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RADFORD UNIVERSITY

 

Information Technology

Strategic Plan

2008-2013

 

November 5, 2008

 

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In an era of growing demands for IT services, it is imperative that strong guiding principles are followed that will allow for the fulfillment of the Division of Information Technology’s mission. This will require innovative strategic thinking before making technology decisions. The plan as presented in this document focuses on:

• Cultivating an IT culture committed to excellence and service
• Supporting teaching and learning
• Implementing an integrated University administrative system (Banner)
• Establishing a robust IT Infrastructure (Data and voice)
• Providing a unified online presence (New University Web site & MyRU portal)
• Providing quality customer centric support
• Maintaining a secure IT environment

While focusing on innovation, agility, customer service and stewardship, the adoption of this plan will help ensure Information Technology priorities are appropriately aligned with the University’s Strategic 7-17 vision.

 

 

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Information Technology Strategic Plan

 

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .3

Mission Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Guiding Principles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Goal 1: Cultivate an IT culture committed to excellence and service that reaches

beyond current needs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Goal 2: Provide tools and services to support innovative teaching and student-

centered learning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Goal 3: Implement state-of-the-art administrative systems built on an integrated

approach to information assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Goal 4: Build a reliable and robust technology infrastructure to support the growing

communication and information technology needs of the University. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 6

Goal 5: Provide a unified online presence to enhance the University’s public appeal

and to facilitate improved functionality and services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Goal 6: Provide a quality customer centric support environment to enhance

productivity and efficiency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Goal 7: Build and maintain an IT environment that protects the reputation and

integrity of the University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Appendix I – Alignment to RU’s 7-17 Strategic Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Information Technology Strategic Plan

 

Introduction

Technology has become a vital necessity on college campuses as the need for information sharing and academic support continues to accelerate at astonishing rates. As needs continue to increase, technology itself continues to change at a rapid pace. Keeping up with this growth and these advancements in technology will present wonderful opportunities in the years ahead.

The goal of this plan is to provide a strategic plan for Information Technology that directly supports Radford University’s 7-17 Strategic Plan. As needs for campus technology continue to grow, this plan will provide guidance and assistance in setting priorities and decision making. With the ever-changing face of technology, this plan will need to be revised throughout the five year period as shifts in user needs and technology take place.

Mission Statement

The Division of Information Technology is committed to delivering a strategic advantage to Radford University by fostering the creative and innovative use of technology to achieve the University’s directives. The division promotes effective stewardship of information assets and provides a secure, highly reliable technology infrastructure along with high-quality, customer-oriented services and support, so as to meet the ever changing needs of students, faculty and staff.

Guiding Principles

• Implement technology based on defined functional needs and the strategic

  objectives of the University
• Design all new systems and technologies with integration and ease of use as

   expected features
• Manage IT projects in accordance with industry best practices
• Implement cost effective technology solutions and standards
• Provide responsible stewardship for University budgets and resources
• Maintain appropriate technology lifecycles that optimize value to the University
• Facilitate communication among campus community
• Provide trusted and reliable systems
• Maintain a high level of security and privacy for all sensitive data
• Value employee diversity and commitment
• Implement accessible IT systems
• Recognize that people supporting and using technology are more important than

   technology itself
• Anticipate change in technology and the needs of customers
• Promote a responsive governance structure to engage the University community

   in decisions and strategic directions for IT

 

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Information Technology Strategic Plan

 

Goal 1:   Cultivate an IT culture committed to excellence and service that reaches beyond current needs.

Objective 1.1: Recruit and retain talented and qualified staff.

• Provide challenging opportunities to enhance professional growth
• Ensure, to the extent possible and complying with state guidelines, IT staff

  salaries are competitive and comparable to those at peer   institutions
• Establish an IT staff education training and professional development program
• Provide stimulating and flexible work environments
• Provide appropriate recognition based on performance

Objective 1.2: Evaluate and adjust organizational structure and processes to optimize the alignment of IT resources and University needs.

Objective 1.3: Involve students in an appropriate manner to enhance IT support and to develop student marketability after graduation.

Objective 1.4: Utilize appropriate channels to communicate with University constituencies.

• Develop an IT communications and marketing plan
• Increase awareness of available services

Objective 1.5: Research new and emerging technologies.

Objective 1.6: Utilize the Information Technology Advisory Committee as a sounding board on new ideas, to provide feedback on existing technologies, to assist in the planning and promotion of new technologies and to assist in the development and review of IT policies.

 

Goal 2: Provide tools and services to support innovative teaching and student-centered earning.

Objective 2.1: Design, build, maintain and support technology rich and pedagogically flexible learning spaces.

• Develop and support classroom technology standards
• Maintain appropriate computer lab resources

Objective 2.2: Ensure faculty have the necessary training opportunities to utilize available technology in classrooms and learning spaces.

Objective 2.3: Provide faculty with personal computers to aid in meeting their instructional and research needs.

 

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Information Technology Strategic Plan

 

Objective 2.4: Evaluate and maintain appropriate software standards and license agreements to aid in meeting instructional and research needs of the University community.

Objective 2.5: Provide and support e-learning technologies that integrate with the teaching and learning process.

Objective 2.6: Provide and support distance learning technologies and learning spaces to enhance teaching capabilities.

 

Goal 3: Implement state-of-the-art administrative systems built on an integrated approach to information assets.

