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What We Do
The Stanford Center for Professional Development (SCPD) collaborates with School of Engineering faculty and other Stanford University departments to provide graduate degrees, academic courses, and professional education programs for engineers, scientists, technology professionals, managers and executives in industry. Courses are delivered via distance learning technologies including the Internet, television broadcast, videotape, two-way video and as well as on campus and at sites away from Stanford.
Then…
- 1954: Industry employees enroll in graduate classes under the new Honors Cooperative Program, which opens with three companies and 23 students.
- 1969: Stanford's Instructional Television Network (SITN) broadcasts 12 Stanford graduate engineering courses on two channels.
- 1971: SITN expands to four channels.
- 1995: The Stanford Center for Professional Development (SCPD) is created.
- 1996: Stanford Online is launched -the first university Internet delivery system incorporating text and graphics with video and audio, using technology developed at Stanford. Eight online courses delivered.
- 1997: Stanford Online is recognized as the "Most Significant Advancement in Distance Learning for 1997" by the U.S. Distance Learning Association.
- 1998: SCPD introduces the first complete online Master of Science in Engineering Degree.
- 1999: SCPD forms the Professional Education Unit to offer targeted short-term courses and seminars to industry professionals. 690 participants served
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Now…
- Over 6,000 industry students enrolled annually through SCPD.
- More than 400 SCPD member companies.
- Over 250 Stanford graduate programs and courses broadcast via television and/or online.
- A rapidly growing portfolio of short courses serves more than 1400 students on site, on campus and online.
- Completely upgraded and expanded Stanford Online production lab.
- SCPD staff of 52.
In the Works…
- Complete upgrading of nine teleclassrooms to enhance teaching and learning.
- Expanded portfolio of certificate programs in multidisciplinary areas.
- New professional education short courses in support of career-long education.
- Introduction of courselets'-a unique portfolio of online mini-courses targeted to supplement specific courses.
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How We Do It:
Stanford Online (SOL)
SCPD has recently upgraded SOL. We now have state of the art equipment with the capacity for expansion:
- Seven new Dell servers _ up from four.
- New Storage Area Network (SAN), seven new servers which hold 4 terrabytes - up from 95 gigabytes.
- 25 top of the line workstations with Dell precision 530s - upgraded from 15 workstations with a mixture of Compaq Workstation 6000's and AP400's, and Dell 6200's.
- New Microsoft Video 7 Codec for more consistent streaming quality and reliability.
Stanford Instructional Television Network (SITN)
SITN broadcasts up to 75 courses a quarter, both live and tape-delayed. Member companies within approximately 75 miles of Stanford may receive the broadcast signals with the use of a simple antenna and integrated down-converter on the company's premises.
- Program signals monitored and routed by an 80-input, 80-output switcher to transmitters, two-way video systems, satellite uplinks and recorders in renovated Master Control area.
- Classes mastered on Hi-8 videocassettes and duplicated to VHS format for distribution.
- Uplink services to any site in the world through satellite connections.
- C and Ku-band downlink receivers to capture satellite-delivered programs.
- Direct full-bandwidth digital video on telco fibercircuits transmitted through a 45Mb/s broadcast-quality video fiber-optics line into the Pacific Bell digital hub in San Francisco, then routed through satellite up-links or fiber lines to broadcast networks and stations throughout the U.S. and world-wide. Four ITFS microwave channels for broadcasting Stanford classes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
- A ITFS fifth channel is available for special events and to connect with satellite uplink systems.
- Three two-way video systems available to distribute classes and programs and to provide SCPD customers with videoconferencing services.
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