FAST FIVE for the week of March 31, 2013

Strategic IT Planning: The University of Waterloo held its second IT strategic planning open house last week. Over 100 people attended the session designed to update the campus on progress made in the development of a collaborative IT directions plan. The overall process is extraordinarily well planned and documented. For more details on the University's approach, check out the planning process site: IT strategic plan model

New provincial applications portal: Nova Scotia announced an investment in a study to develop a new online applications portal for students applying to university in the province. The new common application system would allow high school students to submit electronic transcripts of their marks, and mature students to apply for advanced standing, based on the skills and experience they have acquired through jobs or volunteer work. Simplifying the application process

Shared services in Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia also announced a pilot project to create a common email, calendar, and collaboration tool for the universities across the province. This $1.1 million project is expected to create significant saving for the institutions. Shared services savings

... and another innovation from Nova Scotia: Dalhousie University announced a new mobile app designed as an event listing and ticketing service for their Arts Centre. Currently available for Apple, Android and Blackberry phones, the new application lists all the shows coming to the centre, and allows users to buy tickets through the centre’s online ticketing system. Arts Centre mobile app

Mobile device chargers: Camosun College is piloting new mobile charging stations for its students. The inexpensive stations are placed in convenient locations across campus to allow students to re-charge their phones, laptops, and tablets. Mobile chargers