Briefs

After four years, the online learning platform eCollege will be retired on May 28.

The process of switching online courses from eCollege to Sakai began in summer 2009 with a few pilot summer classes to investigate whether Sakai would meet the needs of CSC students. The results were positive and Sakai became CSC’s second online learning platform.

Steve Taylor, assistant vice president for extended campus programs, said in a personal interview that there are a lot of positives to using one learning platform. Sakai is an open source software system that, unlike eCollege, has no annual fee for use.

Chadron State College installed a key fob system in the residence halls the Monday after the midterm break.

Each student has received a key fob that is not larger than a flash drive and can be attached to a key ring.

Students will be able to freely access the residence halls from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the weekends.

Outside these hours, the buildings will be closed and students will be required to use the key fobs and present their student ID to enter the buildings.

March is National Association of Social Work month. The CSC Social Work Club wants to spread knowledge and awareness of social workers.

“I think it’s really important for what social workers do for the community,“ said CSC Social Work Club member Mandy Watts, junior of Hot Springs, S.D.

To help spread awareness of social workers this month, the CSC Social Work Club will have a fundraiser all day Saturday at Wal-Mart. The fundraiser will include tacos and a bake sale.

Watts said “Knowing and appreciating social workers and what they do for and in the community is important. Knowledge is key.”

Chadron State College is looking for Eagle fans to show off their school spirit by submitting a photo for the new “We Are CSC” project.

The photo should include a group of Eagle fans spelling out CSC with their bodies. Selected photos will be used on the CSC Web site, printed publications, and social networking sites. All photo submissions should be sent to [email protected].

The St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon scheduled for last Wednesday in the Student Center has been postponed. The new date is 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. April 27.

Pre-purchased tickets will be honored on the new date. Ticket purchasers who would like a refund should contact the person they bought their ticket from.

For questions, contact Professor Jeff Morgan at [email protected] or 308-432-6257.

A concert featuring Coffey Anderson will be 7 – 11 p.m. Saturday in the Student Center Ballroom.

There will be free admission and pizza and two iPod Nanos will be given away during the concert.

“Acacia” is scheduled as the opening band and Kelli Bowlin is set to be the opening artist.

Due to midterm week and midterm break, The Eagle will not be publishing an issue until March 18.

Because of Chadron State’s migration to a new student information system, students will not be allowed to register for classes until April 5. Registration normally opens in February.

The course schedule for the upcoming semester will be released in March, giving student a chance to plan before registration opens.

The Northwest Nebraska Gamesters Association has set Mar. 20 as the date for its Chadron State College Chess Open. The tournament will open at 10 a.m. in the Sandoz Center, with the first round of matches beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Participants must pay an $8 entry fee and are asked to bring a chessboard and pieces, as well as a chess clock.

Each participant will play four matches, the first three limited to 90 minutes and the fourth to two hours.

For more information about the tournament, contact Ron Miller at 432-2384 or Brad Wilburn at [email protected].

CSC Professors Jim O’Rourke, professor emeritus, and Chuck Butterfield, chair of the department of applied sciences, received special awards at the Society of Range Management’s annual meeting in Denver.

O’Rourke, a member of the Society of Range Management for 40 years, received the Frederic R. Renner award – the most prestigious award given by the society.

Butterfield received the Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, which is only awarded once annually.