Faculty and students in Ball State's Center for Information and Communication Sciences (CICS) are using the new equipment for projects ranging from reviewing Web services for K-12 programs to analyzing wireless technology.

"Since the inception of the center in 1986, we've been working to develop strategic partnerships with the top technology firms in the country," said Robert Yadon, an information and communication professor. "In essence, these companies provide the latest technology in order for our faculty and students to research some of today's toughest industry problems."

Yadon estimated the center averages about $500,000 to $1 million annually in equipment acquisitions and grants as part of strategic partnerships.

Among firms and organizations providing technology systems and sponsoring research in 2001-2002 include:

• Verizon, $500,000.
• Eli Lilly, $400,000.
• Nortel Networks, $300,000.
• Sun Microsystems, $250,000.
• Ameritech/SBC/Anixter, $250,000.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture, $194,000.

Sun Microsystems provided a Solaris mini-lab, consisting of multiple servers and workstations. It was recently delivered and installed at the center, located on the second floor of the Ball Communication Building.

The Sun Microsystems project calls for CICS students to assess various computer applications to support high school curriculums and professional K-12 development; support the company by evaluating various software solutions; and review Web services of K-12 programs and possible integration of the software solutions.

Partnerships and the new technology they provide are important assets in today's information-based society, said Yadon, who is also director of the center's Applied Research Institute.

Many of the partnerships result from CICS graduates moving into management positions and seeking assistance from the program, he said.

"This equipment provides important learning opportunities for our students," Yadon said. "We do have a national reputation for providing education in technology that only a limited number of universities can match. Few students have the opportunity to do some of the work we do here."

"Because of the high cost of technology and increasingly limited state funding, these gifts are our main source of upgrading our systems and equipment," he said. "We constantly have to 'ratchet up' the technology levels just to keep up with increasingly computer-savvy students."

CICS was created to prepare effective leaders for the Information Age. The program offers graduate students a diverse curriculum drawing from many areas of communication including technical, business and information management.

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Yadon at reyadon@bsu.eduor (765) 285-1515. The center's Web site is at www.bsu.edu/cics.)