ACU Undergraduate Students Use Comprehensive Statistics App for Interactive and Mobile Learning

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ — GetYa Learn On, LLC and Abilene Christian University (ACU) today announced the launch of a pilot study for a new iPhone application – “Statistics” – designed to supplement lessons in an introductory statistics course. The goals of the partnership are to evaluate the app’s usability, collect data on how students use the app, and measure the app’s effectiveness as a learning tool. The partnership is part of ACU’s Mobile Learning program* which has provided iPhone and iPod touch devices to all incoming freshman since fall 2008. ACU was the first university to provide iPhones and iPod touches to students on a large scale.

The Statistics app was developed by GetYa Learn On, a software development company based in Austin, Texas, and made up of experts in educational psychology and software development. The app features lessons, simulations, calculators, quizzes, flashcards, graphic organizers, a glossary, and a list of formulas and symbols. The Statistics app will be released in the iTunes App Store in late November, and a report discussing findings from the pilot study will be published in early 2010.

“My students are excited about using the app, and it has become especially helpful for test review and preparation,” said ACU Instructor of Psychology, Jessica Nguyen – who teaches the Introductory Statistics class and worked with GetYa Learn On to integrate the app into the existing course syllabus. Dr. Scott Perkins, Professor of Psychology and Coordinator of Mobile Learning Research adds, “There is a strong commitment at ACU to use technology to expand learning activities, both in and out of the classroom. Incorporating an app like this into the daily structure of a course provides a great supplement to traditional classroom activities and helps to prepare students for the workplace of the future.”

Within the classroom, the app’s simulations and calculators are used to explain and illustrate abstract concepts. Students use the glossary and list of formulas as quick reference tools. Outside of the classroom, students test their own understanding using the interactive flashcards and quizzes. The quizzes provide immediate feedback so that students can identify their misconceptions. The app also includes a full spectrum of mini-lessons covering typical statistics topics. The lessons are used to complement class lectures and to provide alternative explanations to complex concepts.

“The leaders of the ACU Mobile Learning project have cultivated a spirit of academic entrepreneurialism and a sense of optimism about what is pedagogically possible through the use of innovative technologies like the iPhone,” said Dr. Michael Mayrath, Managing Director of GetYa Learn On. “More than 50 percent of ACU’s students already have an iPhone or iPod touch. This makes ACU an optimal place to conduct research on how the iPhone’s technological affordances can make a disruptive impact upon education. Thus, ACU is an ideal partner for testing the Statistics app.”

The ACU Mobile Learning program has been recognized with several honors for its leadership and vision, including the 2008 Campus Technology Innovator Award. Additionally, Dr. Bill Rankin, associate professor of English and co-director of ACU’s Mobile Learning Initiative, received the 2009 Apple Distinguished Educator award. ACU hosts numerous ConnectEd Conferences attended by educators and technologists from organizations ranging from the U.S. Air Force to K-12 teachers.

For more information:

GetYa Learn On, LLC – www.GetYaLearnOn.com

ACU’s Mobile Learning program – www.acu.edu/technology/mobilelearning/

© 2009 GetYa Learn On Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. GetYa Learn On, the GetYa Learn On logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of GetYa Learn On Intellectual Property. All other marks contained herein are property of their respective owners.

About GetYa Learn On

GetYa Learn On, LLC is a private company headquartered in Austin, Texas, and founded in 2008. The company is comprised of a team of experts from software development, educational psychology, instructional technology, and measurement and evaluation. GetYa Learn On is exploring the pedagogical potential of in innovative technologies, including touch-screens, accelerometers, and (GPS) global-positioning systems. All GetYa Learn On applications and games are developed using current research in educational psychology and instructional design.

About ACU

ACU is a vibrant, innovative, Christ-centered community that engages students in authentic spiritual and intellectual growth, equipping them to make a real difference in the world. ACU was named one of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News and World Report in its 2010 edition and was recently ranked in the top seven percent of universities nationwide in Forbes magazine’s America’s Best Colleges rankings.

* ACU’s Mobile Learning project is led by Dr. Rankin along with Dr. Scott Perkins, professor of Psychology and Director of Research, and George Saltsman, Director of Educational Technology for the Adams Center for Teaching and Learning.