Objective 3.1: Ensure the timely completion of the Banner implementation

• Re-engineer business processes and policies to fully utilize the system’s

  capabilities and optimize employee efficiency and productivity
• Increase electronic access to information and reduce the use of paper forms and

   reports
• Implement customer-friendly online self-service applications
• Integrate ancillary systems with Banner to reduce duplication of data, enhance

   functionality and streamline access to services
• Implement integrated document management solutions which reduce paper and

   streamline access to information
• Implement Banner Workflow to improve business processes and increase

  efficiencies

Objective 3.2: Review and implement integrated ancillary systems that address specific functionality and needs which are outside the scope of the Banner system.

• Research, recommend and possibly implement a housing system that supports

  the needs of Residential Life
• Research, recommend and possibly implement a cashiering system that

  supports the needs of Student Accounts and Cashiering

Objective 3.3: Provide appropriate database management systems and controls to ensure efficient data storage and retrieval while maintaining the integrity of University information.

Objective 3.4: Maintain a reporting environment that supports information access for reporting, planning, decision making and trend analysis.

Objective 3.5: Develop and implement an identity and access management system for provisioning and de-provisioning of access to University resources and services.

 

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Information Technology Strategic Plan

 

Goal 4: Build a reliable and robust technology infrastructure to support the growing communication and information technology needs of the University.

Objective 4.1: Design and implement systems to provide a foundation for other services using sustainable maintenance and funding models.

Objective 4.2: Provide a trusted technical environment that ensures availability and reliability.

Objective 4.3: Maintain multiple data centers to distribute development and production systems and provide disaster recovery options.

Objective 4.4: Enhance the campus network infrastructure to eliminate single points of failure where funding and technology permit.

• Create redundant links between buildings
• Implement Quality of Service on network devices

Objective 4.5: Provide adequate bandwidth to meet the needs and expectations of the University community.

• Evaluate usage patterns and trends to forecast bandwidth upgrades
• Evaluate cost effective ways of providing additional bandwidth as the need arises

Objective 4.6: Implement and maintain a cost effective telephone system that meets the needs of the entire University community.

Objective 4.7: Provide students, faculty and staff with appropriate access to email storage and archival systems.

Objective 4.8: Maintain and support a campus cable television and radio infrastructure.

Objective 4.9: Enhance electronic communications and services to the University and surrounding community by leveraging relationships and developing partnerships.

 

Goal 5: Provide a unified online presence to enhance the University’s public appeal and to facilitate improved functionality and services.

Objective 5.1: Provide leadership to the campus community for the establishment of a new web site to publicize RU’s contributions to the region, the Commonwealth, the nation and the world; and to support the recruitment and retention of highly qualified students, faculty and staff.

• Facilitate the review, selection and acquisition process for consulting services

  and tools
• Enhance functionality, navigation and consistency

 

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Information Technology Strategic Plan

 

Objective 5.2: Implement a web architecture that meets the changing needs of the University.

• Provide distributed ownership and approval of web content
• Ensure the web presence reflects best practices for achieving accessibility as

  defined by the guidelines pertaining to Americans with Disabilities Act
• Implement effective search strategies
• Utilize technology to track usage and statistics

Objective 5.3: Implement a University portal to serve as the gateway to University information systems and services.

• Provide self-service applications to empower users

 

Goal 6: Provide a quality customer centric support environment to enhance productivity and efficiency.

Objective 6.1: Invest in technology training programs to aid in increasing the knowledge and skills of University employees.

Objective 6.2: Establish software and hardware standards that facilitate improved customer service while minimizing support costs.

Objective 6.3: Manage hardware, software and other IT assets to maximize utilization while containing costs.

• Create standard software images to improve usability, performance, security,

  energy efficiency and serviceability
• Implement an IT asset management system to enhance the lifecycle replacement

  process of technology equipment
• Implement cost effective repair models for University owned technology

  equipment

Objective 6.4: Provide superior customer support for faculty, staff and students in the use of campus technologies.

• Provide superior support through the call center, field support and walk-in service

  areas
• Conduct customer satisfaction surveys as a method of continuous feedback and

  improvement

Objective 6.5: Consult with departments to establish cost effective standards for local and cellular telephone service which meets the needs of the University community.

 

Goal 7: Build and maintain an IT environment that protects the reputation and integrity of the University.

Objective 7.1: Promote IT security to minimize security threats and incidents.

 

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Information Technology Strategic Plan

 

• Provide IT security awareness programs for the University community
• Provide technical security training for the appropriate personnel
• Provide an environment that ensures confidentiality and integrity
• Identify sensitive data ownership and responsibilities

Objective 7.2: Implement and adhere to security policies and standards based on International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC 27002) where applicable.

• Audit sensitive University systems on a regular basis
• Collaborate with internal and external auditors to enhance security based on audit

  recommendations

Objective 7.3: Maintain a current Business Impact Analysis, Risk Assessment and Disaster Recovery plan for sensitive University systems.

Objective 7.4: Continually monitor and enhance the security of University’s information assets.

• Stay abreast of new threats and take the appropriate security measures
• Conduct vulnerability scans

Objective 7.5: Implement a change management system along with appropriate policies to minimize risks through review and approval of documented changes to hardware and software.

Objective 7.6: Foster partnerships with local, regional and commonwealth security professionals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Information Technology Strategic Plan

 

Appendix I – Alignment to RU’s 7-17 Strategic Plan

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