Panel: IS & IT Program Accreditation: Who, What, Why, and How

The Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of ABET is committed to providing world leadership in assuring quality and innovation in computing education. To carry out this vision, the CAC has proposed changes in the structure of the criteria used to accredit computing programs – computer science, information systems and information technology. The new structure consolidates general criteria that apply to all computing programs, and cites program-specific criteria that apply to CS, IS or IT programs. This is an important reorganization that allows an emerging computing discipline program (e.g., bio-informatics) to apply for accreditation under the general criteria until the discipline matures to a point where a model curriculum can be developed. This new format also begins to move CAC documents to outcome-based statements leaving the implementation to the individual programs. This session discusses the who, what, why, and how of IS and IT accreditation. ABET and AACSB accreditation are compared, the CAC/ABET accreditation process is reviewed, and proposed revisions to the IS and IT programs accreditation criteria are highlighted

Completing the Loop: IS Program Improvement through Outcomes Assessment

Why are assessment results often not used to effect IS program improvement? Although both AACSB and ABET place great emphasis on the establishment of a systematic process for the collection and evaluation of academic program assessment data, moving assessment from a data collection activity to a mechanism for program improvement has proven to be a challenge for many programs. The ultimate goal of program assessment is improvement of the academic program. Achieving this goal requires demonstrating how an assessment process affects the quality of the academic program. This workshop will explore the barriers to effective use of assessment results for program improvement and will discuss strategies for addressing these barriers. In addition, different methods and tools that are currently being used to effectively “close the loop” will be presented. Examples specific to the information systems curriculum will be used. Participants will be encouraged to discuss and share the “best assessment practices” developed at their institutions. Practical examples will be presented that help faculty establish effective mechanisms and processes for program improvement at their institutions

Information Systems Enrollments: Challenges and Strategies

Since the late 1990s, enrollments in Information Technology and Information Systems-related academic programs have declined sharply. This paper addresses possible causes of the enrollment decline, and some of the \u27\u27myths regarding careers in IT/IS are dispelled. A number of efforts underway at various universities and professional organizations in the areas of redesigning core curriculum and developing secondary programs are described as well as marketing and promotion approaches. Finally, the authors call for more cooperative and coordinated efforts to address the underlying problems that have led to the current enrollment declines

AMCIS 2010 Panel Report: External Benchmarks in Information Systems Program Assessment

Accrediting bodies and other external constituencies are placing increased emphasis on the assessment of academic degree programs for continuous improvement. Most assessment plans are focused on determining how well program outcomes or goals are being met. However, benchmarking a degree program across institutions is rarely considered. This article provides general principles for assessing information systems programs and presents quantitative and qualitative methodologies and tools for benchmarking student learning in Information Systems programs

Dynamics of the Sharp Edges of Broad Planetary Rings

(Abridged) The following describes a model of a broad planetary ring whose sharp edge is confined by a satellite's m^th Lindblad resonance (LR). This model uses a streamline formalism to calculate the ring's internal forces, namely, ring gravity, pressure, viscosity, as well as a hypothetical drag force. The model calculates the streamlines' forced orbit elements and surface density throughout the perturbed ring. The model is then applied to the outer edge of Saturn's B ring, which is maintained by an m=2 inner LR with the satellite Mimas. Ring models are used to illustrate how a ring's perturbed state depends on the ring's physical properties: surface density, viscosity, dispersion velocity, and the hypothetical drag force. A comparison of models to the observed outer B ring suggests that the ring's surface density there is between 10 and 280 gm/cm^2. The ring's edge also indicates where the viscous torque counterbalances the perturbing satellite's gravitational torque on the ring. But an examination of seemingly conventional viscous B ring models shows that they all fail to balance these torques at the ring's edge. This is due ring self-gravity and the fact that a viscous ring tends to be nearly peri-aligned with the satellite, which reduces the satellite's torque on the ring and makes the ring's edge more difficult to maintain. Nonetheless, the following shows that a torque balance can still be achieved in a viscous B ring, but only in an extreme case where the ratio of the ring's bulk/shear viscosities satisfy ~10^4. However, if the dissipation of the ring's forced motions is instead dominated by a weak drag force, then the satellite can exert a much stronger torque that can counterbalance the ring's viscous torque.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal on April 3, 200

