Re: Growing Demand for Linux Skills/UAA


Subject: Re: Growing Demand for Linux Skills/UAA
From: Tim Jordan (timothy_jordan@labor.state.ak.us)
Date: Fri Feb 27 2004 - 14:22:09 AKST


Yes! It is nice to see Arthur posting again...

I have not meet Arthur in person but from the perspective of learning
Linux over the past year and a half I have to say it's very nice to have
experinced professionals out there lending expertise!

TJ

On Fri, 2004-02-27 at 14:31, Peter Q. Olsson wrote:

> All-
>
> As a professor at UAA, let me offer some perspective on this.
>
> 1) UAA -> University of Alaska Anchorage (no comma)
>
> 2) course content is determined (officially) by a document called a course
> content guide (CCG). This is what the Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Boards
> review to approve a course. (I am on GAB and, yes, it is an appropriate acronym
> of a bunch of professors ;^). Through the years, the course content guide tends
> to diverge from what the CCG states, and periodically, that document is updated.
>
> The C course in question has probably not had a CCG upgrade in years. However
> CCGs tend to be fairly broad and vague, so there is latitude as to what can
> still be taught and still comply w/ the CCG. However, the college can determine
> what WILL be taught (like strict adherence to an old syllabus) since they are
> the employer. If they are reasonably approached w/ a new syllabus by a new
> instructor, they _might_ be flexible. After all, they are hiring you because you
> have expertise thay are not able to provide. (They may well have someone who
> CAN teach the class, but he/she may already have a full workload. UA
> unfortunately contracts out much of their instruction these days- outsourcing).
>
> 3) As for UAA determining there in not market demand to pay for the class, this
> is a sad truth and a sad comment about the UA system. UA is under _tremendous_
> budget pressure this year, and things are being trimmed/eliminated all over the
> system. Tough to add a new course in this environment, even if there is a market
> demand, unless the case is convincingly made. (I am not necessarily accepting
> the determination that there is NOT a demand here in Anchorage...)
>
> 4) there is an option to teach a class such as a Linux class as a special topic,
> avoiding a lot of paperwork, and this is how "trial classes" are often
> introduced into the system. Eventually they must come under scrutiny of the
> academic boards.
>
> 5) I would not call UAA an especially "linux-friendly" environment. Windoz has
> a FIRM toe hold here. There _are_ linux shops (such as ours), but there is not
> much institutional support for "alternative" OSs.
>
> 6) IF employers tell the university that they want linux-savvy graduates, this
> is something that the university listens to.
>
> 7) Universities in general are heavy in bureaucracy, but then again so are big
> companies, and govt agencies.
>
> PQO
>
> PS. Isn't it great to have Arthur posting to the list again? He adds a certain
> spice with his unique perspective.
> >On Fri, 2004-02-27 at 13:45, Tim Johnson wrote:
> >> * Hassler, Jeff <Jeff.Hassler@asc.asrc.com> [040227 12:02]:
> >> > Eat my shorts UAA!
> >>
> >> What does "UAA" stand for anyway?
> >> On a related note, Mat-Su College (which is "governed" by UAA)
> >> asked me if I wanted to teach a class in C programming.
> >>
> >> When I said that I would consider it, I was shown a course
> >> syllabus, established 1988. I was told that would be the course
> >> outline, come "hell or high water". Now for those of you who
> >> don't know, 1988 preceded many network/internet protocols and
> >> well as the Ansi standards...
> >>
> >> Go figure.
> >
> >University of Alaska, Anchorage
> >Looks like the first order of busines is to create a new syllabus :)
> >--
> >Greg Madden
> >Precision Air Balance, Inc.
> >Phone: 907-276-0461
> >
> >---------
> >To unsubscribe, send email to <aklug-request@aklug.org>
> >with 'unsubscribe' in the message body.
> >
>
> __________________________________________________________________
> |
> | Dr. Peter Q. Olsson,
> | Chief Scientist, Alaska Experimental Forecast Facility
> | University of Alaska Anchorage
> | 2811 Merrill Field Drive
> | Anchorage, AK 99501
> | voice: (907) 264-7449, fax (907) 264-7444
> |___________________________________________________________________
>
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>

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