MADISON, Wis., June 4 WI-SOFO-Villanova
MADISON, Wis., June 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sonic Foundry, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SOFO), the recognized market leader for rich media webcasting and
knowledge management, is pleased to announce that Villanova University's
College of Engineering has been recognized with a Learning Impact Leadership
Award by the IMS Global Learning Consortium for its lecture capture program
via Mediasite. The Learning Impact Awards (LIAs) honor the use of technology
to improve learning across all industry segments and in all regions of the
world.
Villanova's College of Engineering, represented by Sean O'Donnell,
Director of Distance Education, was one of 23 finalists evaluated recently by
an expert panel of judges at the IMS annual Learning Impact conference and
Summit on Global Learning Industry Challenges.
Since deploying Mediasite five years ago to record, catalog and stream
graduate courses online, the College of Engineering has significantly grown
the program's reach and visibility. What started as a small, regional graduate
program has since expanded to reach 35 states and four countries, and
enrollment has increased 50 percent. Not only has the College successfully
improved student achievement by raising GPAs, lowering the class dropout rate
and reducing failures, the system also generates an additional $800,000 in
graduate tuition each year. This incremental revenue finances enhanced
learning facilities that are now utilized by every program on campus.
"Using Mediasite has allowed us to reach our full potential in the online
learning world. As the backbone of our delivery method, the technology
provides us with the ability to educate engineers at the highest level," said
O'Donnell. "Further, it permits us to do it in ways that actually enhance the
quality of instruction we deliver."
The LIA awards are unique in that they recognize the use of technology in
context. Nominations include not only information about technology solutions
but also how that technology is used by an educational or training
organization. In addition, the entries are evaluated according to eight
criteria of impact, including improving access to learning, improving
affordability of learning and improving the quality of learning.
"We are proud of what Villanova has accomplished in advancing the quality
of learning for students, as well as improving comprehension and anytime
access to knowledge using Mediasite," said Rimas Buinevicius, chairman and CEO
of Sonic Foundry. "This award illustrates the paradigm shift in teaching
methods, and what can be accomplished with the thoughtful integration of
lecture capture technology in today's on-site and online classrooms."
To learn more about Villanova's program, visit
http://engineering.villanova.edu/distanceed.
About IMS Global Learning Consortium
IMS Global Learning is a global, nonprofit, member organization that
strives to enable the growth and impact of learning technology in the
education and corporate learning sectors worldwide. IMS GLC members provide
leadership in shaping and growing the learning industry through community
development of standards, promotion of innovation, and research into adoption
practices. For more information, including the world's most comprehensive set
of learning technology interoperability standards, information on the annual
Learning Impact conference and awards program, and free community resources
for learning technology leaders, visit http://www.imsglobal.org/.
About Sonic Foundry(R), Inc.
Founded in 1991, Sonic Foundry (NASDAQ: SOFO, http://www.sonicfoundry.com)
is the recognized market leader for rich media webcasting and knowledge
management, providing education and training solutions and services that link
an information-driven world. Based in Madison, Wisconsin, the company has
received numerous awards including the 2007 Frost & Sullivan Global Market
Leadership Award, Ziff Davis Media's Baseline Magazine's sixth fastest-growing
software company with sales under $150 million and Deloitte's Technology Fast
500. Named a Bersin & Associates 2007 Learning Leader, Sonic Foundry's
webcasting and knowledge management solutions are trusted by education
institutions, Fortune 500 companies and government agencies for a variety of
critical communication needs. Sonic Foundry is changing the way organizations
communicate via the web and how people around the globe receive vital
information needed for education, business, professional advancement and
safety. Product and service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of Sonic
Foundry, Inc. or their respective owners.
Certain statements contained in this news release regarding matters that
are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Because such
forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may
differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
include, but are not limited to, uncertainties pertaining to continued market
acceptance for Sonic Foundry's products, its ability to succeed in capturing
significant revenues from media services and/or systems, the effect of new
competitors in its market, integration of acquired business and other risk
factors identified from time to time in its filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
SOURCE Sonic Foundry, Inc.
