OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIC PLAN, FY 2004-05

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
   
   The strategic goals (and objectives) of our UNIT for the next 5 years are as follows:
    
   1. Support Teaching and Learning
      
      • Meet the goals and objectives listed in USC's Strategic and Assessment Plan for Distance and Distributed Learning. See www.it.sc.edu/oit/docs/eLearningstrategicplan.pdf
      • Create a Teaching and Learning Center to support faculty and teaching assistants in efforts to improve instructional quality.
      • Review Blackboard performance and assess USC's other course management system options.
      • Assist the Library in selection and implementation of a new Integrated Library System (ILS) as part of the statewide PASCAL consortium.
         
   2. Support Research
      
      • In partnership with the Office of Research and Health Sciences, convene a faculty group to review the computational needs of USC and make recommendations regarding high-performance computing direction and support.
      • Conduct an inventory of applications requiring HPC resources for modeling, simulation, or other data-intensive needs.
      • Review existing computational and visualization efforts on campus to determine if and how any of these activities may form the core of a new, centrally-supported research computing initiative.
      • Remain active and engaged in SURA, especially those activities related to computing and data grids, high bandwidth regional networking, high performance computing, and the SURA Coastal Ocean Observing Program (SCOOP).
      • Support the needs of the emerging USC Research Campus.
         
   3. Support and Enhance the Functionality of Administrative, Business, Financial, Human Resources, and Student Information Systems
      
      • Plan and launch an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) project to replace legacy financial, human resources, and student information systems.
      • Add functionality to the Data Warehouse.
         
   4. Enhance Hardware and Software Infrastructure and IT Communications and Productivity Tools
      
      • Increase wireless data communications coverage from 40% of the campus to 90% of the campus.
      • Review USC's enterprise email and electronic calendaring options to better serve faculty, student, and staff needs.
      • Complete the Web Presence transformation and develop "virtual tour" capabilities.
      • Review, price, and recommend Web content management solutions.
      • Review USC's enterprise IM (instant messaging) options.
      • Release a cellular telephone RFP to reduce costs and improve functionality for USC cellular technology users.
      • Activate current phone switch capabilities to integrate with cellular telephones, voice mail, text messaging, and email.
      • Develop a three-year rolling plan for infrastructure renewal, upgrades, expansion, and replacement.  
         
   5. Improve Information Technology Organization, Planning, and Communications
      • Integrate Distance Education and Instructional Support (DEIS) and Computer Services (CS) into a single organization.
      • Establish formal planning and communications functions in the Office of Information Technology.
      • Re-charter the University Information Technology Council (UITC) and reevaluate membership and unit representation.
      • Improve coordination of centralized and decentralized (unit controlled) IT activities.
      • Improve coordination and accuracy of Web-based information about IT activities, capabilities, and services.
      • Develop a transparent, highly visible, and easily understood method for establishing and periodically reviewing priorities for IT resource allocation.
         
   6. Engage USC's 4-year and Regional Campuses
      • Meet with 4-year campus CIOs and Regional Campus IT representative at least four times yearly.
      • Complete the Palmetto College IT infrastructure and support the launch of that initiative.
      • Meet with each Chancellor and Regional Campus Dean at least once per semester to ensure alignment with campus objectives.
      • Ensure engagement of 4-year and Regional Campuses in review of enterprise options such as ERP and course management systems.
         
   7. Engage in Outreach
      • Continue to work closely with the City of Columbia and local business interests to extend broadband communications access to all citizens in the Columbia metropolitan area.
      • Enhance USC's regional and national IT profile through active and high
      • visibility participation in organizations such as EDUCAUSE.
      • Continue to act as an information resource for the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches of state government.
      • Serve as a point of coordination on IT issues that affect South Carolina higher education.
      • Improve means of communication and ease of access to USC's eLearning environment for students at a distance.  

      Previous Year's Accomplishments:
      The previous year's accomplishments may be found at the Office of Information Technology web site.
      
      Statement of Participation:
      Draft copies of this Strategic Plan were reviewed by the management teams of Computer Services and Distance Education and Instructional Support, and by members of the University IT Council. Feedback from these sources was incorporated into the final document.

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2. ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEARS 2003 - 2004
   The Office of Information Technology did not submit a formal strategic plan for 2003-2004.
    
