FAST FIVE for the week of September 15, 2013

News:

Mobile app in New Brunswick: 

The University of New Brunswick (UNB) launched its first, university-wide, mobile application for smartphones and tablets. The app is available for Apple iOS and Android devices. It fully integrates with the university’s core IT systems, enabling access to personal information for students such as class schedules and, later this fall, exam schedules and grades. The app also includes features such as a secure UNB phonebook search that integrates with the device’s contact information application.  UNB Mobile App

Mobile app in Manitoba:

The University of Manitoba has also launched a mobile app, the first higher-ed app of its kind in the province. It is available for Apple iOS and Android devices. The app is designed to support the broad University of Manitoba community, but focuses primarily on enhancing student experience. Features of the app include: news, events, directory, grades, schedule, library search, transit, new students resources, campus maps, and emergency contacts. uManitoba mobile app

Law student technology survey:

The 10th annual University of Victoria Law Student Technology survey was completed with a strong 90% plus response rate. The survey has a number of interesting statistics, such as 92% of Law students use Skype for real-time audio/video calls and collaboration, whereas 42% use Apple Facetime and 9% use Google Hangouts. For more interesting facts, follow the link. Law survey

Expanding help:

More news from the University of Victoria where the Systems team and the Computer Store have opened a new computer help desk location inside of the computer store within the Bookstore.  This location will enhance the service provided to students, faculty, and staff by helping clients to find the right technology to meet their needs, offering device setup assistance, and troubleshooting technical issues. More help

Canadian Ellucian Users Conference:

The annual Canadian Banner Users Conference has been replaced this year by the new Canadian Ellucian Users Group conference. With the merger of the Banner and Colleague systems ownership into a single vendor, the user communities are coming together for the first time to share knowledge and experience of enterprise administrative systems. CEUG 2013

Responses:

Last week this question was posed: "A recently published article from Inside Higher Ed indicates 12% of CIOs are assuming responsibility for campus libraries. What is your opinion of this trend?" 

Two responses were received:

It makes perfect sense for libraries to align with the CIO portfolio:

1. Libraries are going through a transformation. The old function of a library is now largely being accommodated virtually. The spaces that libraries occupy are changing, going from a 'shushing' quiet zone to an interactive and engaging place for active learning (often in a group setting).
2. After all, the CIO portfolio is about 'Information'. I can't think of a place more synonymous with information than a library.

Dave Lampron, Director, Technology Enabled Learning, MedIT, UBC

Be careful what you ask for, you might get it! I was responsible for the library at one of my former institutions and the experience, while rewarding in some ways was nevertheless, quite a challenge. If the Chief Librarian is a forward looking individual who embraces the digital revolution in libraries (80%+ of the resources at my previous institution's library are digital) then the synergy between IT and the Library may be very productive. Unfortunately this is not always the case.  

Mark D. Naylor, Ph.D., President, Union Hills Enterprises Inc.