Conference 7.286::digital

    Who has "accredited" Digital?

    RE: .1 I think the idea from .0 is that DEC should try and
    	get accredited so they could offer this benifit. Interesting
    	idea. 
    
    	It just might work too. Some schools accept (some) Ed Services
    	courses for credit already. We could cut out the middle men.
    	Most training departments in largish facilities could schedule
    	and proctor CLEP tests. I am sure other details could be worked
    	out.
    
    		Alfred
    

    	We could even take this further, and build a real Digital Campus,
    complete with houses/condominiums/apartments, sports facilities,
    recreational areas, auditoriums, plus the usual labs and offices.
    I've heard Apple did something like this (or was going to). 
    
    	I'd be glad to help run WDEC radio and television! 
    
    	Ed
    

    RE: .4
    
    When and where did he say this? Is there more information about
    this anywhere on the net?
    
    		Alfred

    Not to spill any beans, but a certain *very large* land bank about
    50-60 miles from a "major airport" (and within 80 miles of a major
    Mill) has been talked about for years as an Ed Services site.
    
    But how can we offer a remote "campus" site to customers if it's
    DRY?
    
    fred_who_had_a_drink_at_New_England_Tel's_Learning_Center_bar

    Perhaps something similar to the Wang Institute, with a discount
    for DEC employees would be more workable (easier to get accredited).
    
    -George

    About five years ago DEC took an option on 3000 acres of land in
    Plymouth, Mass. One of the recurring ideas is to have a customer
    and employee Education center there. It is rumorred that someone
    got far enough to lay out a two runway airport!
    
    Given the new alcohol policy, we could have wine with meals. But
    not any beer or liquor.

    
      Let's be serious folks, who's going to teach us how to solve improper
    integrals, hmmmmm? I am just about done with my BSCS and am going
    through Calculus and Discrete Math. There is no way that I can see
    why DEC would teach these courses, and because of this, anyone
    learning CS at DEC is at a loss when it comes to mastering mathmatical
    functions, which I feel is nessasary to know when completeing a
    degree, after all, taking Calculus is the best way to find out why
    computers exist.
    
                       Pete_who_is_sick_of_limits_from_0_to_infinity

>    why DEC would teach these courses, and because of this, anyone
>    learning CS at DEC is at a loss when it comes to mastering mathmatical
>    functions, which I feel is nessasary to know when completeing a
>    degree, after all, taking Calculus is the best way to find out why
>    computers exist.

	At the University of Iowa (my Alma mater), the Computer Science
    department falls under Liberal Arts.  You're probably right about the
    lack of qualified instructors to teach MATHEMATICAL functions (note
    picky spelling correction), but don't forget art, literature, history,
    political science, etc., etc...  Or, do these things matter anymore?

	On the other hand, there is alot of hidden talent within this
    company that forums such as this (Vaxnotes) facility tend to expose,
    yet it's hard to say how useful Vaxnotes will be in the future given
    the latest policy from above concerning the use of Digital Equipment
    for personal reasons.

	If some of the hidden talents of DEC employees could be tapped
    in order to supplement a "DIGITAL University" degree (much the way
    subject matter experts SME's are contacted by course developers here
    in Sales Training), then perhaps an accredited program could be 
    established.  Certain employees could be designated with positions
    similar to TA's (Teaching Assistants) in the university environment
    to assist instructors in either developing, or administrating the
    curriculum.

						-DAV0

    p.s.  Currently scouting around for a local university to attend.

               <<< TRNING::DRA0:[NOTES$LIBRARY]TRAINING.NOTE;1 >>>
                             -< Employee Training >-
================================================================================
Note 20.0               New facility announced (finally)              No replies
FSTTOO::FOSTER "Frank Foster -- Cincinnati Kid"      23 lines  29-APR-1987 08:32
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

	At his Quarterly Forum on April 28, 1987, Pat Cataldo,
	Vice President of Educational Services, unveiled plans
	for a new consolidated training center.

	The new training center will replace Bedford and several
	smaller sites in the New England area.

	Located on a 449-acre site in Boylston, MA (near Worcester).

	The facility will contain classrooms, labs, a 500-seat dining
	facility, dormitory facilities for employees, a gymnasium,
	a swimming pool, a 400-seat auditorium, and other things
	I can't remember offhand.  There will be no housing provided
	for customers.

	Cost, almost $70 million.

	Projected completion date:  late, 1990.

	Of course, all of this is subject to change, but the funds have
	been approved (DEC already owns the land).

