Minnesota State University Moorhead

Master Technology Plan

Section I

Section III

Plans Home

MSUM Home Page

Master Technology Plan

Planning Elements

• Identify planning risks and assumptions
• Identify planning drivers that will measure completion of items (increased enrollments, credits, bandwidth capacity, numbers of online courses, etc.)
  
• Summarize Disaster Recovery Planning
  MnSCU Policy:
  Click Link for the MSUM Plan: http://www.mnstate.edu/it/disaster_recovery/index.htm
  
• Add Other Items

Plans to Enhance the Teaching and Learning Environment

• Summarize Plans for Technology Competency Training, Orientation, or Assessment Initiatives

  The Task Force has developed Action Plans, which prioritize technology expectations for MSUM's instruction, administration, and infrastructure.  The action plans provide answers about teaching and learning initiatives.

  Link to Instructional Technology Action Plan

  Link to Administrative Technology Action Plan

  Link to Infrastructure Technology Action Plan

  Technology Competency Training

MSUM's Instructional Technology department provides technology training for students in the following areas:  PowerPoint presentation software, MnSCU's E-Folio system, listservs, WebCT orientation, Inspiration, FrontPage and Dreamweaver web page development, and a variety of other software when requested by faculty for their classes.  Instructional Technology offers technology training for students in the FYE (First Year Experience) classes as well and orients students to the instructional management system (WebCT). These opportunities will continue to be available, as will new technology training as new software and services become available.  

 Information about the workshops and handouts is available at http://www.mnstate.edu/instrtech/workshop/workshops.htm.

Instructional Technology and Information Technology personnel intend to develop opportunities for technology training and will coordinate scheduling sessions to prevent duplication.

MSUM's library faculty also provide numerous sessions for students on effectively searching the Internet, utilizing the online database services, evaluating and citing electronic resources, utilizing the proxy server for off-campus access to electronic databases, plagiarism, and other topics as requested.  The library staff intends to develop new workshops and training as new products and services become available.

Information about these sessions can be found at http://www.mnstate.edu/library/instruct/instruct.htm.

Instructional Technology plans to create a one to two-credit course in "Information Literacy" that ideally would be required for all students at MSUM.  The idea is to secure external funding to develop blocks of curriculum that can be done in a self-paced format, supported by scheduled (optional) hands-on sessions for those learners needing more direct assistance.  Faculty and staff at MSUM will be invited to share in the development of the curricular materials.  Each module will provide an automatically-graded objective assessment.  In addition, students will go to a computer lab to demonstrate randomly-selected skills from several modules.  Implementation depends on securing approval by the campus academic policy and advisory council AND securing external funding for development and initial implementation.

Student Orientation

New students at MSUM may take a First Year Experience (FYE) course to assist in the transition to college.  Topics include goal setting and time management, self-awareness, note-taking and writing, critical thinking and creative problem-solving, and a technology assignment which involves instruction on PowerPoint.  The FYE website provides details about the technology component.  Instructional Technology will investigate adding instruction about MN E-Folio. The FYE website provides additional details about this technology component: http://www.mnstate.edu/FYE/technology.htm .

Instructional Technology provides orientation workshops for students utilizing MSUM's instructional management system (WebCT) -- topics covered include obtaining a login, using electronic discussion and chat, handing in assignments electronically via the assignment dropbox, and using online testing.

Information Technology provides a website to assist students with technology-related questions.  This site will continue to be expanded and developed to provide up-to-date information about computer labs and facilities, software available on campus, the campus email applications,  and software available for downloading. The Student HelpDesk website is located at http://www.mnstate.edu/helpdesk/Student-index.htm.

Assessment Initiatives

A number of assessment initiatives are underway at MSUM.  A website has been created which summarizes the various assessment plans and initiatives. The site is at http://www.mnstate.edu/assess/.

Instructional Technology staff have been encouraging faculty and students to use MnSCU's E-Folio tool and will develop new ideas for utilizing E-Folio to assist with institutional assessment and data collection.  For example, plans include having Instructional Technology staff work with departments to develop repositories for student work, which could then be reviewed by potential employers or accreditation assessors.

The Director of Instructional Technology has acquired fifteen Palm PDAs and funding for software for using mobile technology to assess teacher candidates in the College of Education and Human Services.  Over the next year the Director will investigate software for data collection and assessment designed for the PDA.

