Index Last Week Contact DQ News
Republicans Resisting Census Plan to Correct Undercount
Abstract: An article in the May 27th issue of the New York Times discusses the U.S. Census Bureau's plans to use statistical sampling in the 2000 Census. The article states several reasons why Republicans oppose statistical sampling, ranging from legal concerns to fears that "statistical sampling may swell the number of minorities in black urban districts that are now safe Democratic seats..." The article also presents the views of statistical adjustment proponents, including Census Bureau Director Martha Riche and civil service statisticians employed by the Census Bureau. Written by Times staff journalist Stephen Holmes, the article appears on page A13.
A Jet-Propelled Advance in Forecasting
Abstract: An Associated Press article in the May 25th issue of the Washington Post (page A6) reviews the benefits and cost of the National Weather Service's news Gulfstream IV jet aircraft for hurricane plotting versus the C-130 aircraft. The National Weather Service (part of the U.S. Commerce Department) expects that high altitude data obtained by the Gulfstream IV will enable NWS the narrow the evacuation region for coastal areas and boost the confidence and trust of coastal residents.
U.C. Berkeley Creates School of Information
In 1995, the Regents of the University of California approved the creation of the School of Information Management and Systems, which superseded the U.C. Berkeley School of Library Science. The school's primary educational mission is to prepare professionals for information related careers in corporations, government agencies, and academia. The program's research mission is to explore the design and operation of information systems and services, the nature and properties of information, and information-related behavior of individuals, groups, and society.
The School of Information Management and Systems offers courses leading to Masters and Doctoral degrees. The school has admitted its first students for classes starting in the Fall of 1997. For comprehensive information about SIMS, please go to the SIMS web site:
http://www.sims.berkeley.edu
ISO 9000 Standards for Data and Information Quality?
The U.S. Technical Advisory Group to ISO Technical Committee 176 (the ISO technical committee responsible for ISO 9000-series worldwide quality standards) recently received an application for membership from the American Records Management Association. This is the first application the U.S. TAG to ISO/TC 176 has received from an information organization. The U.S. TAG discussed ARMA's membership application during the TAG's Spring meeting, which was held in Orlando on May 4th. U.S. TAG members will vote upon ARMA's membership application before the next TAG meeting (on September 17th in Washington D.C.). For additional additional information, contact Ms. Patricia Kopp, Administrator, U.S. TAG to ISO/TC 176 at: pkopp@asqc.org
Data Quality Welcomes R.L. Anderson, Fritz Scheuren
Richard L. Anderson and Fritz Scheuren have joined, respectively, the DATA QUALITY Editorial Board and Editorial Advisory Board. Dr. Anderson is a Past-President of the American Statistical Association, and is Vice-President of Clintrials Research. Dr. Scheuren is with Ernst & Young, and was employed for many years by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.