Communication Initiatives - Campus-Wide IT Initiatives

Compiled AY 2005-2006 for review AY 2006-2007

As Information Technology held meetings with each of the schools during AY2005-2006, there was a recurring theme for a few items that have been designated as campus-wide initiatives.  After review, IT has categorized these campus-wide initiatives into two categories.  The first group of items will be submitted to the Information Technology Planning Council (ITPC) for their input and recommendations.  The second group requires additional research and will be investigated by Information Technology (IT) personnel in conjunction with faculty input.

Items assigned to ITPC for further investigation

Develop a plan for incorporating grants into the curriculum.

This affects many areas on campus.   The Microsoft gaming grant is a good example of why this discussion needs to take place now.   Originally funded with grant monies, there is a strong possibility that this will eventually be incorporated into the curriculum.    If this happens, we need to identify the funding source.

Develop focus or user groups based on topics of interest

Some of the suggestions and individuals to include:

• GIS
• Digital Arts
• Statistics/Surveyors
• Podcasting
• Technical representatives - many of the schools have individuals filling positions that are discipline specific and include a broader technical aspect than in the past.  

Fall 2005 Update

At the 1st Annual Instructional Technology Symposium in November 2005, the Academic Computing Advisor for AY 2005-2006 solicited interest in these areas.

Develop a plan to provide two-way information/training sessions

In IT, we tend to focus on what information we can share with others to help them.   Part of these conversations, however, evolved into what does IT need to know/learn from the faculty to help us do our job better.   One idea was to learn more about what specific schools, majors, departments do by gaining an understanding of this e.g. what does the IMM program include and how does it affect other departments on campus.   IT in turn will provide mini ITS workshops along with more general information sessions based on our own internal IT communication sessions.

Items assigned to IT for further investigation

Develop a model for new initiatives and expand academic computing support.

There is a growing need for support of academic computing.  Faculty are considered the functional experts of the software and hardware that is purchased for their use, however, there is a need for additional support from IT beyond our current model.   IT will evaluate the current model and work to develop a partnership with the faculty to accommodate this growing need.

Fall 2006 update

The IT support specialist for each school will begin to work with individual faculty to identify the "gap" in support and how best to address this for each individual using technology in their classroom. 

Provide information to the campus community about smart classroom committee

Develop a method to inform the campus of the progress made by the media classroom committee including project plans and status reports.  

Fall 2006 update

Budget constraints have postponed smart classroom implementations.  For more information regarding this, please refer to State Budget :: Public Affairs :: The College of New Jersey under the Projects Section.

Provide academic computing resource fair

This will be a pilot program for the School of Business and may extend to be a campus wide initiative.   The School of Business faculty members are interested in new technologies and would like IT to coordinate a resource fair.   IT can investigate technologies either available on campus or readily available and provide a "show and tell" session for the School of Business .   A few examples of this may include smart whiteboards, treos, digital cameras, video editing and pdas.   Some software ideas could include wikipedias, facebook, blogs and relevant uses of Internet2.   If there is interest in new technologies that could be incorporated into the curriculum, the faculty member will either request these items through their school budget or write a grant to fund this new initiative.  

Fall 2006 update

Staffing issues due to vacant positions will postpone this pilot program for the near future.

Provide information regarding IT activities on and off campus

Through the faculty listserv, IT will inform the faculty of upcoming events and webcasts provided through NJEdge and other local venues that may be of interest to them.  

Fall 2006 update

IT will work with Academic Affairs to identify opportunities through NJEdge and other local venues.  Continue to provide information to Macintosh users for webinars.  Expand this to include opportunities for pc users.

Develop replacement cycle for Macintosh computer and media equipment

IT has developed a four-year replacement cycle for pc desktop and laptop replacement.  We will expand that to include replacement cycles for other equipment as well.

Fall 2006 update

Budget constraints will inpact IT's four year replacement cycle for the PC.  PC replacements for Summer 2007 will be limited.  Replacements will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.  We will also delay developing a replacement cycle for Macintosh and media equipment.