IR STRATEGIC PLANNING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

This Information Resources (IR) Strategic Plan supports the agency's 1995-1999 UNT Strategic Plan through a set of IR objectives. For sake of reference, these objectives are abbreviated as:

Classrooms

Instruction & Research

Distributed Learning

Dissemination of Information

Business Applications

Faculty/Staff Support

Other Shared Support

Administrative Information

State and Federal Mandates

Notes:

1. The Information Resource objectives, strategies, and action items within this plan support university (agency) and state goals and objectives. Since individual IR objectives frequently support multiple university goals, the goals are not listed in this section (to avoid intensive cross-referencing). Linkages of IR objectives to UNT agency priorities and goals, as well as to state goals, are demonstrated in a separate table in the next section.
2. This plan deals primarily with Information Technology (IT) support provided by the Computing Center, distributed (college, departmental) support centers, Libraries, Center for Instructional Services, and Microcomputer Maintenance.
3. This plan is intended to meet the university requirements for central Computing Center planning, as well as the state planning requirements set by the Texas Department of Information Resources.
4. The term 'distributed learning' is used throughout this document. Distributed learning is defined as learning which "occurs as a portion of the standard contact hours of a course and is an organized teaching/learning event that occurs outside of the physical presence of the teacher. Distributed learning is technology based and can either be synchronous (occurs at a specific time) or asynchronous (occurs at various times). The foundation of distributed learning is the matching of instructional strategies, delivery systems, and materials to learner characteristics and course content." Other terms within this new lexicon, such as distance education, we believe, can all be grouped within 'distributed learning.'
5. Objectives shall be measurable; suggested measures for objectives will be listed in a separate document.
6. This plan attempts to address all activities related to computing and communications support. Therefore, some of the strategies and action items within this plan reflect ongoing activities. Other strategies and action items represent a new direction for IT providers (and are noted as "NEW" within the next section).
7. Objectives 1 through 4 serve as the basis for the information technology support component of the UNT Educational Technology Plan. As suggested by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Educational Technology Plan should address the following criteria: (A) Educational Technology Planning; (B) Student Computer/Telecommunications Access; (C) Educational Media; (D) Distance Education; and (E) Library.

Funding:

For most of the projects listed within this plan, sufficient resources (capital, operating, FTE) have been allocated. Where resources have not been allocated, this is noted in parentheses after the strategy or action item. The most notable funding deficiencies are:

1. Objective 1 (the "classroom" objective), a HIGH priority (Note: priorities given here are relative only to each other. ALL are important.)
2. Strategy 2.3 (university advanced visualization lab), a MEDIUM priority
3. Strategy 3.11 (off-hours support), a MEDIUM priority
4. Strategy 2.2 (minimum adaptive hardware and software), a MEDIUM priority
5. Strategy 3.7 (instructional course design consulting), a MEDIUM priority
6. Strategy 5.7 (executive information system), a LOW priority
7. Strategy 8.4 (programming support for college, departmental functions), a LOW priority

The Innovative Projects Program, listed as a strategy under several objectives, is being implemented to help meet current and future instruction and research needs. Proposals under this program, which is currently funded at $100,000/year, could lead to solutions for one or several of the projects in the funding deficiencies list above.

Information Resources Objectives, Strategies, and Action Items:

