Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI)
New Listserv for Small Libraries
Traveling and meetings take money and time, both in critically short supply for small libraries. CARLI has established a new email distribution list called smallerlibs-ig@carli.illinois.edu.

If you work in what you consider a small library, or if you are merely interested in the issues of small academic libraries in Illinois, we invite you to subscribe to the list and to talk amongst yourselves. Visit the list information page at http://carli.illinois.edu/mailman/listinfo/smallerlibs-ig to subscribe.


M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries (United Kingdom)
The M25 2006/07 Annual Report was issued to members in late October. The Report has the theme of 'Working Together', with photographs demonstrating the breadth of material available in our library collections, the range of support offered to students, and the diversity of our learning communities. Photographs were taken at the London College of Fashion, London Metropolitan University and the University of East London.

The Annual Report reflects the range and diversity of work undertaken over the past year. This year saw the launch of a new interface for the Inform25 suite of services and a revision of the subject terms used to identify collections. CPD25 continued to attract large numbers to its staff development events, earning the CILIP Seal of Recognition for the quality of its programme. As part of a strategic review, the Steering Group carried out a review of M25 working groups and identified key projects for the next few years, involving Consortium representatives in strategic planning discussions at the June 2007 meeting.

If you would like copies of the report please email the M25 Administrator at
M25sgadmin@lse.ac.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it. Alternatively you can download the report by clicking on the following link: M25 Annual Report 06/07

 

Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs (HECUA)
Partners Internship Program a Gustavus Student Helps Non-profit Obtain $110,000 Grant
Rebecca Andert secured a paid internship with Minnesota’s Rice Lake site of Habitat for Humanity through HECUA's Partners Internship Program (PIP) this past summer ‘07. A Gustavus Adolphus College student, Rebecca applied for the internship position last March 2007 as any undergraduate currently enrolled in any Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin college or university, or HECUA consortium member school is eligible for participation in PIP.

PIP is a grant-providing program that seeks to advance the nonprofit sector and to benefit communities and students. The program is guided by the following objectives: To provide students with job experience in the nonprofit sector that is substantive and valuable and that furthers personal, educational, and professional growth. To promote student interest in employment or other forms of participation in the nonprofit sector. To assist nonprofit organizations in engaging students and volunteers more effectively through project-based work. To encourage projects that will have a positive and lasting impact in communities in which the nonprofit works.

Rebecca was initially hired by the Habitat for Humanity in Rice Lake to help research what it would take for the site to launch a ReStore. Habitat ReStores are retail outlets where quality used and surplus building materials are sold at a fraction of normal prices. Proceeds from ReStores help local affiliates fund the construction of Habitat houses within the community. Many Habitat for Humanity affiliates across the United States and Canada operate successful ReStores—some of which raise enough funds to build an additional 10 or more houses per year.

While working on a Restore business plan, Rebecca came across a grant program run through Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources. After completing the general business plan for Restore she tackled a new project she had never tried before - grant writing.

Read more about the process and Rebecca’s reaction to the award. The complete story, written by Robb Murray, a Mankato Free Press reporter, can be found on the Gustavus Adolphus online news source.


Consortium of Leading Research Organizations in France sign a $7.2 million Contract with Thomson Scientific—New Insight into Global Scientific and Scholarly Research
Thomson Scientific, part of The Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC) and leading provider of information solutions to the worldwide research and business communities, today announced that a consortium of 47 leading French academic and government organizations, led by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de l'Information Scientifique et Technique (INIST) and Couperin, have signed a three year, US$7.2 million contract with Thomson Scientific to access ISI Web of KnowledgeSM.

More than 60,000 researchers and 400,000 students at these organizations will now have access to ISI Web of Knowledge, which includes world class databases offering superior scholarly coverage, most notably Web of Science®. The multidisciplinary nature of the databases available on ISI Web of Knowledge, including natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities content from the world's most authoritative publishers, was a key factor in the deal.

 

Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC)
Inaugural MHEC CIO Conference agenda set
Join us in for Chicago February 24-25, for MHEC's inaugural CIO Conference. This exclusive day-long gathering uses a noon-noon format to give you the best opportunity to mingle with each other, learn more from each of the guest speakers, and spend some 'no-pressure' time with some of MHEC's key vendors.  

