Dr. Laura Koppes,

 

I wanted to follow up with some specific issues I believe need to be considered in developing this strategic plan.  As in the past five years, survey respondent across all sectors of higher education identify “assisting faculty integrate technology into instruction” as the single most important IT issue confronting their campuses over the next two to three years.

 

Like the Campus Computing survey indicates, my immediate concerns are also online learning and the integration of technology into the classroom.  We would certainly like the Strategic Planning Committee to look at all the areas we have identified in our presentation, but feel the online learning component has the most significant potential for making a major contribution to the university through increased enrollment and enhanced instruction.  We must come up with a plan for paying our faculty to develop online courses and provide the resources for resolving the issues surrounding online materials, such as ownership of intellectual properties. ITDS will commit to continuing support for online learning, but we must make sure the project is properly funded and our faculty has the incentives and tools they need to provide online instruction. 

 

Technology in the classroom is a national concern in higher education.  ITDS has made strides in this area, but this has only been a first step.  The cost of bringing this technology across campus has been significant and the resources to maintain the equipment is continually spread thinner.  The new Information Technology Building, currently in the capital plan, will provide a location where faculty and students can have access to the most up to date equipment.  It will also provide classrooms and workspace for our faculty to continually develop new technologies for instruction.  We are asking for the committee’s support for this new building.

 

In conclusion, we have the infrastructure and some solid tools to support this university in regards to Information Technology.  I feel, without a doubt, we must have a collaborative effort between IT, faculty and students to accomplish our goals and clearly identify the direction technology should be taking on this campus.  I ask that the SPC support and encourage these efforts.  If you will check your survey, this is the most pressing computing issue for all higher education.

 

Attached you will find a report from Dr. Eugene Kleppinger, describing the growth in online learning during the past year.  I think you can quickly draw the conclusion that this is only the beginning.

 

Jim