• IR Objective 1: Enhance the physical environment and IT support for all classrooms (including distance education facilities) to the point where, by Year 2000, (A) 100% of all classrooms meet the minimum standard, which accommodates viewing of projected images AND note-taking (i.e., the facilities include window shading and the ability to dim overhead lights or to illuminate only a portion of the room), access to electrical outlet and "live" data jack, etc.; (B) 35% of all classrooms are equipped as "smart classrooms" (e.g., the classroom contains a "teaching station" -- a high­end, networked microcomputer, videotape recorder, vertical camera, and display technologies for these (monitors and/or video projection devices)); (C) 33% of the "smart classrooms" have the additional capability of exporting/importing the instruction via a two-way video network.
• • IR Strategy 1.1: Each year, upgrade additional classroom environments to support multi-media instruction (for example, environment should include zoned lighting, window treatments, a "live" network connection, and a "live" telephone jack) (NEW) (insufficient resources allocated)
  • • Action Item 1.1.1: Develop and implement a plan to coordinate an annual survey of classroom upgrade needs, and to submit appropriate renovation requests.
  • IR Strategy 1.2: Provide classroom IT equipment and services (computers, data projectors, cameras, video-conferencing connections, etc.) and technical support/maintenance. (NEW) (insufficient resources allocated)
  • • Action Item 1.2.1: Develop and implement a plan (as in 1.1.1 above) to address (A) appropriate staffing to deliver and maintain classroom IT equipment; (B) equipping classrooms to support IT needs, as appropriate
    • Action Item 1.2.2: Develop and implement a plan (as in 1.1.1 above) to accommodate requests for "low tech" equipment (overhead projectors, VCRs, etc.) with 24-hour advance notice.
    • Action Item 1.2.3: Evaluate video distribution strategies
  • IR Strategy 1.3: Improve efficiency of classroom use
  • • Action Item 1.3.1: Improve classroom scheduling/usage policies to assure best classroom use within scheduling constraints
    • Action Item 1.3.2: Improve the Facilities Scheduling System Inventory in accordance with usage policies
  • IR Strategy 1.4: Implement the proposed Innovative Projects Program to facilitate any of the above strategies
• IR Objective 2: Provide adequate IT support to faculty and students for research and instruction. (See also Objective 3, the "distributed learning" objective, which is a high priority subset of this objective.)
• • IR Strategy 2.1: Plan for (controlled growth, future opportunities) and provide appropriate host computer systems to support research and instruction (e.g. statistical analysis, computer programming coursework)
  • • Action Item 2.1.1: Complete the enhanced central research UNIX system purchase and implementation (SOL)
    • Action Item 2.1.2: Expand the central general UNIX system (JOVE) as demands grow.
    • Action Item 2.1.3: Migrate users off of the academic mainframe where appropriate
    • Action Item 2.1.4: Operate specialized UNIX hosts for research (SOL, PONDER)
    • Action Item 2.1.5: Provide consulting services for statistical research
    • Action Item 2.1.6: Continue to provide consulting services to College of Business students for academic mainframe programming support
    • Action Item 2.1.7: Continue to provide academic mainframe systems programming services as needed
  • IR Strategy 2.2: Use a portion of student computer service fees to provide General Access Lab services for students
  • • Action Item 2.2.1: Continue to allocate resources between labs, based upon the recommendations of the General Access Lab Committee
    • Action Item 2.2.2: Provide a minimum standard of adaptive equipment and software in all general access labs (no resources allocated)
  • IR Strategy 2.3: Operate specialized computer labs for students and other researchers
  • • Action Item 2.3.1: Design, build and operate an Advanced Visualization Lab(s) to meet the university-wide needs (no resources allocated)
  • IR Strategy 2.4: Implement the proposed Innovative Projects Program to facilitate other strategies within this objective
• IR Objective 3: Provide adequate IT infrastructure to support initiatives in distributed learning (which, in our definition, includes but is not limited to distance education) so that these can become a significant part of teaching and learning at UNT. ("Significant" could be interpreted as 2-8% of all courses taught via distance education, and a 3-10% total faculty involvement in some method of distributed learning.)
• • IR Strategy 3.1: Expand and maintain wiring infrastructure
  • • Action Item 3.1.1: Recommend that auxiliary housing funds be used to wire student dormitories to support Ethernet
    • Action Item 3.1.2: Complete the wiring of other buildings
    • Action Item 3.1.3: Extend the fiber optics backbone to all appropriate campus buildings