Plans are underway to provide a variety of web-based faculty evaluations.  MSUM has developed a standard evaluation form faculty may use, and Information Technology plans to convert the paper-based (Scantron) form to an online format.   

Instructional Technology is supervising MSUM's Student Technology Team as it facilitates other faculty requests for online course evaluations where the format is unique to an individual faculty member.  A prototype provides anonymous student evaluations of a professor's course.  The tool allows faculty to determine whether a student responded but doesn't link the response to a name.  The data is captured into an Access database to facilitate summarizing and graphing results.

Information Technology also plans to investigate the possibility of providing a web-based form for staff evaluations.

MSUM  provides many opportunities for faculty training and professional development.  Instructional Technology delivers monthly workshops furthering the effective use of technology to enhance teaching and learning.  Information about the workshop appears on their website at http://www.mnstate.edu/instrtech/.

MSUM's Faculty Development Committee sponsors a series of brown-bag lunches where faculty share experiences and learn from each other.  A mentorship program sponsored by this committee provides new faculty an opportunity to work with experienced faculty. A description of some of the events sponsored by this group is available on their website at http://www.mnstate.edu/faculty/.

MSUM's Lead Faculty Group sponsors a number of events providing incentives for faculty to experiment with instructional technology.  For instance, during the January semester break it usually holds a two-day workshop on effectively using technology in both traditional and distance education.  A small stipend is available for attendees, and new faculty are given first priority.  For the past three years a May conference on emerging issues in instructional technology has been available for both MSUM faculty and staff as well as regional educators.  Plans to continue these activities depend on funding.  Descriptions of the activities appear on the website at http://www.mnstate.edu/LeadFaculty/.

Future plans include the following:

• Pursue funding for an Instructional Technology Development Center, with supporting hardware/software/student technologists to aid faculty exploring new techniques for delivering instruction, including customized learning, interactive web-based instruction and customized CD-ROM, etc.
  
• Provide  additional incentives for faculty to experiment with instructional technology as funding permits.
  
• Provide faculty with guidance for incorporating technology training in their PDPs.  Enlist the support of academic deans in this effort.
  
• Provide additional professional development related to instructional technology:
  • Ensure that faculty become informed about MnSCU's intellectual property policy.
  • Develop workshop and online supporting materials for fair use policies and guidelines.
  • Create a series of workshops (in cooperation with Information Technology staff) that address ADA accessibility of online materials.  
  • Continue to offer a regular schedule of faculty  workshops.
  • Create new workshop opportunities as new software and tools become available.
    
• Increase opportunities for technology information sharing:
  • Establish a newsletter, listserv or roundtable to facilitate dialog about instructional technology.
  • Have either the Technology Committee or the Lead Faculty Group (or both), acting as MSUM's TLTR (Teaching and Learning with Technology Roundtables), invite a broad cross-section of the campus community to participate in technology brainstorming sessions, with a particular theme for each month.

• Summarize Plans to Provide Staff Training and Professional Development

  Staff Training and Professional Development at MSUM can be divided into three categories: 1) To Support Day-to-Day Job Responsibilities; 2) For Credit; and 3) For Certification.

  To Support Day to Day Job Responsibilities

  Employee Training and Professional Development is offered by the Information Technology Department, the MSUM Library, and Instructional Technology. Training and professional development information is posted online at the following locations:

  Information Technology Employee Help Desk

  • Computer Policies
  • Computer Workshops
  • Macintosh Computer Instructions
  • Windows Computer Instructions
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Microsoft Tutorials – 2000 Series
  • DocuTech 6135
  • Dragon Jobs
  • Netscape Calendar
  • Splash Printer - Mac
  • Splash Printer - Windows
  • Pico Editor on MHD1
  • Vi Editor on MHD1
  • WebMail User Guide
  • E-mail Access
  • Forwarding Mail
  • Pine & Unix Commands
  • Outlook
  • Software Licensing Information
  • Web Server Account Information
  • Software Downloads & Upgrades
  • WebCT Information
  • Web Registration Information

  The MSUM Student Help Desk has very similar information also including:

  • Dialup Information
  • Student Web Server
  • Web Registration
  • My WebCT Login

  Library Instruction

  • Instructional and Reference Handouts
  • WebPALS Library Catalog Help
  • Internet Searching and Evaluation
  • Citation Help
  • Computer Research Workshops

  Instructional Technology

  • WebCT Faculty Help
  • Handouts including information from many departments
  • Instructional Technology Workshops

  Computer Workshops

  • Information Technology Workshops - offered each term
  • Computer Research Workshops
  • Instructional Technology Workshops

  For Credit

  MSUM has several options for employees to pursue their professional development, earn credits toward a university degree or continue their education.

