Goal: To Provide a Technology Infrastructure that supports the Administrative, Academic and Student Life functions of the Col

Technology Additions to the LaGrange College Strategic Plan

4. Develop, implement and communicate a
Plan for Technology and Facilities.

4.1 Goal: To Provide a Technology Infrastructure that supports the Administrative, Academic and Student Life functions of the College

4.1.1 Objective: Provide a stable, secure, high-speed network to all buildings on campus.

Action Plan:

Traffic on the network will be monitored as to levels and type.

The Information Technology (IT) staff will evaluate the network annually.

The Director of Information Technology shall update the technology security plan annually.

Members of the IT staff keep abreast of current network technologies through professional meetings and other development activities. Other professionals in the technology field will be consulted when the IT staff deems it appropriate.

Budgeting for network maintenance and upgrades will be made through the Technology Infrastructure budget line.

Assessment: User satisfaction with the campus network will be surveyed annually. Results of the survey and assessment of the condition of the network and the quantity and type of traffic will be reported to the IITR annually. The security plan will be communicated to the IITR annually. A synopsis of this report will be included in the Technology Update reported to the IPC annually.

4.1.2 Objective: The software for the integrated Administrative Data System (Currently SCT Banner) shall support the administrative, academic and student life needs of the institution.

Action Plan:

The administrative software system shall not be more than one full version behind the most recent version currently available.

User satisfaction with the Banner system will be surveyed annually.

The Banner Steering Committee will review the status of the Banner system annually.

Assessment: The review and results of the user survey will be reported to the IITR and subsequently included in the Technology Update provided annually to the IPC.

4.1.3 Objective: Hardware for the integrated Administrative Data System (currently SCT Banner), will support the administrative software so that the system is stable and responsive to users.

Action Plan:

The main server for SCT Banner will be placed on a three-year replacement cycle. Support equipment will be placed on an appropriate replacement cycle. Status of the server as to capacity and usage will be reported annually to the Banner Steering Committee and included in its report to the IITR. Budget for the update and replacement of the Banner Server will be included in Technology Infrastructure Budget.

Evaluation: The Banner Steering Committee will make the report on the condition and status of the Banner Server and associated infrastructure annually to the IITR and subsequently to the IPC.

4.1.4 Objective: Administrative Desktop Hardware will be sufficient for the administrative and academic needs of the College.

Action Plan:

Administrative Desktop Hardware, used for administrative and advising purposes, will be placed on a three-year replacement plan. This plan will phase in over the next three years, after which all desktop hardware for administrative purposes will be under the three-year replacement cycle

2002-03: Classify users and identify computing needs for each classification.

Investigate options for the three-year replacement cycle, to include evaluating leasing arrangements. Evaluate leasing and hardware vendors. Prepare budget for first cohort of computers to be replaced to be included in the Technology Infrastructure budget.

Develop and implement policy on how individuals and departments may request and fund hardware more advanced than the base for their level.

2003-04: Install first cohort of replacements. Quality of service from vendor will be tracked. Satisfaction with lease arrangements (should that be the option exercised) determined.

2004-05: Install second cohort of replacements. Survey users as to satisfaction with vendor chosen. Evaluate quality of service from the chosen vendor. Report results of survey and evaluation to the IITR. Change vendors as appropriate.

2005-06: Install third cohort of replacements. Survey users as to satisfaction with vendor chosen. Evaluate quality of service from the chosen vendor. Report results of survey and evaluation to the IITR. Change vendors as appropriate.

2006-07: All administrative desktop hardware is in the three-year replacement cycle. Replace first cohort of computers. Vendor, lease agreement, and three-year term receive strenuous review by a committee appointed by the IITR. Report of this committee is used to make revisions to the program.

Assessment: Annual reviews and results of the 2006-07 review are communicated by the IITR to the IPC as part of the annual Technology Update.

4.1.5 Objective: Operating Systems (currently Microsoft Windows) and Productivity Software (currently Microsoft Office) for the administrative desktop computers will remain current, supported and sufficient for the administrative and advising needs of the users.

Action Plan:

Operating Systems and Desktop Productivity Software will not be more than one full-version behind the most recent release of that software.

2002-03: The College will purchase a Microsoft Campus Agreement to provide Operating System and Productivity Software for all administrative and windows-based academic desktop computers on campus. Software will be upgraded across campus so that a single operating system and version of productivity software is in use on these desktop systems. For 2002-03, Windows 2000 Professional operating system and Office 2000 Professional productivity software will be installed.

2003-04: the IT staff and the IITR will review The Microsoft Campus Agreement. Upgrades mandated by the IITR in 2002-03 will be installed. Users will be surveyed at least annually as to the usefulness, ease of use and general satisfaction with operating system and productivity software.

Annually thereafter: Implement upgrades from previous year’s review. Continue to survey users and evaluate with IT staff and the IITR.

Each year, users will be surveyed as to satisfaction with this upgrade. The IITR will review the results of this survey and in concert with the IT staff, decide on changes in the supported software.

4.1.6 Objective: Provide effective Instructional Technology located in classrooms and laboratories.

Action Plan: IIT will monitor use of technology in Smart Classrooms and other rooms with enhanced technology. IIT will Survey faculty to determine satisfaction with existing facilities and the need for additional instructional technology. Students who have classes in classrooms with enhanced technology will be surveyed as to the effective use of technology in the classroom. The EDIIT will meet periodically with faculty members to ascertain Instructional Technology requirements and plans. Demand for technology enhanced classrooms and smart classrooms will be gauged by survey of the faculty. The IITR will assess these demands and make recommendation for additional classroom technology equipment. Locations for additional technology laboratory spaces will be identified and developed as resources allow.