    • Action Item 3.1.4: Pursue cooperative efforts with the City of Denton to connect the Ministry Center and Library Annex
    • Action Item 3.1.5: Ensure that communications infrastructure needs (upgrade, expansion, maintenance) are addressed within the Campus Master Plan
    • Action Item 3.1.6: Install 100 megabits/second capability to desktops, classrooms where appropriate (NEW) (no resources allocated)
    • Action Item 3.1.7: Upgrade the broadband system
  • IR Strategy 3.2: Enhance remote access to academic services
  • • Action Item 3.2.1: Explore alternatives for a higher throughput Internet connection
    • Action Item 3.2.2: Explore alternatives (such as ISDN, ADSL) to standard modem dialup for remote access
    • Action Item 3.2.3: Explore a more flexible pricing model for Premium Remote Access subscriptions
    • Action Item 3.2.4: Explore funding alternatives for support of dialup access
    • Action Item 3.2.5: Provide appropriate user support (only minimal resources are allocated)
  • IR Strategy 3.3: Maintain and expand (via additional rooms) video-conferencing facilities. (Since these special facilities are classrooms, see also Objective 1) (NEW) (no resources allocated)
  • IR Strategy 3.4: Identify existing distributed learning resources at UNT for use by faculty and staff. (NEW)
  • • Action Item 3.4.1: Build and maintain a Web page which identifies technologies (video, Web access, satellite links, etc.) and local expertise (accomplish by August 1997)
    • Action Item 3.4.2: Highlight "best practices" in distributed learning at UNT
  • IR Strategy 3.5: Seek input from all "stakeholders" (faculty, staff, administrators, students, etc.) regarding distance education initiatives and related issues
  • IR Strategy 3.6: Offer training to faculty members to help them keep abreast of new potential uses of IT
  • • Action Item 3.6.1: Continue the University Forum on Teaching and Learning
    • Action Item 3.6.2: Expand the Teaching with Technology seminars and grants program
  • IR Strategy 3.7: Provide "one-stop shopping" for instructional course design consulting (only minimal resources are allocated)
  • • Action Item 3.7.1: Dedicate staff for this function within Academic Computing Services and Libraries
    • Action Item 3.7.2: Allocate additional staff resources
    • Action Item 3.7.3: Coordinate services
  • IR Strategy 3.8: Support an integrated e-mail system (see also 6.12)
  • • Action Item 3.8.1: Provide ESYS and/or other appropriate, IMAP-compatible, e-mail clients for the central JOVE IMAP student e-mail system
    • Action Item 3.8.2: Establish network directory services which describe user names, e-mail addresses, and other appropriate directory information, across all UNT systems (NEW)
    • Action Item 3.8.3: Establish a process for assigning a single, non-expiring email account (user-ID) for all currently-enrolled students (NEW)
  • IR Strategy 3.9: Investigate ways to share our expensive video conferencing equipment (Codec) (NEW)
  • • Action Item 3.9.1: Establish Codec "farm"
    • Action Item 3.9.2: Establish Codec "service areas"
  • IR Strategy 3.10: Investigate potential uses of other infrastructure technologies, such as (A) connection/subscription(s) to alternative (to TTVN from Texas A&M) video network systems (for example, an alternative might provide dial-up connections); (B) an alternative (cheaper, more reliable) Internet connection; (C) linkage of UNT's current video-conferencing system to UNT's broadband network; (D) establishment of a single exit port for UNT to as many types of networks as possible, to minimally include TTVN and VidNet as the public-switched network.
  • IR Strategy 3.11: Adapt IT support of UNT's business functions to support distributed learning
  • • Action Item 3.11.1: Enable students to access their records and other information via WWW and telephone
    • Action Item 3.11.2: Provide adequate staff for user support coverage to include nights and weekends (only minimal resources are allocated)
    • Action Item 3.11.3: Achieve availability of administrative mainframe applications (such as SIMS) to users at all or most hours of the day, all days of the week
• IR Objective 4: Facilitate effective dissemination of university information
• • IR Strategy 4.1: Improve the delivery of campus-wide information via the UNT Campus-Wide Information System (CWIS) (http://www.unt.edu)
  • • Action Item 4.1.1: Investigate and recommend appropriate levels of staffing for Web publishing
    • Action Item 4.1.2: Implement the initiatives proposed by Team Web (although a formal plan has not yet been submitted, it can be reasonably assumed that insufficient resources are allocated, especially for Web publishing)
    • Action Item 4.1.3: Ask UNT's Development office to fund the development of top level web pages (which are/could be/should be, in a way, electronic versions of fund-raising brochures)
