Union College Campus Technology Plan Campus Technology Committee

Transcription

1 Union College Campus Technology Plan Campus Technology Committee (Approved by President s Council on October 17, 2013) Table of Contents Introduction (Scope)... 2 Campus Technology Committee Membership... 2 Faculty Instructional Technology Committee Membership... 2 Campus Technology Committee Goals Planning: Budgeting: Enhancing Technology s Effectiveness:... 4 Technology Action Plan... 4 Technology and Institutional Planning... 4 Guiding Principles... 4 Major Technology Components... 4 Goals and Actions... 5 Student Learning... 5 Faculty Teaching... 5 Infrastructure... 6 Productivity... 7 Assessment... 7 Financial and Human Resources Action Plan... 8 Budget... 8 Funding... 8 Human Resources... 8 Plan Maintenance... 9 Page 1

2 Introduction (Scope) A guiding document for all of campus, the Union College Technology Plan is a revolving action plan providing comprehensive, medium-range planning for the next five years. It covers all areas of campus, including instructional and administrative functions (Records, Enrollment, Alumni, etc.). Key features include goals for addressing the five major components of technology for effective education (learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity) 1 ; initiatives and projects for the next five years; and a plan for continuous updates. Implementation will rest heavily with and the Campus Technology Committee, but also involve all campus users of technology. As appropriate, action plan items will be incorporated into the Campus Technology Policy Manual. Campus Technology Committee Membership The Campus Technology Committee reports to President s Council which also appoints the chair. Faculty representatives are recommended by Faculty Senate, staff representatives are recommended by Staff Advisory, and student representatives are recommended by Student Senate. Office/Role Chair System Director, ex officio Instructional Technologist, ex officio Library Director, ex officio Faculty Representative Faculty Representative Staff Representative Staff Representative Staff Representative Student Representative Student Representative Vice-President for Finance, ex officio invitee Vice-President for Academic Affairs, ex officio invitee Members Richard Webb Richard Henriques Debbie Unterseher Sabrina Riley Bruce Forbes Ken Osborn Michelle Younkin, Registrar Ben Barber, Web Developer Shane Flowers, Gino-Paul Gordon Gerson Corominas Jeff Leeper Malcolm Russell Faculty Instructional Technology Committee Membership The Faculty Instructional Technology Committee reports to Academic Council and members are appointed by Academic Administration. The role of the Faculty Instructional Technology Committee is to promote the appropriate use of technology in teaching, learning, and research through training and mentoring; to assist the instructional technologist in the management of instructional technology tools such as the course management system and classroom response system (clickers); and to explore effective use of new technology and equipment including enhancements to existing resources. In order to achieve these goals, close collaboration with the Campus Technology Committee and is required. 1 National Education Technology Plan 2010, Page 2

3 Office/Role Chair, Library Director Instructional Technologist Faculty Member, Division of Humanities Faculty Member, Division of Science & Math Faculty Member, Division of Nursing Faculty Member, Library Vice-President for Academic Affairs 2013 Members Sabrina Riley Debbie Unterseher Tanya Cochran Richard Webb Debbie Eno Gillian Connors Malcolm Russell Campus Technology Committee Goals Recognizing that information technology permeates higher education and is an essential tool in contemporary culture, President s Council directs the Campus Technology Committee to guide the effective implementation and management of technology resources in order to enable faculty, staff, and students to utilize technology successfully for learning, service, and leadership. President s Council charges the Campus Technology Committee to accomplish the following responsibilities during and after the academic year: 1. Planning: Provide strategic long-term planning for campus-wide technology including infrastructure, hardware, software, and support services. a. Create a comprehensive, campus-wide technology plan for the next five years ( ) by August The plan should include definitions of values and priorities, protocols for decision-making, standards for equipment, and proposals for annual budgets for maintenance and replacement schedules. i. The five-year plan should be updated annually and provide the basis for annual action plans. ii. The evidenced-informed planning process is expected to involve the regular assessment of campus technology needs. b. Propose and execute technology improvement projects for AQIP. 2. Budgeting: Guide technology planning and decision-making processes allocating budgeted funds for technology purposes. a. Work with Financial Administration to develop budgeting and spending policies that accurately document total campus spending on technology. b. Receive annual reports from Financial Administration about departmental budgeting and spending for technology. c. Receive monthly reports from Financial Administration through about general campus technology expenditures approved by and/or PC. d. Create policies that guide the selection of hardware and software funded within existing budgets. e. Propose, annually, priorities for technology expenditures. f. Recommend to President s Council significant projects which require funding outside of the operating budget. Page 3

4 3. Enhancing Technology s Effectiveness: Strengthen the effectiveness of campus-wide technology through proposals for and evaluation of functions. In the near future, these should include: a. Assisting with the creation and implementation of a customer service program to improve communication and the management of work orders. b. Developing technology replacement cycles for all categories of equipment. c. Establishing college-wide information technology policies, procedures, and standards, including those involving emerging technologies. d. Receive reports from the IS Director on scheduled projects. Technology Action Plan Technology and Institutional Planning Recognizing that information technology is a foundational tool for nearly all campus departments, Union College created the Campus Technology Committee to provide faculty, staff, students, and administration with a voice in planning for technology. This technology plan is submitted to Faculty Senate, Staff Advisory, and Student Senate for comment and review prior to its submission to President s Council for final approval whenever substantive changes are made, new policies are written, or new initiatives are added. The plan becomes effective upon approval by President s Council. Guiding Principles These guiding principles are the foundation for making decisions in regard to technology goals, strategies, and implementation at Union College. It is understood that allocated funding will need to be considered as part of each decision, but this is one consideration of many and not the primary factor. The successful application of technology at Union College will: Foster student learning and success; Encourage innovative and effective teaching; Maintain a strong and smooth-functioning infrastructure; Improve employee productivity; Integrate with college strategic plans and program reviews, evaluating progress on an ongoing basis. Major Technology Components This action plan includes goals and projects related to the following components of information technology on the Union College campus: Audio-visual, including projectors and document cameras Software Hardware Infrastructure, including components of servers, wireless network, and Internet connection Telephone Services Computer Lab Support Page 4

