TECHNOLOGY PLANNING AT COLGATE UNIVERSITY
Questions for Alumni
What are the highest priorities for alumni information services?
How will new services be funded?
WHY IS INFORMATION A CRITICAL STRATEGIC ASSET TO THE COLLEGE? If the purpose of the University is to develop wise, thoughtful, critical thinkers and perceptive leaders
---Middle States, 1997-98
WHY IS INFORMATION A CRITICAL STRATEGIC ASSET TO THE COLLEGE?
Information skills are essential to the endeavor
Also important are
Marketing Cultivation
= Strengthening Connections
WHY IS INFORMATION A CRITICAL STRATEGIC ASSET TO THE COLLEGE?
What’s Changed?
Key Developments
Digitization of information Access via WWW Streaming Media Capacities Napster?
= new demands for information services
Planning for Information Resources WHAT WE THINK
The framework of the liberal arts college will remain essentially intact, however, we believe that technology will significantly enhance the traditions of the liberal arts education.
The past few years
Information Technology Annual Budget Network ports Devices on the network Servers Colgate-owned desktop computers Students owning computers Web pages served per month Technology-enhanced Classrooms E-Mail messages per day Support Staff 1993 $650,000 1200 1200 14 850 25% 0 0 15,000 17 2000 $1,800,000 7,500 5,500 45 1750 93% 13,000,000 50 350,000 29
The past few years
N= 25th Mean 75th Colgate 91/92 50 2.0% 3.0% 3.6% 2.1% 92/93 47 1.9% 3.0% 3.6% 1.9% 93/94 43 2.2% 3.2% 4.1% 2.3% 94/95 48 2.4% 3.0% 3.5% 3.0% 95/96 45 2.6% 3.7% 4.6% 2.1% 96/97 55 2.8% 3.7% 4.2% 3.6% 97/98 45 3.5% 4.5% 5.2% 4.8%
IT as % E&G
0.06 0.05 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.01 0 91/92 92/93 93/94 94/95 95/96 96/97 97/98 25th Mean 75th Colgate
Planning for Information Resources WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
We don’t know exactly what the next 3-5 years will bring
We can’t imagine all the applications of technology
Planning for Information Resources WHAT WE DO KNOW
Solid Technical Infrastructure
History of Collaboration Skilled at using past experiences and evaluating current trends
These strengths put Colgate in a strong position to respond to changes we cannot predict
Planning for Information Resources ASSUMPTIONS
Colgate must be a leader in innovative uses of technology in the liberal arts.
Technology is an important resource for innovation but should not be the driving force Members of the Colgate community, broadly defined, expect seamless delivery of a wide range of content-enriched digital material
Planning for Information Resources ASSUMPTIONS
Global connections will be especially important to a rural liberal arts college like Colgate University High quality assistance is still essential to the successful use of information resources.
Technology is important asset and choices will have to be made. It is imperative that we maximize benefits and minimize costs.
Planning for Information Resources ASSUMPTIONS
Priority will be given first to things that enhance the teaching and learning experience
Priority will be given second to things that build connections between people within the broadly defined Colgate community
Planning for Information Resources
Information Seekers
•Student considering Colgate •Current Students on Campus •Current Students Abroad •Faculty on campus •Faculty on Leave •Recent Alumni •Alumni
Life Cycle Approach, Many Constituencies
Planning for Information Resources CORE ELEMENTS
Access – System, Networks and Devices
Information – Organization Tools – Software Assistance
TECHNOLOGY PLAN GOAL ACCESS
Getting TO the resources – Capacity – Speed – Transparency – Reliability – Ubiquity – Privacy – Security
TECHNOLOGY PLAN GOAL ORGANIZATION
Finding information:
–Ordered –Personalized –Self-service –Single entry (integrated systems)
TECHNOLOGY PLAN GOAL TOOLS
Working with information:
–Easy to use –Available to all –Accomplish the work
TECHNOLOGY PLAN GOAL ASSISTANCE
Minimize assistance needed Strive to deliver assistance that is
– Timely, Accurate, Thorough, Courteous, Confidential
Recent Projects
•Student considering Colgate: On-Line Applications, e-mail current students, virtual tour •Current Students on Campus: ResNet, On-Line Registration, On-Line Bookstore, Library Resources On-Line
•Current Students Abroad: Access to library databases,Webmail
•Faculty on Campus: Faculty Toolbox, Asynchronous Learning Project •Faculty on Leave: Access to Library Databases, Computer •Recent Alumni: Lifetime e-mail •Alumni: Alumni Web Site and ??????
Ongoing Projects
Network Upgrade
Web Site Enhancements Collaboration for Enhanced Learning See
Banner Web for…. Business Integration Rural Networking Streaming Media
computing.colgate.edu
Questions for Alumni
What are the highest priorities for alumni information services?
How will new services be funded?