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Technology Strategic Plan
Last revised March 3, 2008
Vision
Highline will have a 100% technology-enabled campus. This will require a more robust network infrastructure, both on and off campus, to support: full wireless network coverage; 100% technology-equipped classrooms; and mobile access to instruction, services, business processes and educational resources.
Operational processes at Highline will be optimized by fully utilizing current and emerging technologies, such as electronic contracts and forms, electronic funds transfers, document management, and web content management.
Students at Highline will be fully technology-enabled, through access to open, available computing resources, student literacy training for everything from basic technology access to digital video/audio editing, technology infused throughout the teaching and learning process, and access to learning support services.
Instruction at Highline will be offered flexibly, with the borders between online, hybrid, and fully face-to-face classes blurred. Online environments will support both asynchronous and real-time communication and seamlessly integrate new technologies (e.g. podcasts, wikis, virtual worlds) as they become available.
Services to students will be available completely online 24/7: this includes the entire admissions and registration process such as application, tuition and fee payment, assessment, advising, and financial aid. Registration for individual classes will be seamlessly integrated into the existing online class schedule. Work processes and communication with students will be streamlined through the use of technology.
A student's relationship with the college will be fostered throughout their academic career (prospective student to alumnus) through the innovative use of technology and enhanced communications.
The Technology Strategic Plan is designed to
- Tie institutional priorities to technology trends and goals, aligning with the College’s vision, mission and goals.
- Focus on the needs of the stakeholders of the institution— students, faculty and staff—rather than on technology itself.
- Provide direction and a management strategy within the context of changing internal and external environments, philosophy and direction for the use of information technology within the College.
The following plan presents five initiatives, related activities and examples of ways to carry out those activities.
1. Enhance access to
campus resources and services for students, faculty and staff.
Highline recognizes that technology is integral to the success of
learning, teaching & daily operations of the college.
a)
Increase access to campus services for students and employees
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Provide 24/7 access
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Provide simplified sign-on, allowing access to most college applications
with a single credential (username/password), and, where possible,
access to multiple web-based applications required for daily work with a
single logon
o
Provide and enhance VPN (Virtual Private Network) access
o
Implement Identify Management processes, procedures, and tools
(authentication, authorization, password management, workflows)
b) Improve functionality of existing online services
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Make improvements to web interfaces provided by CIS
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Ensure the entire student application process and fee payment can
be completed online
o
Improve registration process so adding/dropping/waitlisting can all be
accomplished online whenever registration is open
o
Investigate enhanced interaction between Blackboard/SMS/Instructor
Briefcase
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Establish an e-Signature policy
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Provide more streamlined, user friendly, web-based applications for
staff and faculty use such as human resources services, building
operations, financial management, enrollment and registration systems,
physical plant security, and communications systems in order to replace
existing paper forms and processes such as time sheets, leave slips,
RFPs, travel forms, PAFs, grade changes, personal services contracts,
MSRs, and P-card logs
c) Utilize available
technology and human resources to maximize efficiency.
o
Implement new applications supported by CIS such as online degree audit,
online advising and database driven online catalog.
o
Expand electronic financial transaction services
o
Set up individualized student accounts which show financial aid awards,
payment due dates, library fees etc.
o
Provide virtualized computing resources “in the cloud” to access work
and learning tools
o
Establish a more streamlined, customer oriented way to request and
receive technical support. Consider needs of target audiences such
as employees, on-campus students, distance learning students,
Blackboard users
o
Set up a customer relations database to support recruitment and
retention.
o
Provide an electronic document management system
o
Increase the number of faculty who attend training for Blackboard (or
other content management system/virtual learning environment)
o
Address the need for updated web authoring application; Investigate
possible use of web content management system
o
Require technology training for employees via face-to-face workshops
and/or online training modules
o
Reorganize intranet by functionality; market the resource to increase
employee use
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Cross-train IT staff to create broader, more flexible support of IT
infrastructure maintenance and development
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Consider cost and impact of outsourcing some services
d) Assure, in times of emergency, continuity of operations for
students and employees.
o
Maintain back up generator to support network functionality in the event
of power outage
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Purchase and set up off-campus servers for critical services in case
primary campus systems go down
o
Encourage the use of Blackboard (or other content management system
/virtual learning environment) as the medium for providing syllabi,
assignments, emergency messages
o
Establish secure, off-campus Web based access to college resources for
appropriate employees using the VPN and Identity Management tools
(authentication, authorization, password management, workflows)
2. Continue the
innovative and effective use of technology in learning and teaching.
Highline places a high value on the effective and innovative use of
technology in learning and teaching in order to prepare students for
success and enhance employees' strengths. To continue the innovative and
effective use of technology in learning and teaching we will:
a) Provide the same software, tools and resources to students that
they will use in the workplace.
o
Use faculty and advisory committee recommendations to guide
decisions
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Assure IT network/equipment/staff will be able to support
identified software, tools or resources
b) Define core technology competencies for students, faculty
and staff and provide appropriate instruction.
o
Identify technology skills needed to succeed at Highline and in the
work place (e.g. FIT - Fluency in Information Technology)
o
Involve Standards, Outcomes and Competencies Committee to
institutionalize technology skill standards for students
c) Provide a consistent level of equipment and services to
support instruction.
o
Identify classroom technology standards to assure consistency of
equipment in physical classrooms
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Encourage the use of Blackboard (or other content management
system/virtual learning environment) as the medium for providing
syllabi, assignments, emergency messages
o
Explore the expansion of the equipment pool available for student
checkout
d) Work closely with the faculty to investigate and implement new
and creative technology solutions.
