University Police Department Announces Initiatives for Fall 1998
By Lisa JamesThe University Police Department (UPD) has initiated several new programs in its continuing efforts to ensure a secure environment for the University community. "The UPD is delighted to be able to kick off this academic year with a quality of life initiative package that we are convinced will improve quality of life by perception and underscore the fact that this is an extremely safe environment," said UPD chief Frank Wiley.
The projects which began this fall include:
Improving 34 exterior emergency blue light phones by adding blinking lights to make them easier to see. The training of two UPD officers as Rape Aggression Defense workshop leaders. Funding for this initiative was shared by Residential Life, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, the President�s Task Force for Women�s Safety, and UPD. Enhancement of Operation Nightlite patrols by adding two more directional light bars on patrol cars. The Addition of a permanent fixed post at Collins Circle from sunset to the last bus. The parking lot booth will serve as a mini-substation, with a message sign for identification of the location. Planning and training for an SSA bicycle patrol for increased mobility and visibility on the quadrangles. Agreement of shared patrols between Alumni Quad and the College of Saint Rose. In addition, a new satellite office in Alden Hall is being prepared and a new post for SSAs of 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. will be added to the regular schedule at Alumni Quad of 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily. Planning for a substation in the Campus Center. Additional crime prevention advertising on Channel 2. Enhanced effectiveness of Student Patrol, with Officer Scott Neff as liaison. Authorization to hire additional staff for a "Quality of Life" unit for 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Todd Grant, a UPD security officer, stands at the department's new fixed post at Collins Circle, which will be manned daily from sunset to the last bus' departure.
American Heart Walk - Join the Fun
On Sept. 26 at Siena College, the University will once again take part in the American Heart Association�s American Heart Walk. President Hitchcock is the chairperson for this fun-filled event for the second consecutive year. Last year, the Walk raised over $187,000, with the University gathering the largest team in the "Education Industry" with 101 walkers. It also had the second highest revenue team overall, raising $8,504. This year�s overall goal is $225,000, with the University aiming for 160 walkers and a total donation of $12,000. "Our goal is on its way to being realized, but we need the campus community�s help," said Sherry DeCrosta of the Office of Finance and Business. "Heart disease is the number one killer in the country, claiming a life every 34 seconds. You can make a difference." For more information on how to become involved, call DeCrosta at 442-3100.
University, Advanced Systems Agree to Bring 450 Summer Jobs to Region
The University and Advanced Systems in Measurement and Evaluation, Inc. of Dover, N.H., announced on June 15 a long-term partnership that will mean hundreds of quality summer jobs for Capital Region residents and better computer access and computer teaching facilities for University students.
From June 22 through mid August, the Uptown Campus was the site of a "scoring center" where 450 Capital Region residents evaluated answers to "open-response" questions used in the statewide educational testing programs that Advanced Systems administers. Open-response questions require that students write a short essay or show their skills in solving problems. Approximately 5 million responses were individually read and scored. "We are very pleased to enter into this partnership with the University at Albany," said Dr. Stuart Kahl, president of Advanced Systems. "It represents a unique approach to meeting the needs of both our business and the academic community at the University."
President Hitchcock said, "We are delighted to partner with the Chamber and private industry to enhance the local economy. Now, we can say that our summer activities include 500 courses for credit, the New York Giants pre-season training camp, and quality job opportunities for the Capital Region�s highly skilled and educated work force."
"Once again, an organization has selected Albany County, in the heart of Tech Valley, as the ideal location for its operations," Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce President Wallace Altes said. "The tremendous resources located here, including a highly skilled workforce and an outstanding university, make the region very attractive to business."
Albany County Executive Michael Breslin said, "Albany County has the perfect combination of resources for this project. Our highly skilled workforce, outstanding educational institutions and advanced technological capabilities are attracting new jobs and opportunities to the area. I am confident that Advanced Systems will thrive in this environment."
Scoring center staff will consist mostly of Capital Region educators, but also will include University students and qualified members of the general public. Employees must have completed a minimum of two years of college with coursework in the subjects being scored � English language arts, mathematics, and science. Highly qualified individuals from the Albany area are also filling leadership and quality assurance roles at the scoring center. Kelly Services of Albany is managing the recruitment for the project.
The computer workstations used in scoring are jointly owned by the University and Advanced Systems and will be made available to University students during the academic year. As part of the project, several teaching spaces, computer user rooms, and other areas are being upgraded by Advanced Systems for the University�s eventual use. In addition, Advanced Systems and the University will be providing practical experience for faculty and interns in the field of educational measurement. Both parties are also seeking to develop expanded joint efforts in the future.
All responses will be electronically scored using individual computer workstations. The written versions of student work will be optically scanned, creating a digital image of each response. A computer program designed for scoring regulates the order in which students� responses are presented to scorers and provides a means to record a score for each response. The score record is used to generate student, school, and district reports for the testing programs. The Advanced Systems-developed computer software also allows for monitoring of scorer rate and accuracy and immediate compilation of results.
Advanced Systems� need for additional scoring support became evident in late 1997. The company researched several metropolitan areas nationwide, seeking the right combination of labor pool, facilities, and available technology. The search was narrowed to five areas and the decision was made early this year to locate the scoring center in Albany. "Tech Valley�s resources and the cooperation of the University at Albany made this a logical choice," commented Dr. Kahl.
A media "open house" was held during the first week of the program, June 22-26.
