Preliminary data from five SJSU Plus online courses offered this summer shows encouraging progress compared to spring.

Student performance improved in all three of the summer courses first offered last spring utilizing an online platform developed by Udacity.  The change was fairly significant; between 23.8 and 50.5 percent of the spring students earned C’s or better; this summer, between 29.8 and 83 percent.

In two courses offered this summer for the first time, just over two-thirds of students garnered C’s or higher. Those rates are comparable to past performance by students in traditional classrooms — slightly higher in one case, a bit lower in another.

I invite you to review our summary statement on these latest findings, and this commentary from Udacity CEO Sebastian Thrun.

As with the spring trial, summer data will be more throughly scrutinized. (A detailed assessment from spring, funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), will be available early next month. I’ll post it here.)

Earlier today I delivered the president’s annual Fall Welcome Address to an audience of several hundred SJSU students, faculty, staff and guests.

I reported on some recent points of Spartan Pride, shared progress on our long-range strategic goals and outlined key priorities for 2013-14.

The big news: Acceleration, the first comprehensive fundraising campaign in SJSU history, has been concluded a year ahead of schedule and nearly $9 million beyond our original $200 million target.

This effort attracted 30,000 individual gifts totaling $208.8 million. To have received this level of support affirms the deep commitment by friends near and far, individual and institutional, to SJSU’s mission.

To have enjoyed this support during one of the worst economic periods in our history speaks volumes about the power of SJSU’s impact, and potential.

To all of you: we did it! Be Spartan Proud.

Last week, we brought together senior officials from more than twenty Silicon Valley companies and public agencies to discuss the serious threat cyber attacks pose for all of us.  SJSU is committed to meeting a rapidly growing workforce need for nimble, well-trained cyber security professionals.

This meeting coincided with a weeklong cyber security “camp” hosted at SJSU for more than 70 students. We’re grateful to all the sponsors whose generosity made it possible to provide scholarships to the bright, motivated young people who competed for spots in our second annual cyber camp.

I thought you’d be interested in excerpts from my remarks to the group:

You certainly don’t need me to tell you how serious cyber intrusions and attacks have become. They have increased dramatically over the last decade. Whether you are in the public or private sector, Cyber attacks are becoming more sophisticated and targeted.  

San Jose State is determined to help, and by your presence here it is apparent you and your organizations are just as committed.

Consider this: Jacques Francoeur, founder and executive director of the Union of Concerned Cybersecurity Leaders, has urged us to, quote: “Assume they are in!  Stop the intent of the attack, not the attack.”  

To combat the growing threat, society needs cybersecurity professionals with the analytical ability to adapt to and outsmart attackers’ ever-changing approaches.  Yet according to the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) our nation today has than 10% of the cybersecurity professionals we need.

Last year, demand for cybersecurity professionals grew twelve times faster than for all other jobs. That is the challenge we together need to solve.

I believe that combating cyber threats is a shared responsibility. The public and private sectors all have an important role to play. We invited you here today to learn about SJSU’s plans in this area, and to encourage you to partner with us in ensuring there is an adequate supply of cyber professionals to meet our security needs.”

In wake of recent news and commentary regarding our efforts to test different ways to deliver curriculum in partnership with Udacity, here is our most recent update on those efforts.

Friends,

I’m incredibly proud of SJSU’s Class of 2013. Here’s a glimpse of Saturday’s warm, upbeat commencement ceremonies in Spartan Stadium.

We also celebrated a special graduate; watch this testimonial video.

Over the summer I’ll utilize my blog to update you on key campus initiatives and my activities.