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Create a central learning object repository where faculty can
share curriculum, materials, how-to guides for students,
etc.
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Expand use of Blackboard (or other content management
system/Virtual Learning Environment)
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Continue to investigate and evaluate use and support of tools
such as screencasting, wikis, blogs, podcasts, chat
software, e-portfolios, live screen-sharing (collaboration
tool which allows anyone, on any type of computer, to share
and annotate their ideas, documents, presentations or
digital images, in real-time), adaptive content
presentation, collaboration studios, video and audio editing
labs for student use.
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Encourage
innovation while supporting academic freedom
3. Establish systematic
support infrastructure for technology.
Highline values a viable, stable, robust technology
infrastructure. To establish systematic support infrastructure for
technology we will:
a) Develop and
implement an IT governance structure that will guide infrastructure
decisions.
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Identify areas of responsibility and accountability within
the overall IT structure
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Develop and implement a coordinated approach to prioritizing,
identifying and implementing new technology services
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Make resource
allocation recommendations that support the agreed upon
priorities.
b) Assess existing technology standards, maintenance and
replacement schedules to ensure that facilities and equipment meet
the needs of users.
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Use data from internal and external resources to assist in
current and future planning
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Expand the work of the Standards Committee to address total
infrastructure (network, IT security, capital projects) as
well as desktop hardware and software
c) Provide consistent
baseline level of equipment and services to support campus
operations.
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Launch campus-wide secure wireless
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Define, and annually assess, network, systems, classroom and
office technology standards
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Establish schedule for maintenance and replacement
(upgrading) of network, systems, office and classroom
technology equipment
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Identify stable
funding source for maintenance and replacement (upgrading)
of network, systems, office and classroom technology
equipment
d) Provide sustainable funding for adequate technology staffing and support levels to ensure that user needs for teaching, learning and daily operations are met
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Provide sufficient IT staffing with skills required to move forward
on campus technology initiatives
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Explore variety of sources - e.g. tech fee, grants
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Provide input to SBCTC / Legislative initiatives regarding
staffing requirements
e) Establish policies and procedures to assure data integrity.
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Identify and establish communication between appropriate
departments to assure use of data fields and terminology is
consistent. For example: HR (PPMS), AT (Active
Directory/Outlook), and IC (eDirectory)
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Implement Identity Management processes, procedures, and
tools (authentication, authorization, password management,
workflows)
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Establish
standards for employee data to enable future business
process improvements and automation. Clean existing data to
match established standards.
f) Ensure new technology solutions integrate effectively and
securely with existing technology.
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Use the Technology Acquisition Process to evaluate department
technology solution requests based on anticipated
campus-wide impact, integration with existing technology,
relevant security and privacy guidelines, and technology
support needs
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Facilitate cross discipline/department collaboration to
evaluate equipment needs
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Support data driven decisions
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Champion
efficient use of technology resources
4. Use technology to
enhance internal and external communication.
Highline recognizes that an informed community is critical to
achieving our mission and goals. To use technology to enhance internal and external communication, we will:
a) Develop a
ubiquitous and flexible communications infrastructure to provide
routine and critical information to the campus community.
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Provide college email addresses to all students and employees
to ensure equity in access to campus information.
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Establish guidelines for using electronic methods (email,
text, phone) to send routine information to students. (This
does not include communications between faculty and
students.)
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Identify and implement distribution methods for “Emergency
alerts” (e.g. email, text messages, phone)
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Investigate and evaluate other electronic methods for
communicating routine school business to students and
employees (e.g. text messaging, blogs, RSS)
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Establish computer information kiosks in public areas of all
buildings for easy access to maps, event schedules, parking
passes, directory information
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Establish protocol for disbursing planned “interruption of
service” messages (e.g. CIS system down for upgrades;
electricity or water shut off)
b) Implement new, innovative, and sustainable methods to enhance the
college presence on the internet to reach our target audiences.
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Regularly evaluate data to identify website visitor
demographics
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Regularly evaluate data to assess target audiences and their
needs
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Evaluate and implement website enhancements (e.g. more
database driven resources such as program requirements,
catalog, directory; webcam; RSS; comprehensive online
calendar; interactive campus tour; blogs)
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Establish or enhance official presence in social networks and
virtual worlds such as MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr,
Second Life, etc.
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Provide or
enhance tools for use on instructional and non-instructional
department websites such as surveys, email “mailing lists”,
blogs, chat
5. Continue active
involvement and collaboration with local, state and national
organizations
Highline supports influencing, and staying informed of, developing
technology trends and solutions. To continue active involvement and
collaboration with local, state, national and international
organizations we will:
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Collaborate with partner organizations and groups such as
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Center for Information Services (CIS)
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Information Technology Planning Group (ITPG)
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Technology Transformation Task Force (TTTF)
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Statewide commissions and councils
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K-20
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Internet 2
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Educause
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League for Innovation
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Other education
and technology organizations
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Develop a strategy
to educate the campus community of emerging technology trends
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Brown Bags
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Post messages/links on ThunderNet
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Professional Develop Day presentations
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Opening Week activities
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Emails with
updates
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Provide funding, release time and other resources to support
these activities
Approved by Executive Staff: August 29, 2007
Presented to the Highline students and employees: September 20, 2007
Highline students and employees surveyed for input: October 2007
Last Revision: March 3, 2008
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