ENGINEERING

IDG's Computerworld Honors Program recently named Indiana University as a 2013 Laureate. The annual award program honors visionary information technology applications that promote positive social, economic and educational change.

IU earned the distinction for its pioneering eTexts initiative and recent wireless network upgrade to ensure reliable and secure access to digital materials. IU's eTexts program lets students work with leading textbooks or faculty-edited course packs on just about any computer, tablet or smartphone. The eTexts deals also include online simulations, tutorials and labs that provide additional ways for students to learn.

"The primary goal of IU's eTexts initiative is to reduce the cost of course materials for students on all eight campuses," said Brad Wheeler, IU vice president for IT and CIO. "In 2009, IU began trials of new business models in anticipation of digital textbooks and mobile devices. We had long saved students money through bundled licensing of Microsoft and Adobe software, and digital course materials were an obvious next opportunity."

"By working with IU faculty, students, publishers and Courseload's common eReader/annotation software platform, we enabled the transition that directly saved IU students hundreds of thousands of dollars over other options," continued Wheeler. "We are honored that our work has been recognized by Computerworld in this way."

In the spring 2013 semester, nearly 10,000 IU students in 250 course sections used eTexts in areas as diverse as foreign languages, sciences and business. IU embarked on a wireless network upgrade to support this move to digital - including rapid growth in the number of wireless and mobile devices used by students, faculty and staff. 2012 marked the completion of improvements on IU's two main campuses (Bloomington and Indianapolis), and upgrades on all campuses will be complete this year. When complete, the network will have nearly 6,500 access points.

"Technology continues to play a pivotal role in transforming how business and society function. For the past 25 years the Computerworld Honors Program has had the privilege of celebrating innovative IT achievements," said John Amato, vice president and publisher, Computerworld. "Computerworld is honored to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of the 2013 class of Laureates and to share their work. These projects demonstrate how IT can advance organizations' ability to compete, innovate, communicate and prosper."

The Computerworld Honors Laureates will be recognized at the Gala Evening and Awards Ceremony on June 3 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC. To learn more and view a complete list of 2013 laureates, visit the Computerworld Honors website at http://events.computerworld.com/2013Honors.