IT Mission and Strategic Plan

Central Connecticut State University

Information Technology Department

June 2008

Mission Statement

The Information Technology Department supports instruction, research, administration and public service through:

•     Effective use of computing and communication technologies
•     Academic and administrative services
•     Communication and multimedia delivery systems
•     Identification of new technologies and services
•     Education and guidance to users

Strategic Focus - Goals and Objectives

I.  Provide direct support for the university's strategic plan in its entirety with specific emphasis         directed at those university goals dependent on information technology resources.

A.    Increase the number of courses that incorporate educational technologies to promote        student engagement, learning, and academic success, including developing strategies        for online courses and programs, and for the prototyping of blended courses.  Working        with the Provost:

1.    Institute small grants to promote integration of course management            system (CMS) in courses.
2.    Support development of online courses.
3.    Encourage production of learning objects, podcasts, etc.
4.    Provide additional faculty development in instructional technology.
5.    Organize visits to selected universities.
6.    Send faculty team to EDUCAUSE/ELI national conference annually.
7.    Establish protocols for teaching online and hybrid courses.
8.    Develop instruments for assessing online learning.
9.    Work with CSUS IT personnel to maintain availability of the BB-Vista        CMS system.
10.  Manage and/or improve network/internet infrastructure to provide            uninterrupted world-wide access to the BB-Vista CMS system.
11.  Develop the physical facilities comprising the Instructional Design and        Technology Resource Center to provide a professional and
       welcoming environment for instructional design training and                        assistance.
12.  Develop/acquire the human resources staff of the Instructional
       Design and Technology Resource Center to best serve the
       instructional needs of the faculty.

B.    Increase instructional design assistance for faculty to support teaching and learning.         Working with the Provost, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer:

1.    Develop instructional technology plan.
2.    Encourage production of learning objects, podcasts, etc.
3.    Provide additional faculty development in instructional technology.
4.    Organize visits to selected universities.
5.    Develop the physical facilities comprising the Instructional Design and        Technology Resource Center to provide a professional and                        welcoming environment for instructional design training and                        assistance.
6.    Develop/acquire the human resources staff of the Instructional
       Design and Technology Resource Center to best serve the
       instructional needs of the faculty.

C.    Provide faculty and staff the technology, support, and professional development                 necessary to work efficiently.  Working with the Provost, Chief Financial Officer and             Chief Administrative Officer:

1.    Develop the physical facilities comprising the Instructional Design and        Technology Resource Center to provide a professional and                        welcoming environment for instructional design training and                        assistance.
2.    Develop/acquire the human resources staff of the Instructional
       Design and Technology Resource Center to best serve the
       instructional needs of the faculty.
3.    Maintain/expand ongoing training/instruction opportunities including
       the 'Expert in Residence' series and the 'Tech Talk' series of                        presentations.
4.    Maintain/expand the established 3-year life-cycle funding model for            desktop/office computers.
5.    Maintain currency of software versions and licensing.
6.    Maintain/increase CIO/IT budget allocations at or above FY2009                standard.

D.   Implement and maintain a life-cycle funding model to ensure adequate technology            refresh to allow the university to meet its academic and administrative technology
       needs.  Working with the Chief Financial Officer:

1.    Work with the CCSU President and CSUS Chancellor and board of            directors to maintain state bond funding for technology at levels equal        to or greater than those allotted for FY2008.
2.    Maintain/increase CIO/IT budget allocations at or above FY2009                standard.
3.    Increase focus and awareness on the need to work to reduce the            energy consumption of IT resources; developing 'green' strategies for        sustainability.
4.    Strictly adhere to any budget constraints or recommendations as set        forth by the President of the university, the CSUS Chancellor, the                CSUS Board of Trustees, or the governing offices of the State of                Connecticut.

E.    Increase the acquisition, support and upkeep for instrumentation, software, and                 technology needed for the professional development of students.  Working with the             Provost and Chief Financial Officer:

1.    Work with the CCSU President and CSUS Chancellor and board of            directors to maintain state bond funding for technology at levels equal        to or greater than those allotted for FY2008.
2.    Maintain/increase CIO/IT budget allocations at or above FY2009                standard.

