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THE BRIDGE

August 2012 



In This Issue:
Staff Spotlight: Melanie Turcotte
User Groups Meeting Schedule
Congressional Committee Recognizes OSHEAN's Work
Salve Regina University New Warwick Campus
OSHEAN Beacon 2.0 Highlighted at Congressional  Hearing  

OSHEAN Beacon 2.0 network, funded through a federal BTOP grant, received special recognition at a hearing by the House Committee on  

Small Business.

 

Lawrence Strickling Lawrence E. Strickling, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information at the U.S. Department of Commerce and Head of the NTIA said OSHEAN's work is a good example of how BTOP is helping meet the high speed demands of education facilities and other anchor institutions. 

 

"This is a great way to prime the pump, to eliminate  one of the major barriers to internet entry and that is getting transport back to an internet exchange point," Strickling said.  "A key element of building the innovation economy of the future- one that supports new and better jobs, and enhances America's global competitiveness - is expanding the availability and adoption of broadband access." 

 

Watch the House Committee on Small Business testimony.

OSHEAN Cicilline
OSHEAN Highlighted at House Committee Hearing
OSHEAN's
New Collaborative Showcase 
 
To enhance communications among CIO's and Technical Staffs from OSHEAN's membership, we're redesigning the CIO Tech forums and adding a new collaborative showcase. 
  collaboration
 
The onsite showcase meetings will provide members with an opportunity to demonstrate their technology and present a summary of challenges
and opportunities. 

 

The first meeting is scheduled for August 31st, 8:30am - 10am, and will feature Steve Vieira, CCRI CIO, and the the school's new VDI initiative.

To register, click here   
Beacon 2.0 

 

For updates on the  

Beacon 2.0 Project,  

please click here 

 

 

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OSHEAN, Inc.

Founded in 1999, OSHEAN is a non-profit coalition of universities, hospitals, government agencies, K-12 schools, libraries and other non-profit organizations dedicated to providing innovative Internet-based technology solutions for its member institutions and the communities they serve. 

 

 

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To Our Members,

 

Welcome to The Bridge, an e-newsletter for OSHEAN members. 

 

Below, please find out about some of the new and exciting things we have going on this month!

 

OSHEAN Staff 

Staff Spotlight: Melanie Turcotte

 

Meet Melanie Turcotte, OSHEAN Business Operations Manager

 

"I manage Human Resources and all the financial responsibilities for K-12 & Libraries.  I also oversee the E-Rate portion of the K-12 and  Libraries.   

 

How do OSHEAN members benefit from what Melanie does?  

 

Once a vendor is selected, Melanie helps K-12 & Libraries file their E-Rate forms in a timely manner.  She works with members to ensure they are answering all of the questions to qualify for the subsidy they deserve. 

 

"The last thing I want is to see is a school lose their E-Rate funding.  It was a great feeling this past March when I was able to connect with every K-12 and Library member to help them through the submittal of their form 471.  I will be doing the same thing in the fall so they follow through with the next stage of submitting their form 486."

 

Something members can look forward to: 

Streamlined Practices, Advanced Computing Resources

 

As OSHEAN continues implementing the new Beacon 2.0, cyberinfrastructure, Melanie says, all OSHEAN members, including K-12 will rethink their capabilities regarding internet connectivity. Once connected the schools will be able to utilize more advanced computing resources.  In addition, Melanie says new streamlined accounting practices are in the works relative to vendor invoices and coordination of member services. 

 

Melanie's Background

  

Melanie brings her accounting and math skills to OSHEAN. Skills she started developing as a young girl. 

 

"I've always liked working with numbers, as a teenager, I kept a daily cash journal of every penny I spent and any money I earned.  I would drive myself crazy if it didn't balance at the end of the month - not that that would ever happen ;)."

 

Melanie has been working with the K-12 & Libraries for fourteen years.  She  feels a sense of accomplishment helping them through the Erate program and encouraging them that it is worth filling out all the forms, so they can secure their subsidy.  

 

Out of the Office

 

Melanie is very active, enjoying Rhode Island's natural offerings, and spending tons of time with her family. 

 

"I have two very active children.  It's hard to fit much in between, hockey, baseball, soccer, dance and swimming.  Although going from activity to activity is very tiring, my husband and I enjoy watching how the children progress each time they play.  When I do have time, I like to hike, play tennis, bike ride, play volleyball and take nature walks on the beach with my children to see what interesting things we can find."

 OSHEAN User Group Meeting Schedule 

 

In response to OSHEAN User Group interest at this year's Member Forum, OSHEAN has scheduled a series of meetings for interested members.  

Each user group will have one member lead that will help facilitate the discussion among group members.  All meetings will take place at the OSHEAN offices in North Kingstown, RI.     

 

Please see the upcoming User Group meeting schedule below:

 

Mobile Apps - 8/20th, 9am - 10:30am

Register Here  

 

Healthcare Technology Share - 8/27th, 9am - 10:30am

Register Here 

 

Video Commons - 8/29th, 1pm - 2:30pm

Register Here  

 

Local and State Government - 9/6th, 9:30am - 11am   

Register Here 

   

Virtual Computing - 9/20th, 9:30am - 11am

Register Here 

 

Libraries and Schools - 9/7th, Time to TBD

 
Please forward this info to any  interested staff members that may benefit from these discussions.  

Getting Ready to Go Back to School 

 

 K-12 Enhanced Services  

 

OSHEAN and its services through RINET are supporting the Rhode Island Department of Education, schools, districts, teachers and students as they implement cloud services, on-net services, bring-your-own-device (BYOD) programs, one-to-one programs, and online assessments.

 

In anticipation of increased demand from its K-12 members, OSHEAN is implementing a bandwidth bursting program, allowing K-12 members to "burst" to double their contracted bandwidth amounts.

 

The increased bandwidth will also aid schools in increasing the number of devices regularly used by students and teachers. This helps our schools to move from computer lab-based pedagogies to systems where every student is able to use a mobile device of some sort to meet new opportunities in virtual and digital learning.  

 Salve Regina University's New Center for Adult Education to Open in Warwick, RI 

 

 Offers Interactive Online Courses

& Expanded Computer Lab 

 

Beginning in fall 2012, Salve Regina University will offer graduate and continuing education courses at its new Center for Adult Education in Warwick, RI.  The 12,000-square-foot facility at 144 Metro Center Blvd. in Warwick will provide instructional, student and faculty space in a location convenient to prospective students in Greater Providence.

 

salve students

The new site will provide spacious classrooms, student lounge area, collaborative learning spaces for student group meetings, expanded computer lab facilities, and expanded services including enrollment counseling, program advising, registration assistance, and more.

 

Recruitment is underway now for classes starting in September.  Financial aid is available.  For more information, contact 800-637-0002 or graduate_studies@salve.edu.

   

To read more, click here.