Stunning changes are coming to university research—and why they’re important

New tech tools, IT functionality are helping universities better leverage research for funding, marketing, and relevance

university-research-technologyThere’s not a person in the higher education world who would tell you that research—the production of, dissemination of, and funding of—isn’t mission-critical for most colleges and universities. And now, thanks to innovative IT practices, admin-created projects and cutting-edge technology tools, today’s research-intensive universities are getting a much-needed 21st Century makeover.

And one of the country’s most revered universities is leading the way with its current revamp of what it considers a cornerstone of the institution.

“The nature of sponsored research requires faculty and staff to wade through mountains of procedural and technical information to apply for and administer grant-funded research activities,” explained Patti McCabe, the director of training and communications in the office of the vice provost and dean of research.. “As the National Science Board’s March 2014 report states, ‘During the last two decades, surveys, articles, and reports have indicated that increased administrative and compliance requirements associated with federally-funded research are consuming a significant proportion of the time that our Nation’s scientists, engineers, and educators dedicate to this research.’”…Read More

New design technique allows software to run faster

A new way to develop software could make security checks less time consuming.
A new way to develop software could make security checks less time consuming.

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new approach to software development that will allow common computer programs to run up to 20 percent faster and possibly incorporate new security measures, the university reports.

The researchers have found a way to run different parts of some programs—including, for the first time, such widely used programs as word processors and web browsers—at the same time, which makes the programs operate more efficiently.

To understand how the new technique works, first you have to understand how computers operate today.…Read More

Study: Facebook isn’t a grade killer

Student researchers have found a variety of ways Facebook affects student grades.
Different studies have found a variety of ways Facebook affects student grades.

Facebook could be a distraction that drags down grade point averages, or a popular online hangout spot that has no impact on college students’ academics — depending on which university study you read.

Students in a University of New Hampshire marketing research course surveyed more than 1,100 fellow students about their use of popular social media web sites such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and they found “no correlation between the amount of time students spend using social media and their grades.”

The student researchers classified light users of social media as respondents who spent less than 31 minutes every day on social networking sites. Heavy users, according to the study, spent more than an hour daily on social media sites.…Read More

Study: Facebook isn’t a grade killer

Student researchers have found a variety of ways Facebook affects student grades.
Different studies have found a variety of ways Facebook affects student grades.

Facebook could be a distraction that drags down grade point averages, or a popular online hangout spot that has no impact on college students’ academics — depending on which university study you read.

Students in a University of New Hampshire marketing research course surveyed more than 1,100 fellow students about their use of popular social media web sites such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and they found “no correlation between the amount of time students spend using social media and their grades.”

The student researchers classified light users of social media as respondents who spent less than 31 minutes every day on social networking sites. Heavy users, according to the study, spent more than an hour daily on social media sites.…Read More

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