  • IR Strategy 4.2: Promote and support the use of local electronic discussion forums
• IR Objective 5: Provide special software development services for departments which conduct the university's business
• • IR Strategy 5.1: Provide a dedicated programming team for Fiscal Systems
  • • Action Item 5.1.1: Evaluate, and assist with the redesign as necessary, the approvals process, and then select or develop software for electronic approvals (workflow, digital signatures, etc.)
    • Action Item 5.1.2: Acquire suitable products to support development, implementation, and operation of client/server applications
    • Action Item 5.1.3: Develop, implement, and support the Automated Purchasing/Accounts Payable (APAP) application
    • Action Item 5.1.4: Ensure that all software applications that support UNT's critical business processes will continue to function properly in relation to the Year 2000
  • IR Strategy 5.2: Provide a dedicated programming team for Human Resources & Payroll
  • • Action Item 5.2.1: Re-Complete state requirements for the Human Resources Information Systems (also listed under "Mandates" objective)
    • Action Item 5.2.2: Ensure that all software applications that support UNT's critical business processes will continue to function properly in relation to the Year 2000
  • IR Strategy 5.3: Provide a dedicated programming team for Financial Aid
  • • Action Item 5.3.1: Ensure that all software applications that support UNT's critical business processes will continue to function properly in relation to the Year 2000
    • Action Item 5.3.2: Explore on-line applications for federal financial aid
    • Action Item 5.3.3: Implement interactive voice response systems for loans
    • Action Item 5.3.4: Evaluate potential uses for imaging
  • IR Strategy 5.4: Provide a dedicated programming team for Student Records
  • • Action Item 5.4.1: Ensure that all software applications that support UNT's critical business processes will continue to function properly in relation to the Year 2000
    • Action Item 5.4.2: Improve the Registration System (Automate checking for concurrent enrollment, prerequisites) (insufficient resources allocated -- need more MIPS)
    • Action Item 5.4.3: Implement Phase I (mainframe) of the Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS)
    • Action Item 5.4.4: Implement Phase II (client-server) of the Degree Audit Reporting System
    • Action Item 5.4.4: Evaluate possibilities of implementing DARS at area junior and community colleges.
  • IR Strategy 5.5: Provide a dedicated programming team for Admissions
  • • Action Item 5.5.1: Ensure that all software applications that support UNT's critical business processes will continue to function properly in relation to the Year 2000
    • Action Item 5.5.2: Improve Admissions Prospect System
    • Action Item 5.5.3: Explore client-server for applicant status tracking
    • Action Item 5.5.4: Complete the interface to Group 1 address validation database
    • Action Item 5.5.5: Build applications within SISS to support remote access to recruitment materials and University admission application status.
  • IR Strategy 5.6: Provide a dedicated programming team for Advancement (Development) and other smaller administrative departments
  • • Action Item 5.6.1: Complete the interface to Group 1 address validation database
    • Action Item 5.6.2: Ensure that all software applications that support UNT's critical business processes will continue to function properly in relation to the Year 2000
  • IR Strategy 5.7: University Planning (no resources allocated)
  • • Action Item 5.7.1: Clarify definitions for existing data
    • Action Item 5.7.2: Document, for the general faculty/staff user, where to find existing data
    • Action Item 5.7.3: Develop an "Executive Information System" (EIS) (contains easily-queried university data on enrollment, etc.)
    • Action Item 5.7.4: Allocate FTE resources to build and maintain the EIS
• IR Objective 6: Provide adequate support to faculty/staff users of desktop systems.
• • IR Strategy 6.1: Manage NetWare servers.
  • IR Strategy 6.2: Implement a problem tracking system
  • IR Strategy 6.3: Develop and maintain a comprehensive reference guide to accessing UNT systems (NEW)
  • • Action Item 6.3.1: Develop a Web site containing user information about UNT systems
  • IR Strategy 6.4: Phase out older technology to allow support personnel to be able to focus support on fewer systems
  • • Action Item 6.4.1: Allocate resources for the continuous desktop upgrade program
    • Action Item 6.4.2: Develop incentives for moving old equipment to surplus
    • Action Item 6.4.3: Establish a "rolling minimum" for supported desktop hardware