Frank

	Thanks, Marge, for posting that for me -- I had forgotten about
	this topic.  I went back and read .0 througth .10, and I see
	that some of the other issues were also addressed at yesterday's
	meeting.

	1.  Degree programs.  Ed Services is piloting a program whereby
	certificates will be presented upon completion of some series
	of courses.  They would make one an official "DEC Something-or-other"
	As of yet, they will not be recognized outside the company, but it's
	a start.  The first field in which it will be tested is the
	secretarial field.  Completion of the first curriculum would make 
	one a "certified DEC Secretary".  Completion of the second level
	of curriculum certifies one as a "DEC Executive Secretary".  I'm
	not sure if I have the titles right.  AT least it may be a start
	in the right direction.  

	2.  An onsite "Pub" is being considered for the new training
	center.  No mention of it was made at yesterday's announcement,
	but it was an option on the surveys our students have been 
	answering in response to "What should the new training facility 
	provide?"  (You can bet that with on-site housing, most students
	will not have cars at their disposal).
Frank

    I guess this new facility is at what used to be called "headmaster's
    house", which was originally some kind of a fancy private school.
    I don't remember for sure how to get there anymore, but it can't
    be as bad as trying to get in and out of Bedford, anyways.
    
    Wang gave up on their institute; it is part of Boston University
    now, I think.

    It's at the site of the old Shepard Knapp school, on route 70 in
    Boylston, which is approximately 3 miles from 290. 

    It is unlikely that DEC is building TWO 100 million dollor "campus
    like complexes" in worcester county.  What happend to the proposed
    LANCASTER facility??
    				Steve.

    The facility planned for Lancaster is not for training.

Re .14: I have been to the Headmaster's House and the commute is a
lot better than Bedford. And if they have on-site housing, you won't
have to commute. I doubt that Bedford zoning would allow DEC to
build on-site housing there.
  Wang Institute is not comparable to the proposed DEC training
center because it was not a Wang corporate facility.

Re .14:

DEC also owns a fancy-looking historic (colonial) farmhouse further west on
Rt 70 in Boylston.  The last I heard (~4 years ago), it was used for sales
training.

I had not heard that Wang Institute had merged with any other colleges. A
folder on 1987 summer courses outside someone's office breathes not a word
of any other institution, even though it has the usual overview
information.  Are you sure about this?

Re .15:

Is "Shepard Knapp school" another name for the Headmaster's House property,
or what?
				/AHM/THX

The headmaster's house is really a rather small facility (a few
meeting rooms, kitchen, etc, and some nice parkland around it).  About
1/2 mile from it is the larger sales training facility.  A cluster of
about 1/2 dozen small buildings.  I assume the new facility will be
located in the same general area.  However, since it is zoned
commercial, I wonder if they can set up much in the way of residences
there... 

    re .19:
    
    Yes, Wang Institute is now (or will soon be) a part of Boston
    University.  It will be called, I believe, The Wang Institute of
    Boston University.  
    
    Being a student of BU working on my Masters, I'm hoping that some
    of the courses which I now drive into Boston for will be offered
    at Wang Institute -- which would cut out about 4 hours of driving
    each week!
    
    Sorry, nothing to contribute about the main subject of this note,
    but wanted to answer the question in .19!

    The area surrounding the headmaster's house is residential unless
    it's on the border.
    
    

    The current training facility in Bolyston is the former Shepard Knapp
    school. The HeadMasters conference center (house) which is located
    about a 1/4 mile away on the same property with a seperate entrance off
    of Rt. 70 was the residence for the headmaster of the former school. 

    Charly

    re .22
    
    I believe Lancaster is slated for Mid-range Systems Engineering
    (Bill Demmer's organization) which is currently in and around Littleton
    and Boxboro.
    
    -willie
    

    RE: .18  Commuting to Bedford vs Commuting to Boylston
    
    
    That all depends on where you're coming from!  It's a hell of a
    lot easier when you're coming from any city inside of Rt 128! (which
    is where I live)  Also, because Worcester airport isn't all that
    great, I'd imagine it's more difficult for all of the others who
    come from out of town.
    
    Re: .12 and the rest
    
    This could be rather interesting.  What is DEC going to do with
    BUO?  It's rather vaulable property right now.  Maybe they could
    sell it to Emmerson college, who is planning on building a new facility
    on a golf course in Bedford. (Burlington?)  
    
    
    Another interesting prospect.  If this IS for customers, and no
    on-site housing will be provided, whre are the out-of-towners going
    to stay.?  There ain't anything for a LONG way from the Headmasters
    house.  Anyone wanna invest in a couple of Hotels at the I-290/Rt
    70 Interchange?
    
