Transcript Information Technology at Seton Hall University

Information Technology at
Seton Hall University
Supporting the Academic Affairs Strategic Plan and
Enabling the University’s Vision, Mission and Goals
Presented to the Academic Deans by
Stephen G. Landry, Ph.D.
Chief Information Officer
July 18, 2001
Agenda
• Introduce Part of the IT Management Team
• Present Current IT Resources Available to
Support Academic Transformation
• Present Current IT Initiatives
• Present Highlights of Next IT Strategic Plan (IT2)
• Discussion: How can IT help academic affairs
achieve its vision and goals?
Pace of Change
• In 1995:
– Faculty offices in the Humanities did not have computers, e-mail
accounts, or network connections
– Faculty computers purchased by departments, most faculty
computers near obsolete
– No voice mail, no digital telephone services
– No network connections in residence halls
– Networks department based, inconsistent and unreliable
– Computer labs department based, generally inadequate
– Minimal central support for instructional technology
– Minimal use of IT in teaching and learning
Pace of Change (cont.)
• NOW:
– 1999 EDUCAUSE Award for Excellence in Campus Networking
– Honorable Mention in the 2000 EDUCAUSE Award for Systemic
Progress in Teaching and Learning with Technology
– On Yahoo! Internet Life’s List of Top 50 “Most Wired”
Universities in 1999 and 2000
– Mobile Computing Program provides quality laptop computers to
all full time faculty and undergraduate students
• Seton Hall University is well positioned to be a
leader in the use of IT to enable transformation of
teaching and learning
IT Management Team
• Stephen G. Landry, Ph.D., CIO
– Academic Computing, Administrative Computing,
Telecommunication
• Donald Carter, Dir., TLT Center
– Instructional technology, faculty support, classroom support
• Heather Stewart, Dir., ITD
– Strategic technology planning in Office of IT, assessing the
impact of technology on teaching and learning
• John Fernandes, Dir., PC Support Services
– Responsible for first point of contact for reporting and
resolution of technology problems
IT Resources in Support of
Academic Transformation
• Teaching, Learning and Technology Center
– Part of the IT organization that takes direction from
Academic Affairs
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Mission
History
Organization
Services
Initiatives
Location and Operating Hours
Current IT Initiatives
• 2000-01 Academic Year (FY’01) Initiatives
– TLT Roundtable / IT2
• Faculty “Best Practices” Showcase
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Courseware Pilot Project
Streaming Media Pilot Project
Wireless Network Pilot Project
Curriculum Development Initiative (CDI-5)
• CDI-3 and CDI-4 projects in progress
– Web for Faculty / Web for Employees
Current IT Initiatives (Cont.)
• 2000-01 Academic Year (FY’01) Initiatives (Cont.)
– Re-aligned services in response to demand
• Cut back lab and help desk hours
• Expanded TLT Center / Classroom Support hours
– Re-aligned services in response to budget reductions
• In response to budget FY’02 shortfall
– Cut Division of Information Technology Operating and
Personnel Budget by $ 1 million
» Eliminated eleven positions (vacant) [PCSS / Systems / Operations]
» Dropped hardware / software maintenance on admin. Systems
» Preserved academic support funds / programs
Current IT Initiatives (Cont.)
• This Summer (Summer 2001) We Are:
– Implementing Blackboard
• Campus Portal / Courseware System
– Replacing Network Backbone
– Joining NJEdge.Net for Internet “Plus” Service
– Upgrading Lotus to R5
• Greatly improved WebMail interface (user customizable)
• Enhanced Notes client (user customizable)
– Upgrading Novell to V5
• Accessible via Internet
Current IT Initiatives (Cont.)