The population of propellers in Saturn's A Ring

We present an extensive data set of ~150 localized features from Cassini images of Saturn's Ring A, a third of which are demonstrated to be persistent by their appearance in multiple images, and half of which are resolved well enough to reveal a characteristic "propeller" shape. We interpret these features as the signatures of small moonlets embedded within the ring, with diameters between 40 and 500 meters. The lack of significant brightening at high phase angle indicates that they are likely composed primarily of macroscopic particles, rather than dust. With the exception of two features found exterior to the Encke Gap, these objects are concentrated entirely within three narrow (~1000 km) bands in the mid-A Ring that happen to be free from local disturbances from strong density waves. However, other nearby regions are similarly free of major disturbances but contain no propellers. It is unclear whether these bands are due to specific events in which a parent body or bodies broke up into the current moonlets, or whether a larger initial moonlet population has been sculpted into bands by other ring processes.Comment: 31 pages, 10 figures; Accepted at A

Measurement of H₂O₂ within living drosophila during aging using a ratiometric mass spectrometry probe targeted to the mitochondrial matrix

Hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) is central to mitochondrial oxidative damage and redox signaling, but its roles are poorly understood due to the difficulty of measuring mitochondrial H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> in vivo. Here we report a ratiometric mass spectrometry probe approach to assess mitochondrial matrix H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> levels in vivo. The probe, MitoB, comprises a triphenylphosphonium (TPP) cation driving its accumulation within mitochondria, conjugated to an arylboronic acid that reacts with H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> to form a phenol, MitoP. Quantifying the MitoP/MitoB ratio by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry enabled measurement of a weighted average of mitochondrial H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> that predominantly reports on thoracic muscle mitochondria within living flies. There was an increase in mitochondrial H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> with age in flies, which was not coordinately altered by interventions that modulated life span. Our findings provide approaches to investigate mitochondrial ROS in vivo and suggest that while an increase in overall mitochondrial H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> correlates with aging, it may not be causative

Telephone based self-management support by 'lay health workers' and 'peer support workers' to prevent and manage vascular diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Improved prevention and management of vascular disease is a global priority. Non-health care professionals (such as, ‘lay health workers’ and ‘peer support workers’) are increasingly being used to offer telephone support alongside that offered by conventional services, to reach disadvantaged populations and to provide more efficient delivery of care. However, questions remain over the impact of such interventions, particularly on a wider range of vascular related conditions (such as, chronic kidney disease), and it is unclear how different types of telephone support impact on outcome. This study assessed the evidence on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of telephone self-management interventions led by ‘lay health workers’ and ‘peer support workers’ for patients with vascular disease and long-term conditions associated with vascular disease. Methods: Systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Three electronic databases were searched. Two authors independently extracted data according to the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Random effects meta-analysis was used to pool outcome measures. Results: Ten studies were included, primarily based in community settings in the United States; with participants who had diabetes; and used ‘peer support workers’ that shared characteristics with patients. The included studies were generally rated at risk of bias, as many methodological criteria were rated as ‘unclear’ because of a lack of information. Overall, peer telephone support was associated with small but significant improvements in self-management behaviour (SMD = 0.19, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.33, I2 = 20.4%) and significant reductions in HbA1c level (SMD = -0.26, 95% CI −0.41 to −0.11, I2 = 47.6%). There was no significant effect on mental health quality of life (SMD = 0.03, 95% CI −0.12 to 0.18, I2 = 0%). Data on health care utilisation were very limited and no studies reported cost effectiveness analyses. Conclusions: Positive effects were found for telephone self-management interventions via ‘lay workers’ and ‘peer support workers’ for patients on diabetes control and self-management outcomes, but the overall evidence base was limited in scope and quality. Well designed trials assessing non-healthcare professional delivered telephone support for the prevention and management of vascular disease are needed to identify the content of effective components on health outcomes, and to assess cost effectiveness, to determine if such interventions are potentially useful alternatives to professionally delivered care