Purdue News
Purdue News
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October 9, 1998
King named executive director of IHETSWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- David A. King, head of the Agricultural Communication Service Department at Purdue University, is the new executive director of the Indiana Higher Education Telecommunication System (IHETS).The board of the telecommunication system selected King on Oct. 1 to replace Art Lindeman, who resigned to work full-time as assistant vice president of financial management support at Indiana University. The IHETS executive director position is a half-time assignment, and King will reduce his present appointment at Purdue to half-time. The Indiana State Legislature formed IHETS in 1967 to bring together public and private colleges and institutions to share information and technology with a goal of improving higher education in Indiana. IHETS provides technology services and network operations, and it facilitates distance education in Indiana, serving schools, libraries and governmental organizations as well as college and university campuses. "Technological change makes this a critical time for higher education in Indiana," King said. "Under the Access Indiana project, we're forming a partnership which includes IHETS, K-12 schools, local libraries, and some state government agencies. We're combining voice, video and data into one new telecommunication network." Already in the last nine months more than 170 schools and libraries and 33 higher education connections have been added to the original 44 on the IHETS network. "Rapid expansion like this always brings great opportunity, but requires attention and care," King said. "As the telecommunication network serves more and more people statewide, we need to makes sure we do it right the first time." King said IHETS plans to develop local access centers in every county, expand two-way interactive video service to 100 new sites statewide, and help develop effective educational programs to take advantage of the new network. "With IU building the national Internet II network center in Indianapolis and Purdue expanding services to connect with them," King said, "there is no more important time to push effective use of educational technology in Indiana. IHETS must continue to use this technology to make a strong connection between higher education and the people we serve." King said being director of IHETS and being head of Purdue's Ag Communication Services have much in common. "The world of communication is rapidly becoming digital," he said. "Television, telephones and computers are merging. So it doesn't matter if you're connecting people to every county Extension office around the state, or to an upper-level education course from Bloomington on the World Wide Web -- the desire to provide access to education for the people of Indiana drives us all." In the coming year, King plans to strengthen ties between member colleges and universities and to continue IHETS' role in the development of the Access Indiana Statewide Backbone network. "Building technology is only half the story these days," he said. "Making sure we use it effectively to teach and to learn completes the picture."
Source: Dave King, (765) 494-8396; e-mail, dave_king@aes.purdue.edu Writer: Rebecca J. Goetz, (765) 494-0461; e-mail, rjg@aes.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
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