FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2006

MUW recognized for best practice

By Jill D. O’Bryant

COLUMBUS, Miss. -- Mississippi University for Women was awarded $5,000 by the State Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees for winning second place in the Best Practices Program for its cost-effective public network plan.

The IHL Board began the Best Practices Program this year in an effort “to highlight efforts that create efficient and effective practices initiated at institutions.”

The IHL Board gave three goals:

•    Provide high-quality instructional programs that are affordable, accessible and student centered;

•    Promote accountability, efficiency, productivity and effective utilization of technology; and

•    Enhance programs and utilization of resources by development of cooperative efforts and partnerships.

A first place award of $10,000 and a second place award of $5,000 was awarded in the categories of finance, business or administration; academics; student services; and technology. Judging was by peer groups.

MUW implemented a new public network in the spring of 2005 in response to the increasingly high internet bandwidth demands by students in the residence halls and wireless users and in light of the rising network security challenges that face campus networks.

“Students enjoy faster, secure and less restrictive internet access, while not jeopardizing the overall campus network security,” said Marco Obaid, network administrator. “MUW is able to offer more for students in a cost-effective and efficient use of current technology.”

The cost to implement the new public network was approximately $11,000.

“I am very proud of all of our units on campus, but today I am especially proud of our computing services department,” said MUW President Claudia A. Limbert. “They continue to amaze us with their ability to do more with less. This program is very beneficial to our students and our campus.”