CONTACT:  Michael Mayrath, Ph.D., of GetYa Learn On, +1-512-789-7363, mayrath@getyalearnon.com; or Wendy Kilmer of ACU, +1-325-439-0905, wew97p@acu.edu

­ High-powered tool now available to non members for introductory rate that includes one-year membership ­

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ — e-Zassi.com, the fast-growing provider of the medical device industry’s first secure online decision-support and industry network, has released its powerful U.S. Regulatory Calculator as a stand-alone tool available at $375 at www.e-Zassi.com to give users an analysis of the FDA classification of up to three separate medical technologies along with a one-year membership in the e-Zassi medical device industry network.

e-Zassi.com was developed as an online industry network to allow everyone across the spectrum of medical device industry to search, match, collaborate and analyze technologies, individuals and organizations using the most advanced decision-support search engine platform that uniquely fosters deeper levels of information sharing while also protecting members from over-disclosure issues that could negatively impact intellectual properties.

The e-Zassi.com U.S. Regulatory Calculator

The e-Zassi.com U.S. Regulatory Calculator is proprietary software powered by a current database of information on classified medical devices.  Anyone involved with medical devices – from researchers to engineers, technology transfer agents, business development officers, medical device companies and investors – can use the new FDA Regulatory Calculator by inputting non-confidential product attributes and physical details about their new product or technology.  The e-Zassi.com U.S. Regulatory Calculator searches and provides the potential predicate codes and other critical regulatory information in just minutes, rather than more than two months, which is often how long it takes for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to determine a product’s classification.

“Because many products don’t fit neatly into existing classifications, this process is often a complex and confusing first step when designing a product or making a submission to the FDA,” said e-Zassi Chief Executive Officer Peter M. von Dyck, who holds numerous patents and has commercialized many new medical device technologies.  Von Dyck explains that: “Not knowing the potential FDA classification early on can adversely skew the entire development, clinical trials, commercialization and capitalization plans.  Understanding and navigating the regulatory environment and classification that a newer medical technology will need to conform to is one of the most essential elements of any development and commercialization plan and without this information early and throughout the development process you are in essence developing in the dark.”

About e-Zassi.com

e-Zassi.com is a subscription-based online community and Software as a Service (SaaS) company that was spun off Zassi Medical Evolutions®, a privately held company with more than a decade innovating and developing in medical devices.  The full suite of software tools on e-Zassi.com supports those in the medical device industry, from product development through manufacturing and distribution.  Tools allow for technology transfer; business development; market and commercial analysis; due diligence & portfolio management; intellectual property and patent development; product development and financial planning; and capital acquisition via venture capital and grants. Customized memberships are available now. For more information regarding e-Zassi.com or to join the Network, please visit www.e-Zassi.com or call +1.866.474.6328.

CONTACT: at e-Zassi.com, Walter Galler, VP Marketing, w.galler@ezassi.com, 1-866-474-6328; or at StrategCations, Inc., Bob Zeitlinger, bzeitlinger@b2zcommunications.com, +1-212-777-5095; and Donna Ramer, dramer@strategcations.com, +1-201-244-1213

ASHBURN, Va., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ – BigSpot.com, an Offerwise company, looks to summon its inner monster of rock by sponsoring MTV’s “Ulalume” — a Halloween festival on Oct. 23 in Columbia, Md. featuring explosive performances by Paramore and AFI, along with Dead By Sunrise, Asher Roth and Kid Cudi. The announcement comes only months after the Web-based business revved up with a major NASCAR sponsorship.

During the music-fueled fright fest, BigSpot.com will unearth its Halloween Confessional booth. Those who dare to duck inside will be tempted to reveal their inner-most thoughts on the things that terrify them the most in life.  Whether recalling a childhood costume, the most nerve-rattling horror film or scariest place they ever visited, participants will spill their souls to those on the other side – of the camera that is. Attendees with the creepiest stories will appear in an online video flipbook on mtvU.com.  Additionally, footage from the BigSpot.com booth will air as part of mtvU’s Halloween programming and during MTV’s Halloween-themed morning music block.

“MTV has a great reputation for bringing innovative marketing concepts to life.  This is the first time BigSpot.com has sponsored a concert event and the first time we have worked with MTV,” said Andrew Lissak, president and CEO of Offerwise. ”We feel this particular idea is not only a great fit for our brand, but is also an ideal way to expose BigSpot.com directly to young adults — an extremely influential demographic.” BigSpot.com is an online recruitment source for market research companies, where users receive rewards for sharing their opinions. BigSpot.com’s push into the music television arena means heightened exposure to a much sought-after audience.