   1. Strategic Goal Progress
      1. To review the annual report of accomplishments from Computer Services, please see www.csd.sc.edu/Administration/2003_Accomplishments.pdf
         - Objective: None stated.
           Assessment Criteria: n/a
           Results/Progress: n/a
           Use of Assessment Results: n/a
          
   2. Modification of Goals
      See Section III, Strategic Plan, for baseline information  
      
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3. STRATEGIC PLAN
   The Office of Information Technology has identified the following objectives for 2004-2005 in support of the strategic goals:
   
   
   1. Support Teaching and Learning
      • Objective: Meet the goals and objectives listed in USC's Strategic and Assessment Plan for Distance and Distributed Learning. See www.it.sc.edu/oit/docs/eLearningstrategicplan.pdf 
        Assessment Strategies: Strategies are included in the plan cited above.
        Assessment Criteria: Assessment criteria are included in the plan cited above.
        Assessment Methods: Assessment methods are included in the plan cited above.
      • Objective: Create a Teaching and Learning Center to support faculty and teaching assistants in efforts to improve instructional quality.
        Assessment Strategies: 1. The Office of IT will commit the time of two faculty Directors to establish clear objectives and develop a plan to expand the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) concept.
        2. The Office of IT will work with the Office of the Provost and the Dean of Libraries to identify suitable space for a TLC.
        3. The faculty Directors will survey or sample faculty to help determine the types of assistance that will be most likely to be used by faculty. This information will be used to help design a "virtual" TLC to complement the physical TLC.
        Assessment Criteria: 1. The Office of IT will work with the Office of the Provost to ensure that highly qualified and capable faculty are identified.
        2. The University IT Council will review location and plans to ensure that the space identified is suitable for the intended purposes.
        3. The Office of IT will monitor the design and use of the TLC web site.
        Assessment Methods: 1. The accomplishments of the faculty Directors will be reviewed annually by the Office of IT and the Office of the Provost.
        2. The UITC will develop a checklist and note needed improvements.
        3. TLC web site monitoring will take place monthly and data regarding page accesses will be used to reconfigure links to better meet faculty needs. A feedback mechanism will be provided for web site visitors.
      • Objective: Review Blackboard performance and assess USC's other course management system options.
        Assessment Strategies: Convene a user group to elicit feedback on system positives and negatives; survey industry trends; look for best practices in higher education.
        Assessment Criteria: Answer the question, "Is Blackboard the optimal course management system for USC?"
        Assessment Methods: CMS instructional support staff will seek qualitative and quantitative feedback from users, will examine the options by scanning best practices and industry trends, and will present findings to UITC for consideration and a recommendation to the CIO.
      • Objective: Review Blackboard performance and assess USC's other course management system options.
        Assessment Strategies: Convene a user group to elicit feedback on system positives and negatives; survey industry trends; look for best practices in higher education.
        Assessment Criteria: Answer the question, "Is Blackboard the optimal course management system for USC?"
        Assessment Methods: CMS instructional support staff will seek qualitative and quantitative feedback from users, will examine the options by scanning best practices and industry trends, and will present findings to UITC for consideration and a recommendation to the CIO.  
         
   2. Support Research
      • Objective: In partnership with the Office of Research and Health Sciences, convene a faculty group to review the computational needs of USC and make recommendations regarding high-performance computing direction and support.
        Assessment Strategies: Call the meeting, facilitate discussion, and gather qualitative data.
        Assessment Criteria: Did substantive action items emerge from the discussion?
        Assessment Methods: In conjunction with the Offices of the Provost and VP for Research and Health Sciences, determine how to use information from faculty to shape USC research computing strategies.
      • Objective: Conduct an inventory of applications requiring HPC resources for modeling, simulation, or other data-intensive needs.
        Assessment Strategies: Assign OIT grad asst to inventory applications in summer 2004.
        Assessment Criteria: Is the inventory comprehensive?
        Assessment Methods: Post results on the web and seek feedback from faculty researchers regarding comprehensiveness.
      • Objective: Review existing computational and visualization efforts on campus to determine if and how any of these activities may form the core of a new, centrally-supported research computing initiative.
        Assessment Strategies: Establish dialogue with faculty research community about economies of scale for some research computing support services.
        Assessment Criteria: Would consolidation and/or collaboration around some research computing activities lead to resource savings and efficiencies for researchers?
        Assessment Methods: Analyze budgets and cost of services on a per unit basis.
      • Objective: Remain active and engaged in SURA, especially those activities related to computing and data grids, high bandwidth regional networking, high performance computing, and the SURA Coastal Ocean Observing Program (SCOOP).
        Assessment Strategies: CIO or designee(s) will attend meetings, engage in SURA activities.
        Assessment Criteria: Does SURA engagement help USC's research efforts?
        Assessment Methods: seek feedback from leaders of SCOOP initiative at USC.
      • Objective: Support the needs of the emerging USC Research Campus.
        Assessment Strategies: Remain aligned with Offices of Research and Health Sciences, Provost, and President.
        Assessment Criteria: Does Division of IT have resources that may help realize the research campus vision?
        Assessment Methods: Monitor level of engagement.
         
