As you can see from the
recent growth in on-campus laptop computer use, the University has
made great strides in providing our community with tremendous
technological tools. Most recently, in 2003, the University
launched the Academic Computing Initiative (ACI), a broad-reaching
program to put leading-edge technology ubiquitously into the hands
of students and the faculty that teaches them.
It is my pleasure to inform you that
because of the University’s revolutionary technological progress,
St. John’s has been recognized by the Computerworld Honors Program
– Search for New Heroes and was recently ranked as one of Intel’s
Top 10 Unwired Colleges.
Established in 1988, the Computerworld
Honors Program is dedicated to identifying leaders in the global
information technology revolution and recording the impact of their
achievements on society. The program brings together influential
high-tech firms with top academic institutions to document “a
revolution in progress.”
St. John’s was selected by John Chambers,
CEO of Cisco Systems Inc. Mr. Chambers chose our University because
our commitment to provide technology to students from all academic,
social and economic backgrounds simply astounded him. He was
equally impressed with our energy. We integrated the ACI - without
a pilot program - in the extraordinarily tight time frame of 6
months.
As participants in the Computerworld
Honors Program, the University contributed a case study summarizing
the benefits of the ACI. This document details the extensive
hardware, the integrated software and the comprehensive training
and support completing the initiative. This case study will become
part of the permanent archives at the Smithsonian Institution and
be added to the collections of esteemed libraries around the world.
Future generations will be able to see how technology has helped
advance the University’s mission in ways previously
unimagined.
On April 4, 2004, St. John’s joined an
elite group of laureates whose efforts to progress in technology
were recognized at a formal medal presentation.
This month also saw the inclusion of St.
John’s in Intel’s list of the Top 10 Unwired Colleges. This survey
ranks the top 100 schools for wireless Internet access. This
survey’s findings are based on the number of hotspots,
undergraduates, computers and computer to student ratio.
When such prestigious organizations
recognize our progress in the field of technology, it serves as
confirmation of how the University mission can touch so many lives
so many different ways. This is yet another exciting opportunity to
build pride and appreciation for all the great things St. John’s
has to offer. Congratulations to everyone involved.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Harrington, C.M.