  Staff Development Programs (Online application form)

  A.     Job Assignment—When the University assigns or a supervisor requests that an employee participate in a specific work assignment (course) to fulfill the basic responsibilities of the job, the University pays the full cost of tuition and fees and grant release time.  Books and lab fees are the employee's responsibility.

  B.     Employee Initiated—At the discretion of the President or his designee and with the supervisor’s approval, employees may be allowed to participate in non-assigned programs to meet specific training and development needs. Participation must be benefit oth the university and the employee. Employees may receive  either release time or reimbursement for 75% tuition and 100% of regular fees, but not both.

  Tuition Wavers (Online application form)

  Tuition Waivers are limited by the terms of the collective bargaining agreements and plans. Members of bargaining units and plans shall be entitled to enrollment, on a space available basis, in courses at any university in the System without payment of tuition or fees, except laboratory and special course fees. The spouse, [domestic partner] and dependent children shall be eligible to share this right within the limits established in the employee’s respective agreement or plan. NOTE: Some agreements and plans require the employee to pay all applicable fees. Graduate credits may be assessed for taxation, according to IRS regulations. (MnSCU Tuition Waiver Provisions)

  For Certification

  The University may assign or a supervisor may request that an employee participate in a specific work assignment (course) resulting in certification rather than college credit.

  Future Plans

  In addition to the existing opportunities for training that are offered at MSUM, the following list outlines future plans:

  • Continue providing online assistance and offering workshops as mentioned above. Expand the online assistance and workshop opportunities to include new software and technologies.
  • Explore the purchase of Step-By-Step training modules for Microsoft Office XP and future products (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, Windows). These modules at about $30 each, provide excellent self-paced training.
  • Explore facilitating employee-initiated professional development by certification. This option would allow employees to request funding for non-university sponsored training or certification to meet specific training and development needs, at the discretion of the President or his designee and with the supervisor’s approval. Participation must benefit both the university and the employee. Upon successful completion (e.g., passing a certification exam), the employee should be reimbursed for the cost of the training and exam.

  
  
  

• Summarize Plans for Computer Lab Initiatives (i.e., numbers, plans for future)

MSUM's student computer fee currently provides funding for the periodic replacement of computers in general-purpose labs. The Student Computer Fee Committee, working closely with the Information Technology department and Administrative Affairs, has developed a plan for purchasing new lab computers and recycling older ones.  Computers in these labs are replaced on a 2, 3 or 4 year basis.  Information Technology manages the day to day operations of the labs, provides student lab assistance, maintains the hardware in each lab and coordinates all computer hardware and software installation.

Future computer lab initiatives include:

• Change  the name of the fee to "Technology Fee" (replacing the original name -- Student Computer Fee).
  
• Expand use of technology fee  to include specialty labs. 
  
• Provide an adjustable table for each computer lab to accommodate persons with disabilities.
  
• Purchase new equipment conforming to ergonomic guidelines.
  
• Investigate the design and implementation of a computerized testing lab.
  
• Investigate designing a facility that provides synchronous instructional opportunities where each student has a computer to deliver "hands-on"  instruction about software to distant learners.  However, this type of facility would require external funding.

The technology fee policies for the state of Minnesota and for MSUM are located at the following web sites:

MnSCU Policy: Revised Policy by Board will be approved July 2003
Click Link for the MSUM Plan:  http://www.mnstate.edu/it/computerfee/index.htm

• Summarize Plans to Ensure Data Privacy
  Data privacy requirements and rules for students are defined by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).  Requirements for faculty and staff are defined under MN Statute section 13.43 under GOVERNMENT DATA PRACTICES.
  MSUM will ensure data privacy by:
  • Providing training and ensuring awareness for any faculty, staff or student who has access to any private data.  A formal signoff indicating the rules are understood and observed will be filed to ensure compliance.
  • Ensure private data is not accessible by non-authorized staff, students and public by defining and maintaining secure networks and/or file servers.  Use the MnSCU Data Security standard as a guideline for reviewing and ensuring appropriate security.