5 Distance Education development Instructional and Assistive Technology Goals and Actions Student Learning Action Target Date* Progress/ Status Implementation Evaluate use of student computer labs across campus in order to determine current usage and needs and to allocate resources in the most beneficial manner. Locations to be studied are: Library Mac Lab Micro Lab Nursing Ortner Center / Culver Hall Physician Assistant Studies Rees Hall Division of Science & Math Winter 2014 submitted proposal for study to Union College AQIP Steering Committee, September Subcommittee Explore the option of offering collaborative hybrid courses with other members of the Adventist Educational Alliance. Support online and hybrid courses. Pilot courses Fall More to come if pilot successful. In progress Pilot courses postponed due lack of enrollment. Academic Council ad hoc subcommittee is working on policy; Nursing is offering one hybrid course and Humanities one online course Fall Academic Administration and FITS and Academic Administration Faculty Teaching Action Target Date* Progress/ Status Implementation Create an instructional technology plan for faculty development in teaching with technology and exploring emerging classroom technology for possible adoption. Spring 2014 FITS/Instruction al Technologist Page 5

6 Select a podium for housing and utilizing classroom technology. In progress Several podiums have been added to classrooms. Still deciding on best design. FITS/ Infrastructure Action Target Date* Progress / Status Implementation Complete wireless internet upgrade across campus. Yet to In progress Residence halls and Don Love Building be completed: Dick Building ( ) Larson Lifestyle Center ( ) Engel Hall ( ) Carnegie Building ( ) Gymnasium ( ) completed. New science and math building is being done as part of new construction. Upgrade switches, firewall, fiber network. In progress Implement plan for regular In progress patch updates. Acquire funding for purchasing a SAN and replace all servers. (est. $50,000) Plan ongoing replacement schedule for servers. Create a plan for system resilience, including identifying critical systems which require uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Implement plan for system resilience. Decide the future of Unicomp system. Explore viability and benefits of a virtual desktop system for Union College. Make faculty/staff administrators of their own computers, which will require infrastructure updates and time for IS to figure it out. Summer Needs approval from President s Council and will require working with Advancement to fundraise / Summer academic year TBD based on outcome of virtual desktop study. and Page 6

7 Upgrade campus telephone system and? Productivity Action Target Date* Progress/ Status Implementation Graduated implementation of 5- year replacement cycle for desktop computers. By year 3 or 4 all computers will be 5 years old or less. Begin 2013 Software application training and support for staff. Implement Spiceworks helpdesk software to manage work orders and improve communication. Select system for digitally archive academic records Office managers group already has peer-to-peer program in place but does not include all staff. Staff Advisory Records Office is preparing a proposal for consideration by. Records Assessment Action Target Date* Progress/ Status Implementation Monitor and Academic Computing budget line items for hardware and software expenditures. Monthly as reports are distributed. Identify strengths, improvements, and weaknesses. revealed in the TechQual+ survey. Review annual campus budget reports of hardware and software spending. Include both campus-wide line items from and Academic Computing budgets and departmental line items for hardware and software. Make recommendations to President s Council for next fiscal cycle. Annual - each spring Annual each fall So far administered in Spring 2012 and Spring ask Institutional Research to administer Page 7

8 *Target date represents the intended beginning of the project. As much as possible, projects should also be completed within the timeframe listed. Financial and Human Resources Action Plan Technology is both transient and perpetually evolving. As such, it creates significant challenges for Union College s budget and the staff. Therefore, in support of the above Technology Action Plan, the following Financial and Human Resources Action Plan addresses steps to manage the budget for hardware and software, diversify sources of funding for technology, and assist with accomplishing its mission. Budget Action Target Date* Progress / Status Implementation Recommend funds for computer replacement schedules, infrastructure upgrades, and unexpected needs. December 31 st for next fiscal year. Campus Technology Committee Investigate potential cost savings through the Adventist Educational Alliance. All spending for hardware and software out of an individual department s budget will be assigned to the department s hardware or software account number. After the fiscal year is closed, this information will be provided to for evaluation and future planning. Report presented to August of each year. In progress Individual Departments / Campus Technology Committee Funding Action Target Date* Progress / Status Implementation Capital campaign to fund big ticket items (such as the SAN) President s Council Collaborate with Advancement to develop a viable strategy for sustainable funding which supplements the operating Campus Technology Committee / Advancement budget. Pursue grant funding for innovative projects. TBD TBD Human Resources Action Target Date* Progress / Status Implementation Increase use of student labor in. Will build into budget for Page 8

9 Request one additional full-time staff member in (job description yet to be determined). Diversify and expand professional development activities. Increase instructional technologist position to fulltime, or hire a second part-time person In progress FITS via Library budget *Target date represents the intended beginning of the project. As much as possible, projects should also be completed within the timeframe listed. Plan Maintenance The Campus Technology Plan will be reviewed and updated each Fall Semester based on information learned from the assessment activities of the prior academic year (see Assessment section of the Technology Action Plan), changes to the campus strategic plan, and the identification of new needs and opportunities. This cycle allows to decide what funding should be requested prior to the budget proposals being submitted in December/January. It allows to collect data during second semester and the summer for evaluation, and then make decisions based on data for the following fiscal year during Fall Semester. New actions will be added to the plan and the budget requests will be made to support them. Completed actions will be removed or become part of the campus policy manual as appropriate. Page 9