Penn State Exploits Intranet for Advising

  • 11/01/96
Penn State University has installed a Web-based academic advising system that allows students to access their records anytime from nearly any location on or off campus. Starting this fall, they can, for example add and drop classes, track degree requirements and explore different majors using a computer and Web browser. The university has built an Intranet that uses Gradient Technologies' WebCrusader software for desktop-to-data security. "Web-based advising won't take the place of face-to-face meetings with faculty advisors, but it offers students a more comprehensive means for monitoring progress, planning their futures and making well-informed decisions," says Ken Blythe, director of the Office of Administrative Systems. Penn State also plans to use WebCrusader to permit faculty members to review research proposals and even order products right from their desktop. The product family implements a proven, industry-standard infrastructure that runs client/server applications securely over the Web. Gradient Technologies, Marlborough, MA, (508) 624-9600, www.gradient.com.

Featured

  • AI-powered individual working calmly on one side and a burnt-out person slumped over a laptop on the other

    AI's Productivity Gains Come at a Cost

    A recent academic study found that as companies adopt AI tools, they're not just streamlining workflows — they're piling on new demands. Researchers determined that "AI technostress" is driving burnout and disrupting personal lives, even as organizations hail productivity gains.

  • AI microchip under cybersecurity attack, surrounded by symbols of threats like a skull, spider, lock, and warning shield

    Report Finds Agentic AI Protocol Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks

    A new report from Backslash Security has identified significant security vulnerabilities in the Model Context Protocol (MCP), technology introduced by Anthropic in November 2024 to facilitate communication between AI agents and external tools.

  • laptop displaying a red padlock icon sits on a wooden desk with a digital network interface background

    Reports Point to Domain Controllers as Prime Ransomware Targets

    A recent report from Microsoft reinforces warns of the critical role Active Directory (AD) domain controllers play in large-scale ransomware attacks, aligning with U.S. government advisories on the persistent threat of AD compromise.

  • educators seated at a table with a laptop and tablet, against a backdrop of muted geometric shapes

    HMH Forms Educator Council to Inform AI Tool Development

    Adaptive learning company HMH has established an AI Educator Council that brings together teachers, instructional coaches and leaders from school district across the country to help shape its AI solutions.