I've been trying really, really, really hard to
not insert my comments into this discussion, but
I'm not having any success. So, let me first
record the following disclaimer: all of what
follows is my opinion and my opinion only. I no
longer work at NIU, although I did teach Computer
Science there during the late '90s when NIU and
IBM had a pretty good relationship, so I'm
acquainted with much, but not all, of what was
involved in creating that relationship, and what
was involved in its disintegration (about which I
have nothing to say). Take this for what it's
worth; others, perhaps Robert Rannie, may have a
different view. And please excuse the length.
The NIU Computer Science Department has been
fortunate to share NIU's mainframe with
administrative data processing ever since the
first one arrived in the late '60s. CS couldn't
afford its own computer, so when other schools
lost their academic mainframes, NIU CS was able
to continue because the cost of software and
hardware came out of the administrative budget, not the Provost's.
Further, every undergraduate student is required
to take CSCI 360, Programming in Assembler
Language, and for many years - but not lately -
most undergraduates also took CSCI 464 Data
Structures, also taught in mainframe assembler.
The result was a program that was
mainframe-oriented from the beginning, and in
many ways it continues like that today, although
- obviously - many other topics are now required
for an understanding of computing.
Some time in the mid-'90s, Dave Thewlis
approached me at a SHARE meeting, inquiring if I
knew of any NIU CS faculty who might wish to
participate in a program IBM was initiating to
transfer some CS pedagogy to emerging
markets. The end result was that for three
summers (1998-2000 IIRC), IBM brought faculty
from emerging market countries to NIU to spend
some summer weeks learning how we teach
"mainframe computing." Near the end of that
period, IBM gave NIU a Multiprise 3000. ( See
http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/1888.wss )
Within a year or two after this donation, the
relationship came to an end. Since then, IBM's
University Program has been replaced by Academic
Initiative, with its goal of twenty thousand
mainframe professionals by 2010. I'm pleased to
say that I have a good personal relationship with
many of the IBMers involved in that program, and
some in particular have made suggestions which
will likely be very helpful to NIU CS as the last
mainframe leaves the campus in a few years. But
as far as I know, there is no longer any formal
relationship between NIU and IBM.
The important point, I believe, is that the
Academic Initiative is a marketing program. As
I've told a number of people, the cynic in me
insists on believing that IBM's lack of interest
in NIU is based primarily on the fact that NIU
Comp Sci is where it is without any help from
Academic Initiative. I'm open to being
corrected, but it's difficult to not notice that
faculty panels run as part of the important
zNextGen Project at SHARE are comprised of
faculty whose programs are just beginning and /
or who have produced a graduate or two; AFAIK, no
faculty from NIU have ever been invited to
participate. Perhaps my cynicism is misplaced
and IBM thinks it's just so obvious that NIU
produces students with a mainframe orientation
that it's plain silly for NIU faculty to participate. Perhaps.
Even more cynically, one could believe that the
real intent of the program is simply to convince
its mainframe customers that IBM is trying to do
something about the skills shortfall in the US. Who knows.
But for the Pantagraph to say "With the addition,
ISU becomes the only public university in the
state to offer its technology students both an
undergraduate program in enterprise computing and
hands-on access to such an IBM mainframe" is
absolutely amazing and total balderdash. I
assume that was made up at ISU and didn't come
from IBM (who certainly know better). Let's hope so, anyway.
It's also worth pointing out, as others have in
this thread, that the z890 ISU will be using
apparently does not have z/OS, perhaps reflecting
the increase in the number of mainframes being
sold to be used for z/VM and/or Linux. What a
shame if z/OS won't be installed, as I believe
many assume IBM's promise for 2010 is intended to
include preparation in z/OS, not just Linux and z/VM.
The problem of convincing students to study
computer science (well, science and mathematics
generally) remains and doesn't seem to be
improving (even though a recent article questions that:
http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=202803135
). Academic Initiative has found a good match
with CS departments wanting to increase
enrollments; let's hope that both see good
results. In the meantime, I will continue to try
to convince IBM that there are other ways to help
improve the situation, usually in cahoots with
businesses who need to hire skilled people. I've had no luck so far.
Michael Stack
At 08:42 PM 11/15/2007, you wrote:
Timothy Sipples wrote:
IBM invests $5 million in ISU information technology program
By Michele Steinbacher
November 15, 2007
NORMAL Illinois State University senior Joe Ksiazek is among those who
say IBMâs estimated $5 million investment in the campusâs information
technology program could open doors to more 21st century jobs for him and
his classmates.
âThis offers students like me a great opportunity to learn new technologies
being used in the business world,â said Ksiazek, a Chicagoan studying
computer sciences.
Article continues here:
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/11/15/news/doc473be157569a9875622727.txt
- - - - -
Timothy Sipples
Still, it's kinda' misleading and self-serving:
* "But the new z890 delivered as part of IBMâs academic initiative
is configured with so much state-of-the-art software and data
storage capacity that its value is much closer to $5 million,
said Derry, who manages ISUâs enterprise computing systems."
That is, it is _not_ a $5 million investment; it's a write-off
for IBM; actual cost probably just shipping
* "With the addition, ISU becomes the only public university in
the state to offer its technology students both an undergraduate
program in enterprise computing and hands-on access to such an
IBM mainframe."
Really? Has IBM abandonded NIU?
I didn't see it in this article, but someone already posted that
it seems the software is Linux (probably with z/VM), not z/OS;
is z/OS still IBM's "flagship operating system"?
But, to be fair, it's more value than I've given to ISU. (Although
we have, over the years, contributed training to one local university.)
Kind regards,
-Steve Comstock
The Trainer's Friend, Inc.
303-393-8716
http://www.trainersfriend.com
z/OS Application development made easier
* Our classes include
+ How things work
+ Programming examples with realistic applications
+ Starter / skeleton code
+ Complete working programs
+ Useful utilities and subroutines
+ Tips and techniques
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