GOAL 1. Maintain State-of-the-Art Computer Lab Software, Hardware, and Network Technology
Strategies:
Continue to upgrade lab hardware to provide reliable systems that can support current software, storage media and peripheral technologies, lab configurations, and network connectivity.
Increase use and support of scientific instrumentation networked to provide access for software control and analysis of generated data.
Provide departmental IT staff greater access for software distribution.
Improve methods for distribution of security patches and communication of critical updates.
Provide students and faculty improved levels of access to computer and network project configurations through improved manageability of lab network infrastructure. Provide for network segmentation and access control, performance measurement and monitoring, and security monitoring.
GOAL 2. Extend the availability and standards of "smart" classroom and computer lab technology.
Strategies:
Extend the percentage of classrooms in the College with smart classroom technology.
Provide priority support for smart classroom technology to minimize the impact of downtime.
Coordinate with the University IT Committee and OTS to establish standards and options for smart classrooms.
Provide physical security for classroom facilities and individual pieces of equipment such as desktop computers, laptop computers, peripheral devices, LCD projectors, document cameras, etc.
Provide classroom accessibility through classroom design and availability of special software applications and audio hardware.
GOAL 3. Increase IT support staff levels and coordination of technology support.
Strategies:
Increase local IT support staffing levels by adding a technology specialist position that would provide support for maintenance and upgrade of computer software applications and hardware in the College's instructional and research programs. The position would report to the College and be centered in Smith Hall. Planning and coordination functions would continue to be developed by the FCSM ITC and faculty and staff within individual departments.
Develop a consistent interface with OTS for coordination of technology initiatives and project planning for LAN/Desktop, Unix and Network technologies.
Continue to improve communication of operational issues between faculty, departmental academic IT staff and OTS TU Labs, Operations Center and Core Technology groups.
Increase the role of student assistants in technology support positions.
Increase support for specific technologies such as MAC systems and applications.
GOAL 4. Improve technology resources available to Faculty
Strategies:
Enhance faculty computing environment with instructional support software or required hardware resources additional to standard machine configurations.
Provide faculty with additional machine resources for scientific computing and research.
Provide faculty local software resources for scientific applications, project collaboration and development and publication of multi-media and online course content.
Provide course management technology that takes into account faculty investment and that supports feature sets comparable to the current Blackboard System.
GOAL 5. Provide support for academic applications and platforms
Strategies:
Continue to develop computing environments and procedures for scientific instruction and research that support:
Implementing new technology and instructional environments
Using alternative operating systems, either directly or via emulation
Running network services and instrumentation
Using specialized network configurations
Requirements for increased levels of access for faculty or students
Using a dedicated machine or network for:
- experimental computing activity
- rapidly changing requirements
- unique system configurations
- unique and sometimes multiple software versions
- heavy usage patterns and processing schedules
- variations in security and access models
GOAL 6. Provide print services in departmental labs.
Strategies:
Provide a print services management system that integrates quotas with campus directory services and minimizes downtime for maintenance.
Provide a print management system that allows for local administrative control necessary to modify quotas and printing types as required for specific labs.
Provide alternative print services for specific research, project and faculty needs.
GOAL 7. Provide effective funding for IT resources and infrastructure
Strategies:
Establish a plan and policy for the upgrading of computer hardware, software, and networking. Upgrades should address specific department needs and take warrantee costs into consideration.
Individual departments are advised to set short and long term technology requirements and priorities, and provide estimated technology budgets.
Provide an implementation schedule for campus-wide PC deployments as soon as it becomes available to allow departments to coordinate local purchasing.
Continue to review establishment of software volume and site-wide licenses and to disseminate information for existing programs.