“Young adults’ opinions are very valuable to the market research companies we recruit for — they essentially provide access to the pulse of what’s going on in the marketplace, allowing these groups to stay ahead of the curve on new trends,” Lissak said. “By sponsoring this event, we’re able to  introduce survey taking to those in this key demographic that has something to say, and is looking for ways to earn a little cash while doing it.”

For more information, please head to www.BigSpot.com or to mtvU.com.

About BigSpot.com

Online service BigSpot.com introduces users to consumer research panels where they can share their opinions and have the opportunity to earn cash and win prizes. BigSpot.com is owned and operated by Offerwise, a VarsityPlaza LLC company that provides offline and online marketing strategy services to the consumer research industry. Serving market research companies since 2006, Offerwise has emerged as a trusted leader in helping these firms promote their Internet-based consumer panels to online users worldwide. www.offerwise.com

About MTV

MTV is the dynamic, vibrant experiment at the intersection of music, creativity and youth culture. For more than 26 years, MTV has evolved, challenged the norm, and detonated boundaries — giving each new generation a creative outlet and voice that entertains, informs and unites on every platform and screen. On-air, MTV has been the No. 1 rated 24 hour ad-supported cable network P12-24 for 16 straight years. Online, MTV.com scored double-digit growth in 2007 and MTV launched 10 dynamic online communities and six new virtual worlds. On the go, MTV Mobile is the No. 1 music brand in the wireless space, delivering 90 percent more streams than in 2006. And MTV’s successful sibling networks MTV2, mtvU and MTV Tr3s each deliver unprecedented customized content, super-serving music fans, college students and young American Latinos like no one else. MTV is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. www.mtvpress.com.

CONTACT:  Andrew Lissak of Offerwise, +1-800-280-4947, pr@offerwise.com

Named by Time Magazine as one of the 50 Best Websites of 2009, Wolfram|Alpha is already changing how students and educators approach a wide variety of subjects.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ — A team of experts led by noted scientist and Wolfram|Alpha creator Stephen Wolfram will help students tackle some of their toughest assignments on Wolfram|Alpha’s first Homework Day. (homeworkday.wolframalpha.com)

This groundbreaking 14-hour live interactive web event will begin at noon (CDT) on Wednesday October 21, 2009, and run until 2am (CDT) on Thursday.  Free and web-based, Wolfram|Alpha is an innovative computational knowledge engine that is an invaluable tool for students, whether they are seeking help in a required course or looking to excel in their chosen field.

The live Homework Day webcast will bring together people from across the country to tackle tough homework assignments and explore the richness that Wolfram|Alpha brings to learning. The Homework Day website will be used to broadcast the live October 21 event and feature live chat, where participants are encouraged to submit questions that Stephen Wolfram and his team will analyze and solve throughout the webcast.

Questions can be submitted before or during the event on the Homework Day website or via Twitter and Facebook. The webcast will also feature interviews with distinguished scientists Brian Greene (author of “The Elegant Universe” and “The Fabric of the Cosmos”) and Lawrence M. Krauss (author of “Fear of Physics” and “The Physics of Star Trek”).

Launched this May, Wolfram|Alpha (www.wolframalpha.com) is a free website powered by a computational knowledge engine that generates answers to questions in real time by doing computations on its own vast internal knowledge base. Named by Time Magazine as one of the 50 Best Websites of 2009, Wolfram|Alpha is widely recognized as an invaluable new resource for education.

The Homework Day webcast will also feature:

• Quick, step-by-step lessons that will give everyone the ability to use Wolfram|Alpha to tackle problems in a variety of subjects, including math, science, engineering, health and nutrition, English, history, economics, and many more
• Ideas and examples for how to make subjects like math and science more engaging and relevant to students
• Live interviews and demonstrations by educators who are already using Wolfram|Alpha in their classrooms

The goal of Homework Day is to broadly share how students and educators are using Wolfram|Alpha in college and to demonstrate the advantages of using this free site not only to tackle specific problems, but to inspire students to probe subject matter further and promote deeper understanding of fundamental concepts.

About Wolfram Alpha LLC

Wolfram Alpha LLC is a Wolfram Research company. Wolfram|Alpha’s long-term goal is to make all systematic knowledge immediately computable and accessible to everyone. The company aims to collect and curate all objective data; implement every known model, method, and algorithm; and make it possible to compute whatever can be computed about anything. Wolfram|Alpha builds on the achievements of science and other systematizations of knowledge to provide a single source that can be relied on by everyone for definitive answers to factual queries.

