1. Academic Challenges Concerning Standardization
presented by
Donald E. Purcell, Chairman
The Center for Global Standards Analysis
October 15, 2002

2. Presentation Outline Unseen Forces Strategic Standardization
Strategic Standardization Issues
Private Sector Speakers & Experts
Government Speakers & Experts
Needs & Interests of University Students
Academic Challenges
Center’s Goals and Objectives
Bottom Line

3. Standards are Unseen Forces
“Standards generally go unnoticed. They are mostly quiet, unseen forces, such as specifications, regulations and protocols, that ensure that things work properly, interactively, and responsibly. How standards come about is a mystery to most people should they even ponder the question.” [Global Standards: Building Blocks for the Future, OTA Congressional Report March 1992]

4. “Strategic Standardization”
From , a graduate course on on the principles of standardization was offered to law students and graduate engineering students at the Catholic University of America in a joint, multi-disciplinary class for the purpose of raising the level of awareness concerning standardization.
In Fall 2002, the course was not offered because an insufficient number of students signed up for the course.

5. Strategic Standardization Issues
Historical Perspectives
U.S. National Standards Policy
Due Process
Health
Safety
Product liability
Environment
Antitrust
Ethics
Intellectual Property
International Trade
Certification
Conformity Assessment

6. Private Sector Speakers & Experts for Strategic Standardization
Catholic University
American National Standards Institute
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
American Society for Testing & Materials
Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions
Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Institute
American Gear Manufacturers Association
National Evaluation Service
National Society of Professional Engineers
National Spa and Pool Institute
Chemical Manufacturers Association
Organization of American States
Underwriters Laboratories
Law firms

7. Government Speakers & Experts for Strategic Standardization
National Institute of Standards & Technology
Department of Defense
Department of Energy
Department of Justice
Department of Transportation
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Trade Commission
Food & Drug Administration
Congressional Office of Technology Assessment

8. Needs & Interests of University Students
Standards operate at the DNA level of development. The challenge facing any faculty that teach principles and issues associated with standardization is to identify the needs and interests of students, and then create a standards course that addresses those specific needs and interests.
One of the great challenges facing faculty is that development of standards is always a multi-disciplinary effort. Getting students to think in a multi-disciplinary manner concerning standardization is a major challenge.

9. Academic Challenges General lack of awareness
Most college students don’t have any background with the principles of unseen forces concerning standardization.
Lack of effective communications
Advertising and marketing of course has to effective.
Failure to connect and be relevant
All politics is local…the course has to be as relevant and specific as possible, and meet the needs and interests of the students.
Method of delivery
Classroom or distance learning?
Review availability of Assets
Facilitate the creation of a Standards Education Network

10. Center’s Goals and Objectives
Review and revise the course issues and content as necessary for Strategic Standardization to meet the specific needs and interests of students.
Communicate more effectively with potential groups of students.
Review the method of delivery.
Classroom
Distance Learning
Should the Center concentrate on development of semester long standard courses or development of specific modules for other courses?
Determine whether sufficient assets are available.
Facilitate the creation of a Standards Education Network.

11. Bottom Line
Any academic course attempting to teach principles associated with the unseen forces of standardization has to overcome the issues of relevance and the mystery that surrounds the creation of standards…in short, academic faculty has to address the specific needs and interests of students, and to explain much more clearly why the study of standardization is worthy of the student’s time, money and effort.