• Issues Faced In Summer 2001 Upgrades
– Blackboard Portal / Courseware
• Accuracy of data in SIS & HRS
– Lotus R5 Upgrade
• Training / Performance on Older Machines
• DoIT unlikely to be able to upgrade all desktop computers
– Microsoft OS / Productivity Suite
• MS attempting to FORCE all users to Win XP / Office XP
• When does SHU migrate to Win XP / Office XP
Don’t you sometimes wish …
Strategic Technology Planning
• “Perennial” IT Issues / Challenges
– Funding
• Requests for IT outpace funding available
– Demand for IT outpaces ability to deliver
• E.g., backlog of App Dev Requests for Alumni, HR, etc.
– Lack of clarity of shared responsibility for IT
• Role of IT vs. other divisions
– E.g., desktop computers for new employees
• Engagement in setting policies, priorities, etc.
– TRAINING / TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY
2001 IT Long-Range Plan
• Appointment of IT Planning Task Team
• Starting point was Vision and Goals for University,
especially Academic Affairs
– Increasing undergraduate enrollments to provide a stable financial
base for the University while maintaining academic quality and
containing costs;
– Focusing graduate programs to align with the University’s mission,
meet changing student needs, and achieve consistent high quality;
– Expand continuing education to take advantage of new market
opportunities
2001 IT Long-Range Plan (Cont.)
• Draft recommendations presented to Exec Cab 6/21
• Recommendations included:
– Goal 2: Expand appropriate and effective use of IT in
support of teaching, learning, and scholarship.
– Goal 3: Cont. / expand development of Univ. Library as
a technologically advanced provider of info. services
Strategic Value of IT
• IT can help improve teaching and learning
– Reduce instructional “friction” / “bottlenecks”
– Increase instructional efficiency
– Supports new methods of teaching and learning
• IT can expand access to instruction / help access
new markets
• IT can help academic affairs achieve its goals of
improving quality, increasing enrollments, and
branching out into new markets
Strategic Value of IT (Cont.)
• Examples / Readings:
– Carol Twigg, Center for Academic Transformation, Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute, Identifying Targets of Opportunity for
Large Scale Redesign, Educause Review, May 2000
• Preliminary analysis of the PEW Large-Course Redesign Project aimed
at using IT to improve the efficiency of large-enrollment courses while
improving learning outcomes
– Patricia Cross, University of California-Berkeley, LeadingEdge Efforts to improve Teaching and Learning: The
Hesburgh Awards, Change, July/August 2001
• Analysis of TIAA/CREF Hesburgh awards for teaching and learning,
examining common elements for successful curriculum redesign and
resources available
Strategic Value of IT (Cont.)
• Examples / Readings (cont.):
– Frank Newman and Jamie Scurry, Brown University, When
Teaching Clicks, Chronicle of Higher Education, July 13, 2001
• Results of “Futures Project” indicate digital technology is making a
growing impact on technology in the traditional classroom
– Roberta Lembke and EDUCAUSE Current Issues Committee,
Top Campus IT Challenges for 2001, EDUCAUSE Review,
Volume 2, Number 2, 2001
• Results of 2001 Current Issues survey are detailed by institution size.
Lists issues most important for campuses to resolve for strategic success
Thought Question
• Suppose the IT could re-allocate $125,000
per year toward new IT initiatives.
• What would YOU recommend be done with
those funds?
Thought Question (Cont.)
• $125,000 per year COULD:
– Restore hardware maintenance on SHU’s
administrative systems
– Lease new telephone switch and v-mail system
– Begin making significant enhancements of the
University’s administrative system, e.g., implement
online time sheets, state-of-the-art procurement
system, data warehousing, etc.
– Lease new desktop computers for University staff and
administrators
Thought Question (Cont.)
• $125,000 per year COULD also:
– Fund two new instructional designers dedicated to
developing courses for University College
– Fund a new curriculum development initiative aimed
at large course redesign and development of a new
undergraduate core curriculum
– Expand the University’s Mobile Computing Program
to include all part-time faculty and students
– Implement state-of-the-art media equipment in all
classrooms
What would you do?