About Wolfram Research

Wolfram Research, Inc. is a powerhouse in technical innovation and pursues a long-term vision to develop the science, technology, and tools to make computation an ever-more-potent force in today’s and tomorrow’s world. With Mathematica 7, Wolfram Research delivered powerful new capabilities, including image processing, parallel high-performance computing, and new on-demand data, making the software more relevant than ever to everyone from leading researchers to students and other users.

Wolfram Research sponsors the world’s largest free network of technical information websites, including MathWorld – the #1 website devoted to mathematics – and the Wolfram Demonstrations Project. Wolfram Research was founded in 1987 by Stephen Wolfram, who continues to lead the company today. The company is headquartered in the United States, with offices in Europe and Asia. For more information, visit its website.

About Stephen Wolfram

Stephen Wolfram is a distinguished scientist, inventor, author, and business leader. He is the creator of Mathematica, the author of A New Kind of Science, the creator of Wolfram|Alpha, and the founder and CEO of Wolfram Research. Wolfram has been president and CEO of Wolfram Research since its founding in 1987. In addition to his business leadership, Wolfram is deeply involved in the development of the company’s technology, and continues to be personally responsible for overseeing all aspects of the functional design of the core Mathematica system as well as Wolfram|Alpha.

CONTACT: Wolfram Alpha LLC, +1-217-398-0700, press@wolfram.com

kgb is the answer for college kids looking for fun, convenient ways to make extra cash in today’s tough economy

NEW YORK, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ — kgb is making the grade with college students looking to earn extra money in today’s sluggish economy. That’s because thousands of cash-strapped college kids around the country are working part-time as Special Agents for kgb’s 542542 text answer service. It’s no surprise that college kids from the east coast and the west coast and everywhere in between are enlisting as Special Agents because the work is fun and the hours are flexible so as to not interfere with their school work and extra-curricular activities. Furthermore, they’re learning new information every day. From their computers, kgb Special Agents answer questions being asked of kgb, and receive money for each answer.

St. John’s University student Fred Duran said: “What I like about being a Special Agent is that I can schedule shifts whenever I want and make a little extra money.”

Erica Brunt, a student at Southern Connecticut State University, added: “Being a Special Agent is a great way for me to make the money I need and wouldn’t have otherwise.”

Tulane University student Ian Terry said: “I like the flexibility of the hours, as well as the fact that I learn interesting trivia while on the job.”

Ashley Waddell, a student at Ozarks Technical Community College, said: “I enjoy being an agent because it gives me the freedom to make money when I have time to do it. I can set my own schedule and I have the ability to earn as much as I want, when I want it.”

Eastern Michigan University grad student Laura Sigarto said: “I love the flexibility and the ability to make some money on my own time.”

Here’s how kgb works: if you have an question, send it via text message to 542542 (kgbkgb), the number for the kgb’s text answer service, where a specially-trained kgb Special Agent is waiting to provide a quick, accurate answer.

“We’ve heard from numerous college students across the country who love their work as kgb Special Agents,” said Bruce Stewart, CEO of Mobile and Digital at kgb. “For some, kgb is a fun alternative to other part-time work because they can do it from anywhere, whenever they feel like logging on to the computer. For others, there is an element of competition as kgb Special Agents compete with other agents to gain the most expertise in categories from sports to entertainment. We know that the common denominator, however, is often the fact that kgb Special Agents seem to really enjoy providing quick, accurate answers to our customers.”

The process of becoming a kgb Special Agent starts with completion of the kgb Special Agent Challenge on the kgb website at www.kgb.com. Those who pass the challenge can begin specialized kgb training in methods of finding the best sources to answer the questions sent to kgb 542542, and after completion of training are ready to become full-fledged kgb Special Agents, capable of answering any question, any time in 106 characters.

The kgb 542542 text answer service combines the power of the company’s best-in-class knowledge database and technology platform along with the judgment and skill of a specially-trained community of kgb Special Agents who provide quick, accurate responses to any question. Users receive real-time responses to questions any time, day or night, from any cell phone, for a cost of ninety-nine cents.

In January kgb launched its flagship text answer service, 542542 (kgbkgb) following the success of kgb’s similar “Ask Us Anything” premium text answer service in the United Kingdom.

