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2012 Beloit College Mindset List identifies worldview of college freshmen

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

Beloit College’s Mindset List, published annually since 1998, aims to “identify the worldview” of 18-year-olds arriving at colleges across the country. The list is an eclectic (and faintly nostalgic) mix of cultural contexts for most new college students born in 1994.

“This year’s entering college class of 2016 was born into cyberspace and they have therefore measured their output in the fundamental particles of life: bits, bytes, and bauds,” says the Aug. 21 news release from Beloit College’s (Wis.) Mindset List for the Class of 2016. “They have come to political consciousness during a time of increasing doubts about America’s future, and are entering college bombarded by questions about jobs and the value of a college degree.”   Continue reading “2012 Beloit College Mindset List identifies worldview of college freshmen” →

Alloway and Williams honored for 40 years of service

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

K-State IT staff Jay Alloway and Rich Williams were recently honored for 40 years of service as state employees at an Aug. 20 ceremony in Topeka. They both started in academic computing at K-State and have continued working in central IT throughout their careers, albeit with many technology changes along the way.

Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson with Rich Williams at state ceremony Aug. 20, 2010
Rich Williams receives his 40-year service pin from Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson at the Aug. 20 state ceremony in Topeka (photo courtesy Jay Alloway)

“The K-State mainframe computer that I started with in 1969 required a 1,200 square-foot room, and now people have more power in the palm of their hands with cellphones than that first computer had,” said Williams. He started as a computer operator Sept. 15, 1969, “which will be right at 41 years this week, and I think just a few weeks after Jay was hired.”

Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson with Jay Alloway at state ceremony Aug. 20, 2010
Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson congratulates Jay Alloway on his 40 years of service at K-State (photo courtesy Jay Alloway)

Alloway said he started his full-time career at K-State as a system programmer and recalled his office was right next to the Computer Center, which was housed in the basement of Cardwell Hall. “That was an unclassified position from the start. My current title is assistant director of Computing and Telecommunications Services.”

Continue reading “Alloway and Williams honored for 40 years of service” →

K-State bids farewell to central IBM computer mainframe

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

K-State’s 11-year-old mainframe now sits in the basement hallway of Hale Library, with thoughts of better days as it awaits removal to the melting pot. It was dismantled and removed from the K-State Data Center over a two-day period, July 1-2, by Computing and Telecommunications Services staff. So ends 42 years of IBM mainframes at K-State.

A glimpse of K-State's IBM mainframe as it leaves K-State
A window glimpse of K-State's central IBM mainframe sitting in Hale Library's basement hall, awaiting removal from the campus

Continue reading “K-State bids farewell to central IBM computer mainframe” →