Purpose of Technology at Aquinas
Information technology plays an increasingly vital role in today's highly competitive market place. Businesses are demanding computer literate graduates, and financial pressures are demanding higher institutional productivity and efficiency. Emerging technologies are expanding the use of computers in corporate, academic, and home settings. More and more elementary school children are computer literate and soon will be looking for an institution of higher learning.
To meet these challenges, Aquinas must continually address three specific areas:
- Student computer services, consistent with Aquinas mission and goals, in order to graduate competent students.
- Computer services for administrative functions, i.e. to attract new students, keep existing students, and develop our Alumni and Friends for on-going support.
- Computing foundation or infrastructure that enables and supports existing and future technology services.
Information technology is a vital resource needed to help Aquinas achieve its goals. Information technology is integral to the vision, strategic focus, and goals of Aquinas.
From specific statements of strategic focus and goals, to systems that support other goals, information technology is key to the very existence of Aquinas College. Technology planning is essential in order to meet needs in a way that maximizes and leverages resources.
Role of Information Technology & Services
Information Technology & Services provides information technology-based services to the Aquinas Community. The role of ITS involves leading and responding. The "leadership" functions involve technology planning, implementation, and support. The "responding" functions involve responding to specific College needs and support of the Business Plan.
In addition to responding to specific requests for services, ITS focuses attention on known needs from a technological point of view and potential needs from a strategic point of view. Potential needs must support Aquinas' mission/values/vision/strategic focus/goals. The input of this and other knowledge is woven with anticipated technology factors to arrive at viable focal points. This foundation stems from a strategy of a network backbone that is stable, manageable, and capable of supporting current and emerging technologies, making them accessible to all Aquinas constituencies.
Important pieces of our technology infrastructure are compatible, maintainable computer systems capable of supporting required applications. This foundation makes it possible to develop new and specific capabilities to support functional needs (including delivery systems, learning systems, productivity, administrative functions, and communications). Such a foundation enables exposure and competency in technology utilized in a changing world, a facilitation of human interactions, increase productivity, and more effective learning systems.
This Technology Planning Guide then provides a framework for growth that allows commitment to an infrastructure as well as response to evolving needs within a technologically changing environment. It is designed to enable a stable foundation of technology and people capable of supporting the ever changing information technology needs of the College and its students.
The Network
The network backbone is the central focus of technology planning. The backbone provides the facility for technology access and growth. As such, network issues will be the primary concern of any project. Issues of industry standards, growth, manageability, and compatibility are the central focus of network growth and functionality. Industry trends and forecasting are emphasized in decision making. Alignment with technology specialists is important to leverage the costs of training as well as seminar attendance to keep current on industry trends.
Technology growth requires planning to maximize resources.
The goal is to seek standardization of operating systems, hardware and peripherals in order to simplify the network and reduce central computing expenses.
Savings in staff time—technical staff and users—will result from this standardization because of the reduction of environments to learn and support. Training efforts are reduced and benefits increase as required knowledge and skills are common. This will also allow for easier central network management, shared resources (i.e. backups, drives, printers) and will reduce implementation turn around times.
The existing goal of enabling access to any computer resource from any location on or off campus requires network standards if this is to be achieved in a cost-effective manner.
Considering the age of campus buildings and the proliferation of electronic devices, network attachment and electrical power are also important considerations in maintenance and growth plans. Individual and corporate gifts and Grants are increasingly sought to fund technology projects.
Computer Systems and Applications
College Computing Systems need to meet networking requirements as described above as well as being able to run required applications. The administrative application focus will be on integrated information data base structures that eliminate redundancy and maximize customer service. The academic application focus will be on learning objectives, curriculum integration, and standardization on and off campus.
Microcomputer and workstation hardware standards will also meet durability, connectivity and maintainability standards. The most current equipment will be available to students with older equipment being passed down to faculty and staff.
Software standards will be set and periodically reviewed to provide the best fit of functionality and compatibility with external entities.
The reviewing, setting, and maintaining of standards is an important way to maximize resources, including training, support, and mobility issues.
Training and Support
The effective utilization of information technology is crucial. In order for maximum benefits to be obtained from technology investments, users must know, understand and utilize Aquinas' computer resources effectively. This requires documentation, training, and support.
The objective of training and support from Information Technology & Services is to enable users to mature in their understanding and use of information technology so that they can function independently and become efficient in their evolving use of technology to accomplish the goals of the College.
The scope of this training and support is the College's standard hardware and software. Discipline specific applications are supported to the point of access. All other non-standard and non-College applications are not supported.
Training resources and services will be available in a variety of formats to fit the needs of the user and the resources of the college. Support will be provided in a friendly, non-threatening manner that leads the person to the solution rather than providing quick answers that only build dependence on ITS. Self sufficiency is important in effectively utilizing computer resources.
Hardware trouble shooting and repair will be provided in a swift manner to reduce down time and restore customer service. Especially in applications that provide direct service to customers, resources must be assembled quickly to keep down time to minutes rather than hours.
Needs Assessment
Requests
for hardware and software will be made to ITS for consideration
in the budget-building process and/or college planning processes.
Acquisitions of hardware or software will go through ITS to
review for compatibility, duplication, pricing, application
fit, licensing and inventory record keeping.
New technologies will be reviewed through appropriate channels to ensure their technical compatibility and their fit to the mission/values/vision/strategic focus/goals of Aquinas and that they are supported by their intended users. |