About kgb

kgb (www.kgb.com) is a privately held, New York-based company and the world’s largest independent provider of directory assistance and enhanced information services. During its fifteen year history, kgb has built some of the most successful and recognizable retail brands in the telecommunications and enhanced information services sector. kgb’s European retail brands include The Number 118 118 in the United Kingdom and Le Numero 118 218 in France, both of which have the largest market share in their respective markets. kgb is also the largest and fastest-growing independent wholesale directory assistance service provider in the U.S. kgb has pioneered the provision of a broad range of wholesale and retail information services beyond traditional directory assistance services, including call completion, movie listings, train schedules, price comparisons and “Ask Us Anything” service across multiple platforms, including mobile and landline phones, SMS and the Internet. Last year kgb served more than a hundred million consumers globally and answered nearly a billion questions.

CONTACT: Amy Wolfcale, kgb, amy.wolfcale@kgb.com, +1-212-909-8289, or +1-917-280-5913, or Adam Miller, MWW Group, amiller@mww.com, +1-201-964-2390

Offering a New Online & Mobile Service That Changes the World of Advertising

NEW YORK, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ — Beezag® (www.Beezag.com) has officially launched its NEW exclusive invite-only online and mobile advertising platform that is revolutionizing the world of advertising. Beezag benefits both the “Beezagger” (user) and the advertiser by providing the user with monetary returns while giving advertisers a direct and targeted medium to interact with the most attractive segment of the Web 2.0 and mobile market, educated adults ages 18-24, which tallies 72 million strong in the U.S.

“Our strategic vision at Beezag is to capitalize on an opportunity to create digital advertising distribution that works in today’s environment, where traditional advertising models are becoming more fragmented by the changes in technology and consumer behavior,” said Richard Smullen, Co-Founder of Beezag.

Beezag is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Richard Smullen and Laurent Alhadeff (the young founders behind South African media, technology and fashion market leader SouthWinston Investments). They have created an impressive team of business-savvy technologists, including six-year Google veteran Brian Dick to manage worldwide revenue; Steven Spencer, the former-Upoc/Dada Entertainment™ CEO/CTO as Beezag’s CTO; and Ex-Forbes Digital VP Nicholas Ricci as the Beezag USA Sales VP.

Beezag’s target audience is tech-savvy 18 to 24-year-olds, typically college students, who know every trick to avoid ads. Knowing that this demographic constantly needs extra spending money, Beezag has developed its invite-only service in which members login and watch a full ad from start to finish. Beezag then rewards them with discounts and cash which can be paid into accounts like iTunes, PayPal™, their favorite charity or even their personal bank account.

Through Beezag‘s Proprietary Profiling Engine, Beezag ensures delivery of a brand’s full message to loyal, hand-raising customers, not prospects. When Beezaggers login to view ads (online, on Facebook or on their mobile phones), they discuss the specific brands/products they use (and are looking for) – whether it’s the coffee they drink, sports team they follow or airline of choice. The secret behind Beezag is its patent-pending technology, which guarantees a complete view of each commercial, and if Beezaggers don’t absorb the ad in its entirety, the advertiser does not pay and the user does not earn.

Within a study issued by the DVR Research Institute in 2008, “77 percent of agency higher-ups said that DVR usage will prove to be the greatest challenge to the current ad model,” (Ad Week, June 2009). Within this traditional advertising model, advertisers pay hundreds of billions of dollars for consumers’ attention, but with new technology like the DVR, statistics are showing that “90 percent ‘always/almost always’ fast forward through commercials,” (2008 Starcom USA-Tivo custom study). Advertisers see Beezag as the solution to technology like DVR and online “banner-blindness,” which is the root cause of this massive fragmentation that we are experiencing.

Beezag provides a new online and mobile model for advertisers to directly target these consumers. The Beezag guarantee is that advertiser dollars are going towards ads that will be 100 percent viewed – start to finish.

Beezag is the game-changer in the advertising industry and is changing the way  consumers interact with brands and view ads so that instead of avoiding them, they will want more.

Through digital and affiliate agencies, some of the country’s biggest brands have joined Beezag as advertisers. Two of the most recent include Dr. Pepper and Dentyne.