  • IR Strategy 6.5: Use the faculty/staff training program to as a place to experiment with methods of delivering "on demand" instruction, and administering such, in a distributed manner. Consider possibilities and issues such as (A) easily accessible on-line courses; (B) proficiency certification; (C) automated record-keeping within personnel files; (D) Web interface; (E) non-technical courses; (F) self-paced, ability to stop and restart; (G) authentication and authorization; (H) availability to students as well as faculty and staff; (I) links to e-mail addresses of instructors; (J) "road maps" of pre-requisites; (K) increasing public awareness of training video tape availability (NEW) (Insufficient FTE resources are allocated.)
  • • Action Item 6.5.1: Human Resources and Computing Center should explore the possibilities of expanding the faculty/staff training program to experiment with methods of delivering "on demand" instruction.
    • Action Item 6.5.2: Ask administration to support setting aside one Friday morning each month as employee training time (prohibit meetings, supervisor expects employees to use this time for needed training, etc.)
    • Action Item 6.5.3: Ask administration to support requirements such as completion of training, or demonstration of proficiency, before access to certain systems is granted (such as is currently done with access to the Student Information Management System)
  • IR Strategy 6.6: Facilitate standards (below, and others as proposed by Distributed Computer Support Management Team) (NEW)
  • • Action Item 6.6.1: Select and implement software and procedures to streamline management of end-user desktop systems
    • Action Item 6.6.2: Create servers which serve as repositories for standard software. (This streamlines software maintenance, upgrades, etc., in that software is maintained on a central server and quickly replicated to other departmental servers, rather than maintaining software individually on each departmental server.)
    • Action Item 6.6.3: Continue migration to a graphical user interface (such as Windows 95) that is more robust than Windows 3.1
  • IR Strategy 6.7: Maintain effective user-to-support-personnel ratios across all campus departments. (The effectiveness of current ratios will be evaluated during Fiscal Year 1998. Based on this evaluation, additional resources may be needed.)
  • IR Strategy 6.8: Possess a high-quality technical support staff
  • • Action Item 6.8.1: Continue to enhance technical salaries to be competitive with Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex job market (only minimal resources are allocated)
    • Action Item 6.8.2: Provide opportunities for technical training, especially in desktop operating systems
  • IR Strategy 6.9: Improve communication within the two-tier support model (first-level support consists of distributed computer support staff and the Computing Center Help Desk, second-level support providers are the systems administrators, programmers, and others "behind the scenes" within the Computing Center, etc.)
  • • Action Item 6.9.1: Continue to operate a central help desk for problem referral
    • Action Item 6.9.2: Provide text pagers for all key personnel
    • Action Item 6.9.3: Establish a notification process for planned and unplanned systems outages, maintenance, etc.
  • IR Strategy 6.10: Participate in selected software volume purchase agreements and site licenses
  • • Action Item 6.10.1: Continue to contract with Novell (includes GroupWise)
    • Action Item 6.10.2: Explore other licensing agreements as is practical and as existing resources allow
  • IR Strategy 6.11: Provide desktop hardware acquisition and maintenance services
  • • Action Item 6.11.1: Continue to provide Microcomputer Maintenance Shop services for PC's, Mac's, and related equipment (see also 6.4.3)
    • Action Item 6.11.2: Improve planning for, and continue to provide central funding for a maintenance contract for Sun hardware and operating system software
    • Action Item 6.11.3: Provide central funding for maintenance of other "UNIX hardware" as resources allow (only minimal resources are currently allocated)
  • IR Strategy 6.12: Support faculty/staff e-mail
  • • Action Item 6.12.1: Complete the migration of faculty/staff to the Novell GroupWise e-mail, calendaring, and scheduling system.
    • Action Item 6.12.2: Establish a mechanism and guidelines for e-mail distribution of single messages to large groups (such as all UNT employees)
    • Action Item 6.12.3: Explore and add other appropriate communications gateways to GroupWise, such as Web Access Server, fax, Telephone Access Server, and voice mail
    • Action Item 6.12.4: Maintain reliable SMTP Internet and other appropriate GroupWise e-mail gateways
    • Action Item 6.12.5: Implement appropriate remote GroupWise client support via dedicated dial-up lines and/or Internet access
    • Action Item 6.12.6: Explore and implement enhancements to network directory services (NDS) to include and provide appropriate access to additional directory information in a consistent format.
• IR Objective 7: Provide other shared IT services in a cost-effective manner
• • IR Strategy 7.1: Provide host computer systems to support administrative functions
