May 17, 2000
SMU TO PLAN NEW E-CENTER AT PLANO FACILITY
Linda and Mitch Hart and Nortel Networks making multi-million dollar contributions to develop center devoted to Internet technology research and applications
DALLAS (SMU) — Southern Methodist University’s Board of Trustees has approved plans for an E-Center at the SMU-in-Legacy facility in Plano, Texas. The E-Center will focus on Internet technology research and applications across a wide range of academic disciplines, including business, law and engineering.
With a gift of $5 million from Linda and Mitch Hart of Dallas, the university will create the Linda and Mitch Hart E-Center, a facility that will generate new knowledge and understanding of technological applications and their effect on society.
Linda Hart, a graduate of the SMU School of Law, is vice chairman and CEO of the Hart Group Inc. Mitch Hart is chairman of the Hart Group Inc. and an SMU trustee. The Harts established the Hart Global Leaders Forum in 1997 to bring distinguished international figures to SMU and Dallas.
Nortel Networks*, a global leader in eBusiness, optical networks, wireless Internet, data and telephony solutions, is making a $2 million contribution of leading-edge technology, equipment and services toward the center. The company has a major presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with approximately 10,000 employees.
"The growing importance of the Internet and related technological innovations creates opportunities for new research and teaching, as well as critical and creative analyses," said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. "Because SMU will bring interdisciplinary perspectives to technological issues, we can make a unique contribution as technology continues to transform the way we live."
Emerging Internet capabilities already have affected nearly every facet of society, including government, education, commerce, sciences, politics, travel, communications, investments, recreation, health care, entertainment, law and religion.
Linda Hart underscored the importance of keeping up with technology. "In today’s economy, you cannot be following the curve, because that means you have missed it," she said. "The Internet economy requires rapid change and extraordinary leadership. SMU’s willingness to seize the initiative and Nortel Networks’ commitment will result in long-lasting benefits to all who live and work in this fast-paced environment. Mitch and I are honored to play a part in the development of this center."
Mitch Hart said, "As a trustee, one of my goals is to see that all disciplines within the University have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from this E-Center."
The E-Center will include resources
in various disciplines, including ethical and legal practices, business
effectiveness, technological capability, visual and auditory aesthetics,
human perception and cognition, consumer behavior, social mores and cultural
changes wrought by technology.
SMU Provost Ross Murfin said, "The E-Center will position SMU to
look at these issues long term, relating current realities to historic
origins and projecting their likely evolution into the future."
The SMU Board of Trustees also approved the establishment of two advisory boards, one internal board consisting of deans and faculty, and one external board, chaired by F. William Conner, president of Enterprise Solutions, Nortel Networks. Conner currently serves as a member of the SMU technology advisory board.
"Today’s digital economy is moving from business-to-consumer transactions toward seamless business-to-business interactions, creating a revolution and a corresponding need for resources, such as the E-Center, that will better enable organizations to leverage the power of the Internet," Conner said. "Bringing together Nortel Networks’ leadership position at the heart of the Internet revolution and SMU’s leadership in higher education with Linda and Mitch Hart’s leadership and contribution creates a powerful combination for success."
Potential benefits to the university, its faculty and students, and the community include, but are not limited to:
Research and publication opportunities
for individual faculty members interested in applications or effects of
Internet technology, collaboration among faculty members from different
disciplines and collaboration among faculty members and government or
industry personnel;
Teaching opportunities ranging from non-credit short courses to cross-disciplinary
degree programs;
Learning opportunities for individuals, corporate groups and professional
academic groups;
A forum for hosting meetings, such as symposia, conferences and institutes,
and for generating publications of various types;
A vehicle for graduate and undergraduate student research and internships;
Attraction of nationally or internationally known scholars to participate
in the university’s research, teaching or outreach activity;
Revenue generation, through teaching and grants, that would provide support
for the e-center and beyond;
Interaction and exchange between the university and the business, education
and general communities;
Possible distance learning opportunities for students.
A full-time center director assisted by support staff will operate the
E-Center, under the auspices of the SMU Provost’s office. Faculty
will include full-time SMU and adjunct faculty. A completed plan for the
new E-Center is expected to be presented to the SMU Board of Trustees
during the 2000-2001 academic year, possibly as early as the fall.
*Nortel Networks, the Nortel Networks logo, the Globemark, and How the world shares ideas are trademarks of Nortel Networks.
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