MnSCU Policy: http://www.its.mnscu.edu/security/standards/dataprotection.html

• Summarize Plans to Improve Technology in Classrooms

  An important plan for the next 3-5 years involves designing and implementing a classroom technology plan which creates a pyramid of technological capabilities, starting with a small number of high-tech classrooms, more medium-tech classrooms and a large number of low-tech classrooms. A survey of the technological capabilities of existing classrooms to be completed during the summer of 2003 will guide decisions about upgrading capabilities for various instructional areas.  This process will address how to:
  

  • Budget for technical support as a function of newly equipped teaching environments.
    
  • Coordinate classroom scheduling to ensure maximum use of high tech classrooms while also matching technology to classroom capability to support that technology; consideration must also be given to proximity of classroom to department office.
    
  • Upgrade computing and audio-visual technology in teaching environments other than the traditional classrooms (labs, studios, etc.)   
    
  • Upgrade equipment in scientific, artistic, and musical environments.
    
  • Expand existing wireless networks on campus.
     
  • Link to Instructional Action Plan
     
  • Link to Administrative Technology Action Plan
    
    
    
• Summarize Plans Relative to Instructional Management Systems Initiatives (e.g., Anlon, Blackboard, WebCT)

MSUM's Instructional Technology department provides support for the instructional management system on campus, currently, WebCT software.  For the past four years, the Lead Faculty Group has funded the licensing.  However, since the fees have dramatically increased, the Student Computer Fee Committee has been asked to provide funding.

TInstructional Technology staff manage the server and other hardware.  Currently, we are exploring other IMS products, including open source products.  Occasionally upgrades are needed for hardware and auxiliary software (such as the backup systems, etc.).  Instructional Technology will create a summary of past expenditures and provide the administration with information about the costs so these can be included in the regular budget in the future.

Support for faculty and students in the use of the instructional management system is provided by Instructional Technology as well.  Handouts are located at http://www.mnstate.edu/InstrTech.  A laminated guide is currently available for students using the system (the online version is at http://www.mnstate.edu/instrtech/WebCT/StudentHelps/webctsg.pdf) and a similar summary is under development for faculty.

In addition to the existing monthly workshops for faculty, we plan to develop streaming audio/video presentations on using the instructional management system (assessment tools, online testing, communication tools, tools that facilitate collaborative work, etc.).

The director of Instructional Technology serves on the MnSCU Academic Software/Systems Committee.   Which provides an excellent opportunity to collaborate with others in the state about instructional management systems and academic software. 

• Summarize Plans for Academic Software/Systems Initiatives

Information Technology currently orders and distributes the software that qualifies for state-negotiated academic software licensing agreements. Information Technology plans to work with campus users to identify necessary software and work with MnSCU's Office of Instructional Technology to obtain the best prices.  Current agreements include Microsoft Office, Anti-Virus software, WebCT, and Novell network software.

A survey of faculty and staff about academic software conducted in 2002-2003 revealed several needs:

• To install Adobe Acrobat on all faculty computers to facilitate the online distribution of instructional materials 
  

• To purchase statistical software for faculty research
  

• To relocate inexpensive image editing software -- especially to facilitate smaller file sizes for images that are to be distributed via the web
  

• To license plagiarism detection software
  

• To explore system-wide calendaring applications
  

• To encourage campus representation on MnSCU's ASSSC committee.
  
  

• Summarize Plans to Improve Accessibility for Students with Disabilities

  As more and more persons with disabilities pursue higher education, access to computing facilities and technology becomes even more critical.  Everyone who needs to use a computer lab or technology should be able to do so comfortably.  MSUM needs to design for people with a broad range of abilities. Considerations include:
  

  • Building access:  This has been adequately addressed at MSUM.
    
  • Lab staff:  MSUM plans to provide training about using accessibility software  (particularly, screen readers and speech synthesizers) for student help desk assistants in the 24-hour labs, Frick, Bridges, and the Center for Business.
    
  • Physical space:  MSUM currently provides for wheelchair access in most labs, as well as adjustable tables in some labs. We need to work on wheelchair access to manual racks and printed materials in the labs.  We also need to work on creating signs with high contrast and large print for the lab facilities.
    
  • Computers and software: MSUM will pursue the purchase of screen reading software that provides for scanning books into a format that can be stored and read from a CD (Kurzweil).   This will save money in the long run, since the current process involves hiring students as readers, which is particularly problematic during exam times. MSUM currently has speech synthesizer software (Dragon Naturally Speaking), and will budget for upgrades for this software every two years.
    