  • • Action Item 7.1.1: Provide Production Control services
    • Action Item 7.1.2: Provide Mainframe Operations services
    • Action Item 7.1.3: Provide Mainframe Systems Programming services
  • IR Strategy 7.2: Provide Data Entry input services
  • • Action Item 7.2.1: Provide limited "keyed" data entry services for a) UNT business functions; b) instructional support; c) research support (insufficient resources allocated)
    • Action Item 7.2.2: Encourage increased use of scannable forms for surveys, etc.
  • IR Strategy 7.3: Provide printing services for host system output
  • • Action Item 7.3.1: Acquire high-speed, industrial-strength printer(s) by August 1997 to replace two aging HP2680 printers (sufficient resources are assumed to be available within the central computing HEAF allocation)
    • Action Item 7.3.2: Provide Mainframe Operations services
    • Action Item 7.3.3: Improve support for, and expand beyond a few departments, printing capability from administrative mainframe applications to departmental printers (HostPrint)
  • IR Strategy 7.4: Enable mainframe users to view reports on-line before (or instead of) printing
  • • Action Item 7.4.1: Implement the Computer Output to Laser Disk (COLD) System
  • IR Strategy 7.5: Provide shared programming support for administrative development programming teams
  • • Action Item 7.5.1: Provide Central Database Support services
  • IR Strategy 7.6: Enhance remote access to administrative services for faculty and staff
  • • Action Item 7.6.1: Provide remote access to faculty/staff e-mail
    • Action Item 7.6.2: Train faculty and staff to use FTP to transfer files between network servers and remote computers
    • Action Item 7.6.3: Evaluate methods of remote access to administrative mainframe applications
  • IR Strategy 7.7: Manage and maintain the campus-wide network infrastructure, to include (A) Netware Directory Services management; (B) building wiring management; (C) dialup management; (D) backbone(s) management; (E) Internet connection management; (F) Domain Name Service management
• IR Objective 8: Improve accessibility to UNT administrative information which employees need to perform their jobs
• • IR Strategy 8.1: Maintain adequate security for information resources
  • • Action Item 8.1.1: Enable data and application owners to grant permissions to user groups (called "job groups") via continued development of the Integration SECurity (ISEC) application on administrative mainframe
    • Action Item 8.1.2: Establish Security Awareness Training program (only minimal resources are allocated)
    • Action Item 8.1.3: Conduct a comprehensive risk analysis
    • Action Item 8.1.4: Adopt an Appropriate Use Policy
    • Action Item 8.1.5: Expand the central computing Disaster Recovery Plan to include additional systems (local area networks, etc.)
  • IR Strategy 8.2: Make computer-stored administrative data more accessible to non-mainframe platforms while maintaining an appropriate level of control and security (see also Action Item 5.8.3, "Executive Information System")
  • • Action Item 8.2.1: Maintain structure and reliability of administrative databases via Central Database Support services
    • Action Item 8.2.2: Continue to replicate data from mainframe-based Advancement Information system to non-mainframe platform for query using Esperant (software which helps users ask questions to a database)
    • Action Item 8.2.3: Consider replicating data from other mainframe-based systems to non-mainframe platforms for query using end user oriented query and data manipulation tools; then identify, evaluate, and implement, if practical, products which would make mainframe-resident data accessible to non-mainframe platforms for query purposes
  • IR Strategy 8.3: Provide additional network links to the administrative mainframe
  • • Action Item 8.3.1: Evaluate alternate communications methods (such as TCP/IP) for accessing the administrative mainframe, AND/OR update and maintain the SAA gateway (from the PC networks to the administrative mainframe)
  • IR Strategy 8.4: Strengthen central programming support for college and departmental-level needs (no resources allocated)
  • • Action Item 8.4.1: Consider establishing a task force to review the cost versus benefit of a dedicated programming team for each administrative function, as well as the unmet needs of colleges and departments, and make recommendations for reallocation and/or additional resources
• IR Objective 9: Comply with state and federal requirements for automated systems (insufficient resources are allocated)
• • IR Strategy 9.1: Defer other projects as necessary
  • • Action Item 9.1.1: Complete state requirements for the Human Resources Information Systems
    • Action Item 9.1.2: Implement computer security requirements required by Texas Administrative Code 201.13(b)
    • Action Item 9.1.3: Implement the data retention guidelines

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