NEWS RELEASE

February, 2003                                                  For More Information Contact:                                                    

Mark Tardif, PR Director

                                                                        (207) 859-1221

e-mail: pr@thomas.edu

A Free Event

Thomas College to Host Free Microsoft Seminar on April 8 in the Laurette Ayotte Auditorium

Waterville, Maine ---  February, 2003 –  On Tuesday, April 8, Thomas College will host a free Microsoft seminar from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Laurette Ayotte Auditorium on the Thomas College campus.  Topics will include Teaching with Windows XP, Microsoft Office Tips for Educators, Tablet PC, and Pocket PC Phone Edition.  The seminars will be conducted by Tara Pusey, Education Productivity Advisor for Microsoft Corporation.  Seminars are free and targeted to educators with an interest in using technology in the classroom.  Registration is available online at http://www.thomas.edu/it/msseminar.htm.

     As one of the most technologically advanced College campuses in New England, employing leading-edge voice, video, data, and near campus-wide wireless access to the world wide web, Thomas College promises to serve as an ideal site for the Microsoft seminar.  The innovative use of leading-edge technology at Thomas led both software giant Microsoft Corporation and CONNX Solutions software development corporation of Bellevue, Washington to write case studies on the innovation at the Waterville based college.  The CONNX Solutions study is available online at http://www.thomas.edu/it/news/connx.pdf.  The Microsoft Corporation study on the Thomas College web-based computer administrative system, which the corporation confirms was the first of its kind used by a college or university in the United States, is available online at http://www.thomas.edu/it/news/microsoft1.htm.

     Thomas College Vice President for Information Technology (IT) Services Christopher Rhoda and his staff have been consistently lauded for their work, including being recognized for creating one of the most advanced web-sites among Maine’s colleges and businesses.  The description of the Thomas web site from the Portland Magazine article recognizing it as one of Maine’s best is available online at http://www.thomas.edu/it/news/portlandmag05012001.htm.

     For more information or to register for the April 8 seminar access the seminar web page at http://www.thomas.edu/it/msseminar.htm.

Thomas College is located at 180 West River Road, Waterville, Maine.  Directions to the campus are available online at http://www.thomas.edu/geninfo/directions.asp.