F.    Ensure students have appropriate proficiencies for IT-based tasks.  Working with the        Provost, VP of Student Affairs, and Chief Administrative Office:

1.    Maintain student-accessible IT resources in such quantity and state
       of availability to allow all students the ability to learn and practice the        IT-based skills delivered during their academic advancement at the            university.
2.    Maintain IT staff levels to provide the personnel needed to assist                students in the use of the IT resources available to assist their                    academic advancement at the university.

II.  Provide support for, and cooperation with, the strategic focus of the CSUS Board of Trustees,
     CSUS Chancellor and CSUS Chief Information Officer.

The areas of focus will include, but need not be limited to:

A.    Continued participation with the CSUS CIO and all university CIOs in support of a             collaborative/distributive decision making process.
B.    Provide input to, and work cooperatively to implement, the system-wide initiatives to

1.    formalize a change management policy and procedure.
2.    formalize a system development life cycle model
3.    implement an entirely new and expanded WAN and associated                university LAN upgrades
4.    implement a new architecture/topology for the SCT Banner ERP                system equipment
5.    implement security standards and directives

C.   Provide the technology input required and/or needed for the successful
       implementation of the CSUS long-term projects commonly referred to as "The 2020
       Plan."
D.   Continue to cooperate with the auditing agencies employed by the CSUS.

III.  Provide an information technology infrastructure and catalog of services that meets or exceeds       the known requirements of the university constituents today as well as allowing for the growth       and change of the university going forward.

A.    Continually maintain and develop an IT department staff aware of its role, and                     responsibilities, as a strategic asset of the university.

1.    Promote and support professional development of technology-related        skills and education as well as developing management skills and            knowledge where appropriate to position or rank.
2.    Encourage increased proactive interaction with the entire university            community to better understand the needs of the constituents as well        as providing an opportunity to develop solid working relationships.
3.    Support the system-wide distributive/collaborative model at all levels
       of the department; facilitate and encourage the development of peer        relationships with like individuals at all CSUS entities.
4.    Encourage entrepreneurship, where feasible, to leverage the skills            and knowledge held by all staff members at all levels of the                         department.
5.    Develop and maintain an attitude and belief of "What I Do Matters"            throughout the department.

B.    Establish an effective structure for the governing of the IT resources of the university.

1.    Work with the membership of the Banner Coordinating Team, and
       any other administrative functional unit or person desirous of being            involved, to establish an effective administrative IT resource                        governance structure.

a.    Ensure the most efficient and effective administrative        operations possible for the university through the            provision of necessary hardware, software and user
       training and support.
b.    Encourage an increase in the administrative staff
       knowledge and use of existing university-wide
       technologies, e.g. MS Outlook Calendaring.

2.    Work with the Provost and Faculty Senate to establish an effective            academic IT resource governance structure.

a.    Create an Academic IT plan to identify the direction
       to be followed for acquiring and implementing the
       most beneficial technologies to support the academic        mission of the university.
b.    Encourage an increase in the faculty knowledge and        use of existing and new media and technologies in            support of the instructional programs, research and        creative activities.
c.    Encourage academic departments to develop a list of        IT skills that are expected in their given discipline,
       and to stipulate how a student may expect to acquire        those skills during his/her years at the university.

3.    Participate with, and provide resources to, those established                    committees or governing bodies currently in place and charged
      with providing the planning and budgeting direction to the university.

C.    Establish assessment tools and methodologies to monitor the efforts and results of
        the IT department in terms of breath, quality, and appropriateness of technologies
        and services provided.

1.    Expand the use of current tools throughout the department and/or            acquire enhancements, upgrades, or new products deemed                        necessary and beneficial.
2.    Work collaboratively with other functional units of the university to             leverage any assessment tools currently being used or planned for
       by units other than the IT department.
3.    Actively seek out input from all university constituencies to learn
       about their technology needs and desires.
4.    Formalize a listing of current infrastructure elements and other                    technology services provided and analyze their current level of                contribution to the mission of the university, to implement upgrades            where appropriate, or to supplant a current technology or service with        one better geared toward, or beneficial to, meeting the goals of the            university.