    
    -bill

    re: customer housing...
    
    	Good question... anytime I've stayed at the Worcester Marriott
    for a WPI course, it's been full to capacity... I suppose the
    hotels on 495, Sheraton Boxborough?  
    
    Marge

BUO is rented space.  Apparently it's one of our better lease arrangements, but
we have the option to simply walk away in favor of sites we own.

Mark

	re the last few.

	1.  The new facility is on the same piece of property as the 
	Headmaster's House.

	2.  Worcester airport is one of the fastest growing in the
	country; by 1990 there should be direct flights from most major
	eastern cities (in which westerners could catch flights to the
	West).

	3.  At the announcement, we were told "There are lots of hotels
	in the area"  I assume 495 is "in the area".  I am not familiar
	enough with the area to be sure.

	4.  The current lease at BUO expires in 1992, I believe.
Frank

        Worcester airport isn't bad at all. At least you know where
    your gate is located (only 2 gates 1=incomming the other = outgoing).
    the runway is rather short (but it seemed longer than national in
    D.C. which is 1 mi.) but they have a number of flights from cities
    within a few hundred miles. The last time I flew in there I had
    a direct flight from BWI (Baltimore-Washington International). Getting
    from the airport to a major road (at night no doubt) isn't to simple.
    I would assume that there would be a limo or van service once DEC
    moves training.
         Now, if DEC students will not get autos from the company some
    rental company will open up and make a killing on weekends. I'm
    sure I would be driving up there just so I could have transportation once
    I get there. I wonder if they will build a new building with a leaky
    roof to make the students and instructers feel at home. :-)
    

RE < Note 103.26 by ECC::JACKSON >


>    ...Maybe they could
>    sell it to Emmerson college, who is planning on building a new facility
>    on a golf course in Bedford. (Burlington?)  

Just fyi, Emerson College is moving to Lawrence (MA), not Bedford.  They
originally wanted to move to Bedford, but Bedford decided it didn't want
the college there.
							-- Nina

    
    
    	    
    	   Depending on route
    
    		30-40 minutes from rt 128
    
    		15 minutes from 495
    
    		15-25 minutes from rt 9
    
    		5-10 minutes from rt 290
    
    		3 min from rt 140
    
    	There is no direct route to Worcester airport. You need to drive
    	through the city. A limo service is available.
    
    	Plenty of hotels/motels in the Worcester-Marlborough area
    	
    					Mike
    					----
    
    					Mike
    					---- 

	About hotels in the area : the Marriotts in Westboro and Worcester,
	and many of the new hotels in Marlboro (west of 495) could serve
	the facility in Boylston. I live in Westboro and I used to bicycle
	to Head Master's House everyday for a week, during which I attended
	a seminar. It took about 30-45 minutes by bike, so I'd think that
	the Triborough area should be the right place for the students to stay.
	Most of the hotels in the area offer limo service to Logan (about $15)
	and having the Framingham / Natick area close by and Wachusetts in the
	winter ought to cure the weekend blues.

	- Sudhir.

RE: Hotels in the area...


There are also the Quality Inn, the old Holiday Inn (forgot what it's
new name is) near the Federal Building, Worcester Motel (rt. 9 near Spag's),
Howard Johnsons (Rt. 12 West Boylston), Sheraton Lincoln on Lincoln Street,
and more that I'm sure I can't remember. Granted these aren't in the same class
as the Marriot, but they are places to stay...


Joe

    Noting, however, that you MUST have a car to get to ANYPLACE from
    Boylston, including your hotel.  I'm sure it'll be great fun to
    rely on DECshuttles to take you everywhere if you don't have one!
    (Bedford is considerably more urban.)
    
    If Digital does build hostel facilities on the site, they will
    presumably be Dry, per the US-wide edict.  That'll be great fun
    for customers.  Employees who are landlocked there without cars
    (one presumes that customers wouldn't be so daffy; they're not dry)
    will get to eat three meals a day of DECcafeteria food, with their
    choice of bug juice, soda or milk to drink.
    
    Fitness buffs, though, should have a jolly time (during periods
    of nice weather).

    (I did once visit New England Telephone's training center on Locke
    Drive in Marlboro.  It was not dry, and they didn't even have a
    lot of customers there.  I think it also has a "for rent" sign on
    it now.)

Of course, there IS a package store across from the entrance to the 
current Boylston Sales training site ;-)