista in the summer of
2008," says Hoffman. Due to
problems with the operating
Ron Hoffman
Manager, Computer Center
system, he says. a move was
made hack to Windows XP.
Again, the dictation to switch
to the new operating system
will likely come from the facul
ty at Behrend. which has dra
matically different needs than
University Park.
A project that the Computer
Center made outside of faculty
instruction was the new
"Cyberlounge" in Hammermill.
Say calls the cyberlounge a
response to student need,
rather than a response to staff.
"Students wanted a place to
relax." he says. "We think that
the cyberlounge provides that
and also provides a check
Facebook, or e-mail."
The Computer Center is
looking at plans to redo the
ground floor of the library to
create a cyberlounge type
atmosphere. That project will
likely heavily involve the staff
of the Lilley Library, which
Hoffman describes as very
enthusiastic to the change.
Also on the horizon will be a
shift in Reed, where the heavi
ly-used kiosks on the bottom
floor will be moved up to the
second floor balcony outside of
Bruno's Cafe.
Lauren Brake
The Outstanding Fraternity
and Sorority Athlete Award
went to Karen Hobaugh of
Theta Phi Alpha. The
Outstanding Brotherhood and
Sisterhood Awards went to
Kappa Delta Row and Alpha
Sigma Alpha, respectively. The
Christopher L. Rizzo Friend of
Greek Life Award was given to
Lindsey Hopkins Hall. The
Most Improved Chapter Award
was awarded to the Greek
organization of Kappa Delta
Row. Last, but certainly not
least, the Outstanding Greek
Man and Woman Awards were
presented to Paul Nick of Delta
Chi and Lauren Brake of Theta
Phi Alpha, respectively.
In response to receiving his
award, Paul Nick stated his
enthusiasm. "It was very excit
ing Ito receive the Greek Man
of the Year award]. A lot of the
time we try to act selfless, and
we t►y to make sure our chap
ter is doing well for the benefit
of all the new guys coming in.
It's exciting to get recognized. I
put in a lot of hours. This is my
second term as President of my
chapter. 1 have a lot of ideas for
the Second time coming in."