Evergreen Valley College

Technology Plan

Executive Sumary

The Campus Technology Committee (CTC) is a Standing Committee established by Evergreen Valley College for the coordination of campus-wide computing. The committee is comprised of management, faculty, staff and students each appointed by their various constituency groups as described in the College’s Collaborative Decision Making Handbook. As part of its charge, the CTC is to assess campus computer resources, to develop, and annually update, a three-year comprehensive Technology Master Plan for the coordination of campus-wide computing. The complete charge of the CTC is discussed in Section I of this plan.

In spring of 2003, the CTC began the task of developing a three year Technology Master Plan that:

The Planning Model

In spring 2002, the CTC adopted the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) model. The TCO model provides a structure that identifies the relationship between student access to Information Technology and faculty and staff access, training and support. The application of the TCO model is discussed in Section 3 of this report. The committee hired a consulting firm, Consultants for Innovative Instruction; to facilitate the planning process and assist with the collection and analysis of data from a technology needs assessment. A second consulting firm, Uniplex Data Systems, along with Media Services staff conducted an infrastructure analysis.

A needs assessment was conducted by the CTC to identify technology needs and problems experienced throughout the College and between the College and District’s Information Technology Support and Services (ITSS) Department. There were over 885 participants from all constituency groups. A timeline and breakdown of participants is found in Appendix A. The analysis and findings from these needs assessment tools are documented in a report on the College’s website http://www.evc.edu.techplan. An additional technology self-study was conducted as part of the College’s accreditation study and is included in Appendix D. The following needs assessment activities were conducted.

Surveys

Three surveys were constructed based on needs identified in prior assessment activities. One survey was targeted for faculty, the second survey was for students and the third survey was for staff, including managers.

Town Hall Meeting

The Campus community was invited to participate in an open forum at which they could express their technology needs and assessment of the state of technology at EVC. The meeting was held in the Gullo Student Center.

Focus Groups

Each member of the CTC conducted focus group activities with faculty and staff from his or her division, students, and campus organizations such as the Student Services Committee, Student Life Involvement Council (SLIC), Management Committee, Instructional Technology Trainers, Technical Support and the District’s ITSS Department.

In addition to the needs assessment and infrastructure report, members of the College community were assembled to conduct a self-study for Accreditation Standard 3C, Technology Resources. This self-assessment was conducted spring and fall 2003. Several documents were collected to provide evidence of current practices, policies and procedures for technology support, effectiveness, training, updates, distribution and planning. A draft of this self-study is included in Appendix D.

In fall 2003, based on the needs assessments, infrastructure report, and the self-study, five strategic priorities were identified.

Strategic Priorities

  1. Technology Funding, and Security
    Based on the deficits and priorities identified in the TCO model, Section II, the District Office shall augment finances to the college for ongoing support, upgrades, security, and adequate staffing for technology management, support and training as recommended in Section V of this plan.
  2. Technical Support and Services
    The campus shall maintain technical support staffing levels, and technical support services to fill the gap between technology needs and fulfillment. The campus shall hire support staff as defined by the TCO model and requested in Section V of this plan, and make the recommended server upgrades as listed in Server Plan Appendix E. These servers shall provide access to discipline image files, virus definitions, service pack upgrades, application patches, campus standard applications, etc. to tech support staff, available to any computer on campus.
  3. Infrastructure Upgrades and Acquisition Guidelines
    Infrastructure expansion and upgrades shall be based on program; student service and support needs and follow the guidelines and recommendations in the infrastructure report, Section III, of this plan. Technology expansion and upgrades shall be based on guidelines identified and prioritized in the TCO model, Section II, of this plan. Technology acquisition guidelines addressed shall be used to ensure efficient and coordinated procedures for the procurement of technology and the establishment of campus wide technology standards.
  4. Internet-based Services and Distance Education
    The District Office and Campus shall collaboratively provide online access to the following Internet based services; admissions, registration, orientation, and transcripts; distance education, telecourses, online, blended, and hybrid courses; access to accurate information on academic programs, schedule of classes and services; course management tools that facilitate student and faculty use of the Internet; file storage to facilitate the transportation and presentation of instructional material and documents between various locations on campus and between school, work and home; library research electronic database, remote access, online catalog, presentation stations with Internet access to all EVC classrooms;.
  5. Technology Training
    The District Office and Campus shall increase the coordination of technology training and support by: integrating technology proficiency into the hiring of new employees; including technology training and the acquisition of skills into the job responsibilities, development plans, and evaluations of employees; and including technology needs assessment in program reviews. The Campus shall expand the operation of the current Staff Resource Center to include a technology education function. The new center is a Technology Resource and Education Center. The new center will provide high-end hardware and software shared by all faculty and staff . The new center will provide ongoing workshops, self paced and one-on-one instruction. The new center shall be staffed a minimum of 40 hours a week with Instructional Technology Faculty, Staff, and Student Assistants.

     This Technology Plan is not “business as usual”. There are radical paradigm shifts required for successful implementation. We are shifting from funding computer and technology purchases without consideration for how we will install, maintain and support the technology. We are shifting from funding mission-critical applications such as virus protection and operating system licenses with one-time instructional equipment allocations to a more stable funding model. We are shifting to a more collaborative technology support model between the District Office and the College. We are shifting from just providing access to technology to “Supporting Learning with Technology.”

     The CTC has adopted this Technology Master Plan as of December 2003. It is highly recommended that the College Council, President, and Budget Committee adopt the plan early in the spring semester. It is also recommended that the plan go to the Governing Board for approval in spring 2004 so that it can be included in the District’s budget planning process for the 04/05 Academic year. The San Jose/Evergreen Community College governing board adopts the Evergreen Valley College Technology Plan, 2004-2007, with the understanding that it will be subject to ongoing evaluation and review, using the College’s and District’s established shared governance process. Once adopted, the CTC will coordinate implementation and provide annual progress reports and updates.