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NEWS + TRENDS TechWatch + ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION Colleges Receive Grants to Bolster Technology Use N ext Generation Learning Chal- lenges (NGLC) recently an- nounced in a press release that it will donate $5.4M in grants to support blended learning at the secondary and postsecondary levels. Ultimately, by sup- porting the use of technology in high school and university classrooms, NGLC hopes to improve college readiness and completion. Six of the grant recipients plan to use the funds to enhance college access, persis- tence, completion, and affordability by in- troducing new online and blended learning programs. The University of Washington, for example, was given $844,000 to deliver massive open online courses (MOOCs) that will help students who have some college credits return to school and earn a bachelor's degree. With the online class + STUDENTS IN TECH Symantec Partners With NCWIT to Support Women in Tech in Computing The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and Symantec have announced the winners of the NCWIT Student Seed Fund, which provides university student groups with awards of $750 each to implement initia- tives that recruit, retain, and support women in computing and technology disciplines. Following are the recipients of the NCWIT Student Seed Fund awards: • Ball State University, "Women Working in Technology" • Fort Valley State University, Associa- tion for Computing Machinery (ACM) Student Chapter • Loyola University Maryland, Society of Women Engineers • Michigan State University Women • Ohio State University ACM Committee on Women (ACM-W) • Santa Clara University ACM-W Student Chapter • University of Delaware "CISters@UD" Symantec sponsors the NCWIT Student Seed Fund, which to-date has distributed $25,500 in funding to 44 student-run programs at universities and colleges nationwide. The supported programs have provided outreach, mentoring, peer sup- port, training, and professional develop- ment opportunities to more than 1,750 elementary, middle school, high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. "Symantec recognizes diversity as a 42 COLLEGE PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / NOVEMBER 2012 format, students will have a fl exible and more affordable program. The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia will also benefi t from the grants. Using $1M in funding, the system plans to work with Columbus State Univer- sity to create an accelerated online Bachelor of Arts degree. This undergraduate program will strive to help students graduate by offering dual credit in high school and a prior learning assessment. Additionally, the program will allow students to transfer core course credits from 60 state institutions. Andrew Calkins, deputy director of NGLC, says the colleges and organiza- tions that were chosen have proven they are dedicated to using technology to make higher education more convenient and af- fordable for students. ADMINISTRATIVE APPS Admissions Turns to iPads This fall the University of New Haven (UNH) in Connecticut became the fi rst college in the country to evaluate applications for undergraduate admissions solely by using an iPad. Instead of stacks of papers and boxes of folders, UNH admissions counselors will carry hundreds of applications with them on iPads by using an app called Matchbox. The application is more effi cient, allow- ing staff to review applications wherever they are, as well as presents material in a uniform way. Currently recruiting for the class of 2017, UNH has experienced a 70 percent increase in applications over the last fi ve years. The Matchbox app allows UNH to process the applications in a timely way and focus recruitment on the best students. business advantage and values the contri- butions of technical women," says Ellen McLatchey, director of Global Diversity. "We're pleased to support these student- run initiatives, which not only aim to recruit and retain women students in computing but strengthen the system for future women." To learn more about the NCWIT Student Seed Fund and fi nd out how to submit proposals, visit www.ncwit.org/ programs-campaigns/ncwit-awards/ ncwit-student-seed-fund. Symantec celebrated the Student Seed Fund Award-winners and their advisors at a luncheon coinciding with the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Com- puting, which took place in October. WWW.PLANNING4EDUCATION.COM