ITERA President's Message

The telecommunications landscape
continues to change. On the commercial
side mergers, bankruptcies, new starts,
and convergence of technologies are all
changing what we think of as
telecommunications. On the educational
side of the equation, change is also a part
of the environment. ITERA continues to
grow in number of member schools and
individual members. Individual
programs are experiencing change in
program content and enrollments. After
several years of static or declining
enrollments, many programs have seen
increased enrollments in the past year.

ITERA member schools represent a wide range of programs that bring together a variety of academic areas. Our member schools can be found in Colleges/Schools of Business, Engineering, Technology, Communications, Liberal Arts, Interdisciplinary programs and standalone centers. The common thread is the desire to define a discipline that is not defined by the academic location within the university.

ITERA completed our third national conference in March 2007. Dr. Ray Steele of Ball State University was honored with the ITERA Service Award. Dr. Rich Thompson of the University of Pittsburgh was selected to receive the ITERA Research Award. Ball State University was selected as the first school to receive the ITERA Graduate Program of the Year honor. Murray State University received the first ITERA Undergraduate Program award. ITERA also started a case study competition in 2007 sponsored by Accenture. The final four competitors, selected to come to Louisville and make their final presentation before a live audience, were Ball State University, University of Colorado, James Madison University, and Murray State University. When the ballots were counted the team from Murray State University was selected as National Champions.

Louisville, Kentucky will be the site of the 4th Annual ITERA National Conference to be held March 27-29, 2008. Plan now to attend and submit papers. Watch this web site for the Call for Papers and conference information.

Just like the telecommunications industry, ITERA is changing and getting better all the time. Watch this web site for updated information on the changes in ITERA. If you have any questions about ITERA or if I can help in any way contact me at james.gantt@murraystate.edu or call me at 270-809-3987.