Golden Mouse Award

The third presentation of this year’s Golden Mouse Award sounds pretty golden as well, thanks to the efforts of Music Department Head Bruce Saperston and faculty member and associate HASS Dean Nicholas Morrison. The endeavor was supported by the entire music department and the FACT Lab. In a major undertaking, the department is working with Sony Classical Music and FACT to digitize more than 2,000 CDs with 50,000 tracks, making it available online to professors and students in the department. The music was converted from CD Audio to a Real Networks format for secure delivery via streaming technology.

Music students converted the files and then entered data about each CD — track, titles, composers and soloists, etc. The Faculty Assistance Center for Teaching provided the technology support and developed an online database, search engine and shopping cart.

The system allows faculty to search the database for songs, and then create a listening list for their students. From anywhere on the Internet, students are able to log in and listen to any of the songs on the list. The music is secure and requires students and faculty to enter a username and password.

The Golden Mouse Awards are presented for creative use of technology at Utah State. University Vice President and Provost Stan Albrecht recognizes the importance of technology use and presents the award. The Music Department is the only department to receive the award this year.

"We give this award annually for outstanding innovation in technology, teaching and learning," said Provost Albrecht.