"The committee noted, in particular, that the networking at the University of Delaware met that criterion particularly well," Ryland said. She also praised Roselle, saying that "it starts from the top."
"The committee, in making the award, noted that technology has really changed the way the University of Delaware does business," Ryland said. "It's helped reengineer a number of processes; it's helped improve research, teaching and learning and public service; and it's really made a difference on campus. Some of the things that were noted were that voice, video and data are integrated in the network, that the technology goes into the residence halls, that multimedia is able to come directly into the classrooms, that every facet of the campus community is affected, that visitors to the campus can go to kiosks and find their way around...."
Another important role of the award is to identify "best practices" for other institutions, Ryland said. "it's something that's important to all our colleges and universities today to look for those incidences of best practices that will serve as models that can be followed. And you should be proud, all of you, about the model that the University of Delaware is establishing."
In accepting the award, UD President David P. Roselle said, "I'm pleased to accept this on behalf of all the people who do the work at the University of Delaware. It's a wonderful award, and I think well deserved by our staff.... They've worked very hard and they've worked very smart. We're real proud of them and what they've done for our institution."
Michael Zastrocky, vice president of CAUSE and chairperson of the award selection committee, said, "I think the University of Delaware should be proud when it looks at the list of honorable-mention institutions."
He called the award not only a representation of great things at the University of Delaware but of "great things that institutions of higher learning are doing around the world, and I think that's a real honor for the University of Delaware."
Daniel Bagwell, senior director of education sales and programs of Novell Inc., the sponsor of the CAUSE Award, said the award presentation reflected on "the accomplishments of the universities across the country and, in particular, the University of Delaware.
"This is really your day," he said at the presentation ceremony, "and you should be very proud, just as we're proud to have sponsored the award and to have our name appear on the trophy beside yours."
Susan J. Foster, vice president for information technologies, said. "It is especially gratifying to me that we have achieved this national recognition. In 1989, we laid plans to not only make our network reach everywhere on our campuses, but to make use of that network to the benefit of students, faculty and staff. Though it is good to know that we have achieved this, it is doubly gratifying that our achievement is nationally recognized."