About Beezag:

Beezag is a privately funded company headquartered in New York City’s bustling Chelsea neighborhood. Its founders had an epiphany when they set out to create a revolutionary philosophy for the only effective way to advertise in this info-laden age: through the targeted delivery of customized video ads to vetted and invited individuals in real time through any Internet-capable device. www.Beezag.com

CONTACT:  Anne Watkins, Lizzie Grubman PR, +1-212-966-5000 x123, Anne@GrubmanPR.com, for Beezag

LANGLEY, British Columbia, Canada, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ — Langley welcomes a new online entrepreneur today when news was released that Karen Royal had become one of the newest marketers at CarbonCopyPRO, a popular online marketing effort begun in New York.

Karen Royal, an expert Internet marketer, joins an already power-packed line-up of entrepreneurs in the CarbonCopyPRO stable.

When Co-Founders Jay Kubassek and Aaron Parkinson were asked for their opinion on Mrs. Royal they answered: “We could not be more thrilled about Karen’s decision to join us. Karen brings a unique, high energy approach to our community. Karen will be an asset to every other member from the first day she arrives.”

CarbonCopyPRO seems to be gaining in popularity. Their marketing platform and online community of entrepreneurs has been seen mentioned in many online postings.

The members of CarbonCopyPRO have set a challenging goal of creating 100 millionaires by 2012. Their unique approach of providing their members with pre-designed websites, auto responders, qualifying filters, and a high quality call center has dramatically increased the general success rate.

According to Royal, “People with little or no marketing experience are getting results they never thought possible.”

Karen Royal was also quoted as saying “CarbonCopyPRO is hands down the simplest way to make money online. These guys are constantly improving their marketing system to stay ahead of the competition. I could not be happier about starting this new business.”

CarbonCopyPRO is based in New York and their informational website is EMPLOYMENTFROMHOMETODAY.COM

Karen Royal

Master Marketing Consultant

Keep Your Business At Home

604-534-2226

SuccessMastered@gmail.com

Net Impact Lends Expertise to Monitor Environment, Health and Nutrition Programs

GAITHERSBURG, Md., October 15, 2009 — Sodexo is launching a new fellowship program to monitor the impact of its sustainability initiatives with nonprofit group Net Impact, a global network of 15,000 leaders including corporate and nonprofit professionals, and graduate students in business administration and related fields.

This partnership allows tomorrow’s leaders to help Sodexo and its 6,000 clients in North America measure sustainability programs to ensure they meet the goals of business, people and the environment. The fellows will also learn the scope and impact that integrated facilities management plays in helping companies, colleges, hospitals and other organizations improve the environmental performance of their buildings and campuses.

“Learning how to measure and report on a company’s sustainability efforts is an increasingly important business skill,” said Arlin Wasserman, vice president of sustainability and corporate social responsibility. “We will challenge and enrich promising young business leaders with this professional experience, which will in turn help our clients and company improve sustainability performance.”

Sodexo is committed to measuring sustainability performance to increase benefits to clients and to the environment, health and wellness, and the local communities it serves. Sodexo was recently named Dow Jones Worldwide Sector Sustainability Leader for the fourth consecutive year, demonstrating leadership in economic, environmental and social performance.

“We are thrilled to work with Sodexo to bring this exclusive opportunity to our talented network,” said Liz Maw, executive director, Net Impact. “Hands-on opportunities like the Sodexo Sustainability Fellowship enrich our MBA student members’ educational experience, showing them how to apply their business skills to make a positive impact.”

Fellows will work on 100 Sodexo client sites to help benchmark performance in sustainability programs, including environment, nutrition, health, and wellness and local community development. Sodexo regards the benchmarking process as integral to improving clients’ sustainability performance, achieve their business goals and to create savings and eco-efficiencies.

Sodexo recognizes the importance of developing new approaches to address sustainability concerns now and in the future to meet the challenges of climate change and healthcare costs.

Sodexo, Inc.
Sodexo, Inc. (www.SodexoUSA.com) is a leading integrated facilities management services company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with $7.7 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 120,000 employees. Sodexo serves more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, government, and remote sites. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., is a member of Sodexo Group, and funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $11 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.SodexoUSA.com/blog.

Net Impact
Net Impact is a global organization of students and professionals using business to improve the world. We offer a portfolio of programs and initiatives to educate, equip and inspire more than 15,000 members to make a tangible difference through business. Spanning six continents, our membership is one of the most influential networks of students and professionals in existence today and includes current and emerging leaders in corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, nonprofit management, international development and environmental sustainability. For more information, please visit www.netimpact.org.