  • Web Site:  MSUM will develop a policy for ensuring that campus web materials meet level 1 compliance, including provisions for training faculty and staff as well as converting existing materials.  A plan under development ensures that web-based materials will be compliant.  Information Technology and Instructional Technology will collaborate to provide training and support for this effort.  The plan is located at http://www.mnstate.edu/it/policy/adaweb.
    
    
• Summarize Plans for Key Grants or Other Related Projects that Support Technology-Enhanced Teaching (e-learning grants, MnSCU e-learning RFPs, other grants)

During spring semester 2003, MSUM was one of the first to submit a collaborative E-Learning initiative to design and implement for MnSCU faculty a set of modules about online teaching.  The group is pursuing alternative ways to fund this initiative because community and technical college faculty desire assistance with online delivery.

MSUM has received funding for two MnSCU E-Learning Initiatives.  The first is a partnership between MSU Moorhead and Bemidji State to provide masters degree programs in Educational Technology.  The second is a grant supporting online delivery of nursing education.

Grants in process include:

• NIH: Construction - $1,179,898
  Enhancement of the Competitiveness of Biomedical Research. This research involves students as researchers.
  
• NSF: Pedagogically Rich Activities in Experimental Physics - $20,626 for a
  Pulsed Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer
  Instrumentation for Laser Spectroscopy
  
• NSF: Laboratory Learning of Plant and Animal Diversity via Digital Imaging - $87,850

MSUM intends to submit an application to send a team of nursing faculty and instructional technology personnel to MnSCU's summer institute.  Last year, a team from MSUM was funded for a four-day workshop.

Several MSUM faculty have been awarded CTL faculty grants, and currently two applications are seeking CTL funding.  One is from an MSUM business professor to create a hybrid (blended) course serving students transferring into MSUM's Business program.  Another is from a nursing professor to develop interactive web-based modules for a course in transcultural nursing.

The College of Arts and Humanities, under the direction of Dean Quigley, is pursuing Title III funding and will be submitting a proposal next year.  Part of the proposed funding will support an Instructional Technology Center to design and develop customized learning environments, including web-based learning.

A Math/Science Task Force seeks to develop grant proposals for a new program to help certification of high school math and science teachers.  A shortage of teachers in these areas already exists in rural areas.  The program will provide blended courses to help K-12 teachers in math and science.

MSUM currently provides 3 classrooms and has 3 lines for NETS.  Only one more classroom can be added since capacity is added in groups of four.  We currently average 20 ITV classes per semester.  The main programs using ITV are Accounting, Business Administration, Educational Leadership, MN Talented Youth Math, graduate Nursing, and U of M Masters of Social Work.  

 

New programs place pressure on scheduling; for example, the Minnesota Talented Youth Math Program is planning to add six classes in the next few years, but the ITV is already scheduled every night of the week.

Future plans include switching to IP transmission to break some barriers (i.e. state/international borders) and interface with Polycom and other videoconferencing systems.

MSUM also plans to centralize videoconferencing services so that Instructional Media staff handle:

• Polycom
• Classroom
• Meetings
• Satellite
  

• Add Other Items

  MSUM's Student Technology Team:

  MSUM's Instructional Technology Department provides supervision for a team of student technology assistants who support faculty and staff at MSUM in a variety of areas.  They assist with web site design and development, create customized CD-ROM materials for instructional and promotional purposes, design customized learning objects, interactive web-based curriculum materials and virtual tours, and develop online databases.   

  We plan to continue funding this team, because it provides vital research and development for instructional technology.  Projects under development include:
  

  • Utilizing PDAs to monitor attendance at campus musical performances.  A Handspring PDA and a scanner allow student IDs to be scanned with the PDA as students enter and leave a concert, providing a date/time stamp.  The data is synchronized with an Access database to provide standardized reports created for the department.
    
  • Creating a web-based Jeopardy-like environment for classroom review sessions for a variety of departments at MSUM.  This project is well underway, and has been developed using Macromedia's Flash software in conjunction with ASP programming for the database of categories and questions.
    
  • Providing a web-based tool for student course evaluations.  The tool will provide for an online database of questions organized by department, instructor, and class.  Instructors will enter their rubrics and the student IDs for a particular course, and the student data will be captured into an online database.
    
  • Designing virtual tours of the student union, so that during the construction / renovation this summer, prospective students can continue to "tour" the facilities.  This will be expanded and available on the web for students "touring" MSUM via the web site as well as for students visiting MSUM in person.
    
