Indiana Schools Receive SBC Partnership Awards for Innovative Use of Technology
Five Indiana Colleges and Universities to Benefit from $50,000 in SBC Foundation Grants
Indianapolis, Indiana, December 19, 2001
Rewarding the innovative use of technology in higher education, the SBC Foundation has selected five colleges and universities in Indiana to receive the 2001 SBC Partnership Awards for Independent Colleges. The award recipients, including Butler University, Indiana Wesleyan University, Taylor University, Tri-State University and Wabash College, will each receive a $10,000 grant from the SBC Foundation.
The colleges and universities were selected for grants based on creative programs in which they apply technology to enhance learning in their environments, ranging from distance learning initiatives to faculty training. Specifically, the schools are developing the following technology-based initiatives:
Butler University, Indianapolis: Butler University will develop "Performing Arts Careers: Who, What and How," a distance learning initiative to enable middle and high school students to explore careers associated with the performing arts. Professionals in various performing arts fields will host sessions originating from Butler. The program also will assist school guidance personnel with career counseling in the performing arts.
Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion: Indiana Wesleyan University will develop "The Virtual Assessment System," a program that will provide educators with a more efficient means of assessing middle school students' progress. The program will enable educators to track and assess students' learning against a grid of state and national standards and will provide a regular feedback on each student's learning style and comprehension status.
Taylor University, Upland: Taylor University will create the "Embracing the Online World of Distance Education Program," which includes faculty training and workshops to alleviate instructors' fear and reticence associated with the use of technology in instructional settings. The program will provide guidelines and consultation to assist faculty in incorporating proven instructional practices in effectively utilizing online technologies.
Tri-State University, Angola: Tri-State University will create an online writing center to assist students with written assignments through online and two-way interactive video consulting. The program will address the support needs of off-campus locations and evening programs.
Wabash College, Crawfordsville: Wabash College will oversee the collaboration of six multi-state liberal arts colleges using technology to address the academic and technology needs of upper level undergraduate students preparing to become teachers.
"The goal of the SBC Partnership Awards is to help Indiana colleges and universities discover new ways to apply and use technology to enhance their specific educational needs," said George S. Fleetwood, president of SBC Ameritech Indiana. "We commend this year's recipients for their leadership, vision and innovation."
The SBC Partnership Awards for Independent Colleges encourage the innovative use of technology in higher education at private colleges and universities throughout SBC Ameritech's five-state region.
The SBC Foundation is the charitable giving arm of SBC Communications Inc. and its family of companies. In 2000, SBC, through Foundation and corporate giving, donated more than $95 million to support efforts that enrich and strengthen diverse communities nationwide. The Foundation places primary emphasis on supporting programs that help increase access to information technologies; broaden training and professional skills development; and effectively integrate new technologies to enhance education and economic development -- especially for underserved populations. SBC has been named among America's Most Generous Companies for two consecutive years by Worth magazine (2000 & 2001).
SBC Communications Inc. (www.sbc.com) is a global communications leader. Through its subsidiaries' trusted brands - Southwestern Bell, Ameritech, Pacific Bell, Nevada Bell, SNET and Sterling Commerce - and world-class network, SBC and its affiliated companies provide a full range of voice, data, networking and e-business services, including local and long-distance voice, high-speed Internet access and data transport, voice and data network integration, software and process integration, Web site and application hosting, e-marketplace development, paging and messaging, as well as cable and satellite television, and directory advertising and publishing. In the United States, the company currently has 61.3 million access lines and is undertaking a national expansion program under SBC Telecom that will bring SBC service to new U.S. markets. SBC has a 60 percent equity interest in Cingular Wireless, its joint venture with BellSouth, which serves more than 20 million wireless customers. Internationally, SBC has telecommunications investments in 28 countries and has annual revenues that rank it among the largest Fortune 500 companies.