CONTACT: Monica Zimmer 301 987 4461 monica.zimmer@sodexo.com

New system to link campuses, enhance online student services

BOCA RATON, Fla., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ — Campus Management Corp® announced today it has been selected by Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) to implement its CampusVue® student information system for the district’s career and technical education centers.

“We have found a software system in CampusVue that can help us with student growth, enrollment management, efficient operations, and employee and student satisfaction at the tech centers,” said Janet Addair, OCPS associate superintendent. “This system will help us align the processes at five campuses with an annual enrollment of more than 50,000 students. Campus Management has assured us they will help us manage the change that will take place both with our stakeholders at the district and campus levels. We look forward to the increased benefits for our students, and our school employees look forward to increased productivity when the K-12 system and the CampusVue postsecondary system can be integrated.”

Campus Management’s software system is designed to provide students, faculty, staff and management with 24/7 access to information, online services, and an array of communications tools. The new student information system will be integrated with OCPS’s current K-12 student management system, Pearson, to help simplify online access to classes, registration, billing and aid, and academic records and advising.

Unique characteristics of Campus Management’s software systems are expected to help OCPS more easily manage its nontraditional courses on flexible academic terms, while serving students who may be simultaneously enrolled in programs and courses at multiple sites across the county.

“OCPS serves a diverse community and has the right vision to enhance its efficiency and take service-levels to new heights,” said Timothy B. Loomer, president and CEO of Campus Management Corp.  “We excel in exactly these kinds of complex, multi-campus operations where efficiency and outcomes matter.  Campus Management also happens to be a Florida company, so we’re very aware of our state’s budget and workforce challenges. We are extremely enthusiastic and motivated, to say the least.”

Based in Boca Raton, FL, Campus Management’s professional services group will engage with OCPS in a cooperative process to implement, pilot, and launch the new system. In the previous fiscal year, the company launched more than 120 campuses on the CampusVue student system using this same deployment methodology.  More than 75 percent of the largest proprietary career and online colleges in the United States and growing numbers of public and private institutions run on the company’s administrative software.

The project at OCPS begins in November 2009 and is expected to conclude in as little as fourteen months.  The products include the CampusVue student information system, web portals, and web services to integrate third party software such as the K-12 system already in place at OCPS.

About Campus Management Corp®

More than 1,700 colleges, universities, foundations, and other companies in 35 countries rely upon Campus Management Corp® enterprise software products and services. Campus Management’s CampusVue® Ecosystem is a fully integrated, centralized administrative and e-learning platform that unifies services, academic delivery, administrative management and reporting for a full range of public, private and proprietary postsecondary institutions.

Campus Management’s award-winning student information systems, fundraising software, financials, HR solutions, and Talisma® CRM, the leading Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) solution for Higher Education, are used by more than 75 percent of the largest US-based proprietary career and online colleges as well as leading colleges, universities, foundations, and companies. For more information, visit www.campusmanagement.com.

About Orange County Public Schools

For more information about OCPS, visit www.ocps.net.

CONTACT:  Lisa Patterson, Corporate Communications Manager, Campus Management Corp, +1-561-213-8702, lpatterson@campusmgmt.com

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Allstate Insurance Company, the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, will hold its first college recruiting virtual career fair on Wednesday, October 21.

The event makes it easy for college students to browse and apply for internships that will be hosted by Allstate next summer. By logging into www.allstatevirtualcareerfair.com, students can visit “virtual career booths” that highlight the various internship opportunities available at Allstate’s headquarters in Northbrook, Ill.

“A summer internship at a Fortune 100 company like Allstate can offer college students the credentials and experience they need to make their resume stand out in today’s job market,” said Tom Hall, assistant vice president of talent acquisition.

The following departments will be represented: actuary, finance/accounting, claims, communications, information technology, investments and marketing. The innovative college recruiting fair takes place October 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT.

The event allows students to chat live with an Allstate college recruiter. They also can watch short video features that reflect Allstate’s dedication to innovation, the environment, volunteerism and public social responsibility. Allstate has been recognized by a wide variety of media outlets and independent associations that monitor workplace issues. It’s a seven-time award winner of Top 50 Companies for Diversity by DiversityInc magazine; and named Working Mother magazine’s 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers for the past 19-years.

About the Allstate Corporation

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help more than 17 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®.

CONTACT:  David Steck of Allstate, +1-847-402-5600