***************************************************** Edupage is a service of EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology. *****************************************************
TOP STORIES FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2005 Securing Copyright Permissions Gets Easier Katrina Relief Bill Would Quietly End 50 Percent Rule EC Proposes Increased Spending on Research Web Site Links Donors and Schools SECURING COPYRIGHT PERMISSIONS GETS EASIER The Copyright Clearance Center is launching a program to link its services with the Blackboard course management system. The center was created by Congress in the late 1970s to help businesses and academics obtain appropriate permissions from copyright holders. The new Copyright Permissions Building Block will allow users of Blackboard, which is implemented on about 1,200 campuses, to tie directly into the Copyright Clearance Center when creating a course. Many faculty are unsure about when permissions are needed to use copyrighted material in a course and when they are not, exposing themselves and their universities to possible copyright violations. The new tool will protect faculty and their institutions from such risks while ensuring that the rights of copyright holders are respected. Officials from the Copyright Clearance Center said they hope to add the functionality to other vendors' course management systems. Inside Higher Ed, 11 October 2005 http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2005/10/11/copyright KATRINA RELIEF BILL WOULD QUIETLY END 50 PERCENT RULE A bill intended to provide relief for students and educational institutions affected by Hurricane Katrina includes language that would repeal the 50 percent rule, which was put into place in the early 1990s to combat rampant fraud at for-profit colleges and universities. The rule denies federal financial aid to students of institutions that enroll more than half of their students in distance-education programs or that offer more that half of their courses online. Opponents of the rule have been working to have it changed for some time, and language to do that has been added to the Higher Education Act, which will likely be put to a vote early next year. Supporters of the rule argued that it continues to serve a useful function in limiting fraud at unscrupulous institutions and diploma mills. Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) criticized the hurricane relief bill, saying some lawmakers were using it as "an excuse to accomplish a lot of other policy goals." Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), cosponsor of the relief bill, has said he will amend the legislation so that the lifting of the 50 percent rule would only apply to institutions affected by the hurricane. CNET, 12 October 2005 http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-5893793.html EC PROPOSES INCREASED SPENDING ON RESEARCH The European Commission has called for increased research spending at universities and other research organizations, saying that Europe is lagging behind the United States and Japan in such spending. According to the proposal, spending on research should climb to 3 percent of GDP by 2010, up from 1.9 percent in 2003. The report noted that U.S. spending was 2.59 percent and that Japan spent 3.15 percent of GDP. The report also cautions that countries such as China could surpass Europe in research spending as a percentage of GDP, saying that increases in research spending result in direct increases in GDP. Under the proposal, which must be approved by European governments, more money would be devoted to academic research projects and to partnerships between industry and universities. Guenter Verheugen, EU industry commissioner, said, "Every cent which goes into innovation and research is a cent invested in jobs, growth and hence, our future." San Jose Mercury News, 12 October 2005 http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/12883018.htm WEB SITE LINKS DONORS AND SCHOOLS A New York-based nonprofit has won the inaugural Nonprofit Innovation Award, sponsored by Amazon.com. DonorsChoose operates a Web site for users in six regional areas that connects teachers in public schools with prospective donors. Educators submit proposals to the DonorsChoose Web site, soliciting donations for school supplies, specific programs, or activities such as field trips. Those interested in donating can visit the site, review the proposals, and designate those they want their money to benefit. DonorsChoose ensures that funds go where donors request. The competition for the award involved 10 organizations pitching their services and soliciting pledges. DonorsChoose was able to raise $790,000, which Amazon will match. Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose, said the group will use the proceeds from the award to expand operations into areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. New York Times, 12 October 2005 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/12/technology/12charity.html ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your settings, or access the Edupage archive, visit http://www.educause.edu/Edupage/639 Or, you can subscribe or unsubscribe by sending e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To SUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SUBSCRIBE Edupage YourFirstName YourLastName To UNSUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SIGNOFF Edupage If you have subscription problems, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ***************************************************** OTHER EDUCAUSE RESOURCES The EDUCAUSE Resource Center is a repository for information concerning use and management of IT in higher education. To access resources including articles, books, conference sessions, contracts, effective practices, plans, policies, position descriptions, and blog content, go to http://www.educause.edu/resources ***************************************************** CONFERENCES For information on all EDUCAUSE learning and networking opportunities, see http://www.educause.edu/31 ***************************************************** COPYRIGHT Edupage copyright (c) 2005, EDUCAUSE
