2007-2008 Strategic Goals and Tactical Plan

 Introduction

Information Technology Services (ITS) is responsible for providing and supporting all aspects of campus computing and telecommunications services. ITS’ mission is to work in collaboration with members of the Davidson community to facilitate the use of current and emerging information technology resources. The Davidson community includes faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents, prospective students, retired faculty, trustees, vendors, contractors, and all other individuals and organizations that interact with the College. These individuals and organizations are provided with varying levels of access to computing infrastructure and services. The range of systems and services provided include those that support and enrich teaching, learning, research and administration. The systems and services touch virtually every aspect of campus life and are central to the academic enterprise as well as the administrative processes.

Guiding Principles

The strategic directions for ITS are driven and shaped by institutional values and principles. Four aspects of Davidson’s educational focus are the key guiding principles for planning all aspects of technological development:

  1. Quality interaction. Davidson's reputation has been built on providing the opportunity for quality one-on-one interaction among students, faculty, and staff. Rather than diminish these opportunities, technology is used to enhance them. 
  2. Focus on teaching and learning. Davidson faculty are teachers first. All efforts are made to support faculty in the creative cultivation of improved teaching and research methods through information technology.
  3. Critical thinking. Critical analysis of information is a primary objective of instruction at Davidson. Information Technology plays an important role in making information readily accessible and providing the tools for analysis.
  4. Efficiency and effectiveness of administration. Davidson’s administrative processes are almost wholly dependent on information technology services. All efforts are made to support and continuously enhance administrative services and processes with current and emerging technologies.

Our Vision

  • We will interact with all clients at their level of technical expertise.
  • We will communicate with clients through multiple channels, clearly, and in language appropriate to the needs of the audience.
  • We will not surprise our clients with upgrades or downtime except in emergencies.
  • We will be visionary and provide creative leadership.
  • We will develop and maintain a high degree of expertise.
  • We will anticipate needs and seek out promising applications of technology.
  • We will work as partners with faculty, staff and departments to help them achieve their objectives.

Strategic Goals

ITS’ 2007-2008 priorities and goals are grouped into the following categories:

  1.  Enhance Technology Support and Client Satisfaction 
  2.  Support Campus Technology Training and User Education 
  3.  Improve Security and Disaster Preparedness of Campus Systems

These three strategic goals will be achieved through the forty-nine tactical goals listed below.

Enhance Technology Support and Client Satisfaction

  1.  Introduce new and significantly larger quotas for email and departmental storage.
  2.  Implement robust campus-wide meshed wireless network.
  3.  Roll out Office 2007 and Vista operating system. 
  4.  Roll out OSX 10.5 (Leopard).
  5. Plan Office 2008 (Mac) rollout.
  6.  Implement Right Answers self-service knowledgebase.
  7.  Replace McAfee anti-virus with Sophos.
  8.  Upgrade to Exchange 2007 email system.
  9.  Implement SharePoint collaboration environment.
  10.  Introduce video conferencing services.
  11.  Explore options for centralized desktop backup.
  12.  Support collaboration with the introduction of  private File Transfer Protocol (FTP) services.
  13.  Partner with Library to begin the implementation of a Digital Asset Management System.
  14.  Promote and collaborate with faculty on NITLE and other consortial opportunities.
  15.  Investigate student e-Portfolios.
  16.  Experiment with social software applications for collaboration: SecondLife, Facebook, WebEx.
  17. Develop strategy for the delivery of rich media through Ingeniux Content Management System.
  18. Enhance classroom technology support: expand the use of Roomview and reprogram Creston "help” button. 
  19. Integrate Blackboard Course Management System with Banner. 
  20. Explore the possibility of Banner/Maximo (or SchoolDude) integration.
  21. Evaluate and develop a standard data retention policy for all administrative systems.
  22. Partner with College Relations and Student Life in the implementation of Alumni management system. 
  23. Improve administrative efficiency by reviewing unused and/or underutilized Banner modules in Business Services, Athletics and College Relations: Endowment and Purchasing.
  24. Enhance information accessibility by implementing new Banner Data Store-driven data warehouse and SQL Server based reporting system.
  25. Partner with Human Resources to implement electronic approvals in Banner: Salary Planner, Self-service for new enrollments, Self-service for changes in address, Routing HR Action Forms, Routing approvals for job postings, Tracking probationary period in Banner, Tracking whether and when reviews are done, Tracking, Tracking attendance at training programs.
  26. Partner with Admission in the implementation of Recruitment Plus.
  27. Partner with WDAV in the implementation of a Client Relationship Management system.
  28. Develop sustainable strategy for the support of Ingeniux Content Management System.
  29. Explore and implement a better anti-spam solution.
  30. Investigate options for new campus voice mail system.
  31. Replace and/or reengineer deteriorated sections of campus copper infrastructure.
  32. Consult with Residence Life Office and advisory committees about an eventual remove of unused landlines in student rooms.
  33. Consult with advisory committees on campus caller identification.
  34. Continue to study and investigate best options for future replacement of campus telephone system.

Support Campus Technology Training and User Education

  1. Work in partnership with Human Resources to plan and offer technology training: Banner, Office, Reporting, Louise File Permissions, Event Management, Content Management System, Digital Asset Management, Kronos, Maestro, SharePoint.
  2. Plan and offer information sessions: Office 2007, Office 2008, Mailbox management, Clean Access, Wireless, File Transfer Protocol, Enhanced Quotas, Right Answers, Video Conferencing, WebEx, Data Security, Surveys, Nolijweb.
  3. Host teaching and learning workshops: web authoring, video editing, filming techniques, animation, image editing, audio editing, Blackboard/Learning Objects, Web 2.0 technologies (Blogs, Podcasts, Wikis).
  4. Provide online tutorials for instructional resources.
  5. Host after-hours student-run clinics to support coursework in the areas of web authoring and multimedia.
  6. Provide desk-side workshops for faculty needing one-on-one assistance.
  7. Disseminate technology news via ITS News Blog, ITS website, flat panel monitors.

Improve Security and Disaster Preparedness of Campus Systems

  1. Complete and test disaster preparedness plan for mission-critical services.
  2. Complete implementation of new Storage Area Network (SAN).
  3. Continue migration of servers (Lost Sheep) hosted in departmental buildings to the protected environment of ITS data center.
  4. Implement Virtual Private Network (VPN) redundancy.
  5. Expand the use of Reverse Proxy Services to reduce the exposure of campus systems.
  6. Expand and upgrade campus backup system.
  7. Review all service agreements’ terms, conditions and coverage.
  8. Formalize lifecycle management for: network switches, network cabling, servers, storage and backup system.