Assessment: The IITR will discuss, evaluate and make recommendations based on the data collected. These data will be summarized and included with the recommendations communicated to the IPC as part the annual Technology Update.

4.1.7 Objective: Identify and promote use of instructional software and hardware in support of student learning.

Action Plan: The EDIIT will work with faculty members to identify software and technology hardware that supports learning in the faculty member’s discipline. Software or hardware specific for single discipline shall be budgeted in departmental budgets after approval by Information Technology. Software or hardware identified to be of great utility for multiple disciplines will be brought to the IITR for approval. Resources being available, software and/or hardware for multiple disciplines will be procured through the Instructional Technology budget.

Assessment: Disciplines employing discipline specific software or hardware will survey or interview students annually to assess satisfaction with that software or equipment. Multi-discipline hardware and software will be evaluated by the IITR using specific questions on the faculty technology survey.

4.1.8 Objective: The College will promote and support Course Management Software for classroom and training use.

Action Plan:

Promote use of Course Management Software, currently WebCT , by use of an annual summer workshop for faculty. Participating faculty will be encouraged to discuss their application of technology with other faculty in informal settings such as monthly Brown Bag Lunches during the academic year. Workshop materials will be made available on-line for those that could not attend.

Assessment: Course attendees will be surveyed as to effectiveness of the course. Results of this evaluation will be reported to the IITR and an analysis of WebCT usage included in the Technology Update to the IPC. Faculty will be surveyed in the annual technology survey as to the satisfaction with WebCT and support for WebCT.

4.2 Goal: Provide support and training for information technology to sustain the academic, administrative and student life functions at LaGrange College.

4.2.1 Objective: Provide Support for operation of the integrated Administrative Data System.

Action Plan: The Database Administrator (DBA) will provide support for the integrated Administrative Data System by managing users, security, upgrades and customization on the administrative software system.

Assessment: Satisfaction with the operation of the administrative software will be included in the annual technology survey of all users of the software system. Results of this portion of the survey will be reported to the Banner Steering committee. Banner Steering will report its findings to the IITR, which will include a synopsis in its annual Technology Update to the IPC.

4.2.2 Objective: Provide support for reporting from the integrated Administrative Data System.

Action Plan: The Systems Analyst and the DBA will work with users to identify reporting resources existing within the integrated administrative software system. When existing reporting resources are not sufficient, the Systems Analyst will work with the user to develop a custom report.

Assessment: Users will be surveyed as part of the annual technology survey as to their satisfaction with reporting from the integrated administrative software system.

4.2.3 Objective: Provide training and support for student advising.

Action Plan: Primary responsibility for oversight of academic advising is with the Advising and Retention Committee. This committee will review the mechanism and technology used in the advising and scheduling process on an annual basis. Training and support for those involved in the advising process is the responsibility of the Registrar with assistance from the IT Trainer. Technical functions dealing with the integrated administrative software system are the responsibility of the Database Administrator and the Systems Analyst.

2002-03 the On-line registration system will be reviewed.

2003-04 Review of course audit system with a goal of web-based course audits.

Assessment: Students will be surveyed as to satisfaction with the advising and scheduling at the time of graduation and in the Recent Graduate Survey. Advisors will be surveyed annually as to satisfaction with the advising and scheduling process and training in the use of the process. The results of these surveys will be reported annually to the Advising and Retention Committee. Recommended changes dealing with the technology applied in the advising and scheduling process will be forwarded to the IITR. A summary of this assessment and changes will be provided to the IPC on an annual basis.

4.2.4 Objective: Effective Training Sessions will be provided for use of the integrated administrative software system and desktop productivity software.

Action Plan: The IT Trainer will provide regular training sessions in the functional use of the integrated administrative data system (currently BANNER) and desktop productivity software (currently Microsoft Office). These sessions will be specific to needs of specific groups of users.

Assessment: Each session will be evaluated using an end-of-session survey. Questions concerning training will be included in the annual technology survey. Results of these surveys will be compiled and reported annually to the IITR. Summaries will be forwarded in the annual technology update to the IPC.

4.2.5 Objective: Effective and Timely support of the network, Internet, integrated Administrative Data System, and desktop productivity software will support the academic, administrative and student-life functions of the College.

Action Plan: An integrated system for tracking support requests will be installed during 2002-03. This system will be used to track response times for requests and identify repeat areas of concern that can be addressed in training or in hardware selection or replacement. Initial responses to requests will occur within one business day. Questions concerning satisfactions with support for the network, Internet and integrated Administrative Data System will be included on the annual Technology Survey.

Assessment: Results from the analysis of the data from the tracking system will be communicated to the IITR on an annual basis. Results of the Technology Survey will be reported to the IITR annually. A summary of these data and decisions based on them will be communicated to the IPC in the annual Technology Update.

4.2.6 Objective: The members of the Information Technology staff will retain currency in their fields of specialization through development activities, professional meetings and/or certification training.

Action Plan: In the 2003-04 Budget, funds for the technology needs of the College and the operation of the Information Technology department will be separated.
Each full-time Information Technology staff member will be provided funds for attendance to at least one national or regional professional meeting in each budget year.

Each full-time Information Technology staff member will be provided funds for at least one development activity or training towards professional certification in each budget year.

Assessment: Each IT staff member, as part of their annual evaluation with the Director of IT, will develop a professional development plan for the coming year. These plans will be reviewed by the EDIIT and a summary reported to the IITR.