University Business - February 2008 - (Page 68)

W H AT ' S N E W Software with a Solution It’s one thing to recognize that student retention is a challenge, but developing a solution is another. Hobsons’ Students Retention Solutions is a software suite designed to handle the technical side of managing student retention, as well as an advising package to guide administrators through the entire program. For example, Retention Assessments evaluates current retention efforts, while Predictive Modeling provides a model that uses historical data to predict behavior. EMT Retain, the system’s centerpiece, is a web-based communication and coaching system that strengthens campus communication in order to target at-risk students. A team of specialists works with schools to develop a customized package. Pricing varies on needs, with base offerings starting at $7,500. Learn more at www.hobsons.com/us/retention. A Tablet That’s Touchable Toshiba’s Portégé M700 Tablet PC series incorporates a touch screen LED backlit display with an antiglare coating. The touch screen supports fingertip input capabilities and traditional pen-based input by detecting the presence of a digital pen or a user’s fingertip. It automatically switches between the two methods; when both are simultaneously detected, the digital pen gets priority. The series uses Intel Centrino Pro processor technology, including Intel Core 2 Duo processors, Intel 965 Express chipset, Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 4965AGN supporting draft 802.11n, and Intel Active Management Technology (AMT 2.6). The 1.3-megapixel webcam enables face-to-face communication when the user is out of the office or traveling. Perks include a spill-resistant keyboard and a 3D accelerometer to guard the hard disk drive (HDD) against accidental drops. The series includes the Portégé M700-S7002, at $1,799, and the Portégé M700S701X, at $1,699. Learn more at www.toshibadirect.com. Building Up to Web 2.0 It’s another step toward harnessing the power of Web 2.0. Adobe is offering its Flex Builder 2 software at no cost to students and faculty at IHEs. The Flex Builder 2 integrated development environment is part of a toolset for designing and developing rich internet applications, or RIAs. To learn more about the software and download a copy, visit www.adobe.com. The Search Is Over Content searches can be time consuming, especially if the source location is unknown. Author-it 5.0, a content management system by Author-it Software Corporation, is designed to make the reuse and sharing of content and knowledge within an institution happen faster and more efficiently. Author-it Xtend, an interactive authoring memory feature, makes all approved content in a database available to its creators, avoiding the need to perform a manual search. Once a user starts typing words, matching or similar content is located and returned instantly. Users can choose to insert any of the suggestions, see what documents they currently appear in, or continue typing to refine them. The software runs on Windows servers and Windows-based PCs and costs $5,000 per server. Visit www.authorit.com. 68 | February 2008 universitybusiness.com http://www.hobsons.com/us/retention http://www.adobe.com http://www.toshibadirect.com http://www.authorit.com http://universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - February 2008

University Business - February 2008
Contents
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Editor's Note
Stats Watch
Sense of Place
Viewpoint
Future Shock
Independent Outlook
On the Hill
Facilities Focus
Cover Story: Orientation Rites: Seal the Deal
A Sense of Security
Growing the Giving Tree
Are We Covered?
Baby Boomers, Back to Campus
Internet Technology
What's New
Calendar of Events
End Note

University Business - February 2008