We’re not gathering to talk about technology, but to explore the successful management of technology. For more information: www.mhectech.org


World Indigenous Higher Education Consortium
Higher Education: New Challenges and Emerging Roles for Human and Social Development
The Global University Network for Innovation - GUNI is pleased to announce the 4th International Barcelona Conference on Higher Education: New Challenges and Emerging Roles for Human and Social Development. Barcelona, 31 March - 2 April 2008 Click here for the GUNI Website

Higher education is undergoing a process of continued change and adaptation to the new realities arising from globalization. The requirement to contribute to socio-economic development is compounded by the need to contribute to other key aspects of human and social development.

This is why the conference will explore the new challenges and emerging roles of higher education regarding local, national and regional development, as well as the need to open up new channels for dialogue and the interchange of values with society. For further information please consult the following: Conference website:

 

Vermont Higher Education Collaborative
Working Together: To Support Best Practices and Make A Difference
In the Lives of Children with Disabilities. A Year-Long Course of Study for Special Educators and Related Service Providers
The Vermont Higher Education Collaborative (VT HEC) and Training and Resources for Interdisciplinary Professionals Serving Children and Youth (TRIPSCY) are excited to collaborate for the second year to present a series of trainings for related service providers and beginning special educators.

For more information, please download the flyer by clicking here. For registration form click here.


Higher Education Wireless Access Consortium
Higher Education Broadband Delegation Encourages Federal Communications (FCC) to Approve M2Z’s Plan for Free Nationwide Broadband Internet Access.

The Higher Education Wireless Access Consortium (HEWAC) led a delegation representing the voices of colleges, universities, and college families to Washington, DC today to meet and encourage the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to act on a pending license application from M2Z Networks, Inc. This will create a free, wireless, nationwide broadband internet network.

There is a digital divide which has left too many Americans without adequate access to the internet. This divide has limited opportunities to learn, succeed economically, and participate in society so it is critical that the FCC work to promote available and affordable broadband internet access for all American, stated Gerardo E. De Los Santos, President and CEO of the league of Innovation in the Community College and a member of the delegation. If granted the license to proceed, the M2Z Networks service will help the nation’s community colleges which annually train more than 10 million students—many lower income, minority, and from rural areas—to better reach their students blog on and off campus. For more information: www.hewac.org

 

Institute for Media and Entertainment
New Academic Partnerships
IME has a strategic and practical partnership with IESE Business School, which has campuses in Barcelona and Madrid and is a consistently top ranked school. The Financial Times rates IESE first in Europe for general management programs, while the Economist Intelligence Unit ranks it first in the world for the MBA program.

With its focus on international business and strong presence in Europe, IESE offers an incomparable complement to IME’s focus on the increasingly global media and entertainment industry. IME is excited to offer programs in conjunction with IESE Business School.

IME works closely with the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University). Kellogg consistently ranks at the top of business school ratings, both for its executive education and MBA programs. IME also collaborates with the top-ranked Integrated Marketing Communications department of the Medill School (Northwestern University). IME is pleased to work with Kellogg and the faculty leaders of Medill in designing and delivering high-impact programs for media and entertainment executives.


World Higher Education experts gather in Brussels to promote sustainable development
This year's Global Jean Monnet Conference was held in Brussels on 5-6 November. It addressed "The European Union and Sustainable Development". Organised under the auspices of the Education and Culture Directorate General, it brought together 450 top academics, policy makers and representatives of civil society from around the world, in the presence of Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

The EU encourages the study of European integration around the world through the Jean Monnet Programme. The Programme supports around 2000 Jean Monnet professors specialised in European integration, at universities in 60 countries on the five continents. It is also used to back informed debate on topics of current political importance among academics, policy-makers and civil society.

Ján Figel', the European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, explained the significance of the event: "The European Union has a particularly prominent role to play in promoting the concept of sustainable development through its policies, be it in environment, energy, internal market, research, development or foreign relations. We need to learn from the lessons of the past, and from the scientific insights of the present, to build a better future for the generations to come, wherever they are on the planet. This is our duty, and I commend the work of the Global Jean Monnet Conference in sharpening our thinking on sustainable development." The results of the conference will be formally transmitted to the EU institutions and published in book form.
More information: http://ec.europa.eu/education/confjm07_en.html