  • Producing an interactive  tool that facilitates student mastery of basic writing skills.  Professors will be able to drag an icon into a piece of student writing when a common error occurs (such as a run-on sentence), and when students review their paper and click on that icon, they will be directed to the corresponding online tutorial and an accompanying online self-test and graded quiz.  The professor will be able to track student progress over time in terms of errors encountered to see if the online modules serve their purpose and improve student writing.

Distance Learning Initiatives:

• Identify specific disciplines that would be suitable and marketable for electronic or blended delivery.  Utilize market analysis to identify niches where MSUM can compete in distance education.
  
• Develop an "orientation to distance education"  for students.
  
• Coordinate planning and scheduling of distance education offerings.

• Provide an adequate number of technical professionals to support student, faculty and staff use of technology.
  
• Provide technology-based learning options for both in-class use and independent learning:
  • Design appropriate computerized simulations to supplement traditional laboratory instruction using the  Tegrity WebLearner systems.
  • Learning Objects -- design / development: 
  • Increase the use of multimedia resources in instruction and publicize existing services in Instructional Media and Instructional Technology for development and production.  

Efforts to Enhance Administrative Functions

MSUM will identify and equip selected sites for wireless access, including classroom areas and "learning commons" areas  such as the library, student union, and the atrium in the Center for Business. 

Identify departments that would pilot laptop and wireless initiatives.  For example, the Construction Management BS Degree program with input from their industrial advisory board is planning on moving to laptops beginning fall semester 2005. A wireless laptop initiative is being seriously considered because the construction industry is moving rapidly to wireless communication. The Construction Management program is a heavy user of computer applications and the transition would be linked to the remodeling of MSUM's Hagen Hall. 

MSUM will encourage faculty to purchase laptops when their computers are due for replacement.  This will provide mobility and reliability, since the faculty can use any classroom with a computer that has appropriate software. 

Instructional Technology has purchased a set of 15 Personal Data Assistants (PDA).  Faculty will be encouraged to use PDAs in instructional settings.  Software that allows the use of various probes has been purchased and several science faculty are interested in using the PDAs for field work by students.  In addition, staff in the College of Education will pilot a project to collect data for assessment of student teachers and field experiences utilizing the PDAs.  Training for faculty, staff, and administrators will be developed.

MSUM's Lead Faculty Group has purchased several sets of Personal Response Units (PRU).  Instructional Technology will provide workshops and training in using these devices to support instruction.  Faculty would check out PRUs and use them for 1-2 weeks to conduct ad-hoc surveys and polls during class, monitor attendance, administer quizzes, etc.  Faculty who find PRUs useful could require students to buy them along with texts.  Departments couldl permanently mount receivers in specific classrooms.

The help desk support for students is located in the lobby area in the IT office area.  The desk is staffed from 11:00 am until 11:00 pm Monday – Thursday, until 5:00 pm Friday, noon – 5:00 pm Saturday and 5:00 pm until 11:00 pm Sunday.  The Help Desk has direct phones from the Lommen lab, so students may pick up a phone in LO 101 and talk directly to a student assistant in the IT department. General Help Desk - http://www.mnstate.edu/helpdesk/

Instructional Technology provides various support for faculty, including the Student Technology Team and online handouts (http://www.mnstate.edu/instrtech/handouts/handouts.htm). Future plans include of an online helpdesk for the instructional management system (currently WebCT) using the RightNow software.

To serve faculty, staff and students MSUM also plans to create a virtual help desk utilizing the RightNow software and assigning particular people questions in particular areas of the database.

Click Link for the  MnSCU Policy: http://www.its.mnscu.edu/security/standards/application.html
Click Link for the  MSUM Plan: http://www.mnstate.edu/plans/technology/local_applications.htm

• Summarize Planned Efforts to Ensure Data Integrity
  
  Administrative systems, as developed by MnSCU and MSUM, will continue to evolve as technology changes and new features/functionality are added.  Since the MnSCU Systems support a wide variety of different school types, it is important to define the best practices and procedures to properly use the systems.  MSUM developed systems will likely integrate with the MnSCU system and thus directly affect data integrity.  MSUM will ensure data integrity by:
  • Campus staff or MnSCU will train new staff in proper use of administrative systems.
  • MSUM staff who will be "experts" on MnSCU and MSUM systems will monitor changes and enhancements and when possible be involved in planning
  • As systems change appropriate staff will receive refresher training which may be available off-site, on-line or through documentation.
  • Administrative departments will periodically meet to agree on the preferred methods (Best Practices) to integrate data between units.
  • Regular internal audits will occur to ensure that proper audit controls are in place.
  • Review will ensure that staff roles and responsibilities with respect to the management and maintenance of administrative systems are properly defined.

• Summarize Plans to Provide E-Learner Services
  
  MSUM currently provides the following services for e-learners.  The services are listed in the order of anticipated use:  Students can register online and obtain information about financial aid; having selected their courses, they can order textbooks online from MSUM's bookstore.  The library through a proxy server provides off-campus student access to various online databases  MSUM subscribes to.  E-Learners can access course materials via the campus website or the instructional management system, depending on where the instructor has provided the materials.  Technical support is available via telephone (the general student help desk and MSUM's Student Technology Team provide support for faculty and students).
  
  • On-Line Registration http://www.mnstate.edu/home/newreg.htm
  • Financial Aid  http://www.mnstate.edu/finaid/
  • Bookstore http://bookstore.mnstate.edu/textbooks/textbook_express_info.stm
  • On-Line Library Service http://www.mnstate.edu/voeller/netscape4.xproxydirections.htm
  • Instructional Management Systems (WebCT) http://webct.mnstate.edu
  • Media Server to support streaming media (Audio/Video Presentations)  
  • Web-based Technical Support - RightNow (under development)
  • General computer support - MSUM's Computer Help Desk
  • Campus Student Tech Team
    
• Add Other Items

Efforts to Improve Technology Environment

• Summarize Planned Telephony Initiatives (including Voice Over IP)
  Click Link for the MnSCU Policy: http://www.its.mnscu.edu/security/standards/telecommunication.html
  Click Link for the MSUM Policy:
  
• Summarize Plans to Improve Technology Infrastructure

Click Link for the MnSCU Policy: http://www.its.mnscu.edu/security/standards/network.html
Click Link for the MSUM Policy:

• Summarize Plans to Improve Security
  Click Link for the MnSCU Policy: http://www.its.mnscu.edu/security/index.html
  MSUM Plan:
  • Information Technology (IT) will:

    Develop local policy consistent with MnSCU Policy.

    Provide training on security issues

    Obtain funds to purchase security monitoring software and hardware.

    Provide off-site storage for computer data.

    Install Card Access systems in critical data storage areas such as LI 207.

      

• Summarize Plans to Improve Building Access

Continue with the installation, modification and improvement of the campus card access system.  Future options include vending machine access, a debit card function and a partnership with a financial institution.

Instructional Media’s TV/Audio Production division helps produce and present broadcast media.  Facilities include new, digital technology as well as a wide array of analog gear.

 

TV Production manages the instructional television facilities for departments and students studying for careers in the broadcast industry.  Facilities allow production and editing of educational, instructional and promotional broadcasts.

 

Services offered include studio and remote production, editing, duplication, internet streaming production, teleconferencing, satellite downlinks, off-air recording and much more. Copyright laws and fair use guidelines are applicable.

 

Support for Streaming Video and Audio

   

Instructional Technology maintains two servers that provide streaming audio and video -- a media server and a Tegrity WebLearner server.  The Tegrity server supports web-based distribution of streaming video produced by the two Tegrity WebLearner stations at MSUM.  Tegrity WebLearner stations provide a turnkey solution to produce web-based streaming video.  Very little technical expertise is needed to create web-based video materials with Tegrity.

 

The media server is used for streaming audio and video as well.  For instance, this server is used for online broadcasting of a Latino radio program (Notas - Latino Radio Programs).  

 

MSUM continues to promote video conferencing over the Internet using the MCU in the Computer Science Department.  We provide hardware and server support for streaming video including instruction, broadcast of sporting events and commencement.

• Describe Key Planned Technology Policies
  • MSUM Accessibility Plan for websites
  • Faculty Computer Replacement Policy
  • Staff Computer Replacement Policy
  • Classroom scheduling policy
  • Acceptable Use policy
  • Intellectual Properties Policy

• Describe Key Planned Technology Purchases
  
  • Lead Faculty:  access points for wireless
  • Polycom Video Conferencing systems
  • include a broader base to help plan for these endeavors.
    
• Add Other Items

Appoint a committee to monitor and enhance the university's web presence. 

Technology's influence on public relations?

Other Efforts

Monet wireless?

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Last Update Date:  06/10/03