   3. Support and Enhance the Functionality of Administrative, Business, Financial, Human Resources, and Student Information Systems
      • Objective: Plan and launch an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) project to replace legacy financial, human resources, and student information systems.
        Assessment Strategies: Make the case for USC to provide first year project funding.
        Assessment Criteria: Is the funding granted at a level sufficient to begin staffing, business office process assessment and redesign, and intensive project planning?
        Assessment Methods: ERP project leader will establish comprehensive project plan and map allocation against needed expenditures.
      • Objective: Add functionality to the Data Warehouse.
        Assessment Strategies: Computer Services will work with end users to define and add functionality as required.
        Assessment Criteria: Determine whether additional functionality meets user needs.
        Assessment Methods: Iterative discussions with users.
         
   4. Enhance Hardware and Software Infrastructure and IT Communications and Productivity Tools
      • Objective: Increase wireless data communications coverage from 40% of the campus to 90% of the campus.
        Assessment Strategies: Contract with external providers to map the campus in quadrants. Implement quadrants 1 and 2 during the fall semester, followed by quadrants 3 and 4 at the beginning of the spring semester.
        Assessment Criteria: Is the job completed according to specs and do end users enjoy a seamless, wireless network over the entire campus.
        Assessment Methods: Check for uniform signal strength throughout the campus, determine whether users are able to maintain network connectivity in all locations.
      • Objective: Review USC's enterprise email and electronic calendaring options to better serve faculty, student, and staff needs.
        Assessment Strategies: Form working group to examine email migration paths. Establish a project based on their recommendations.
        Assessment Criteria: Is migration to a new, ubiquitous email and calendaring platform completed?
        Assessment Methods: Survey of customers to determine satisfaction with new functionality.
      • Objective: Complete the Web Presence transformation and develop "virtual tour" capabilities.
        Assessment Strategies: Work with Office of Advancement, Office of Student Affairs to determine requirements.
        Assessment Criteria: To be determined by Office of Advancement and Office of Student Affairs.
        Assessment Methods: To be determined by Office of Advancement and Office of Student Affairs.
      • Objective: Review, price, and recommend Web content management solutions.
        Assessment Strategies: Develop a web content management RFI in cooperation with the Office of Advancement.
        Assessment Criteria: To be determined by the Office of Advancement.
        Assessment Methods: To be determined by the Office of Advancement.
      • Objective: Review USC's enterprise IM (instant messaging) options.
        Assessment Strategies: Initiate a project team to investigate options.
        Assessment Criteria: Has the team been formed and produced recommendations.
        Assessment Methods: To be determined.
      • Objective: Release a cellular telephone RFP to reduce costs and improve functionality for USC cellular technology users.
        Assessment Strategies: Work with Offices of Housing and Residence Life to define student cellular needs.
        Assessment Criteria: Is an RFI developed that elicits useful vendor responses?
        Assessment Methods: Determine whether there are viable vendor proposals that aid USC students.
      • Objective: Activate current phone switch capabilities to integrate with cellular telephones, voice mail, text messaging, and email.
        Assessment Strategies: Review Avaya switch options, introduce them to the campus.
        Assessment Criteria: Are the additional services made available?
        Assessment Methods: Determine utilization statistics for new features on a regular basis.
      • Objective: Develop a three-year rolling plan for infrastructure renewal, upgrades, expansion, and replacement.
        Assessment Strategies: Ask Lorie Edwards and Susan Bridwell to develop a joint plan for the division.
        Assessment Criteria: Is the plan completed?
        Assessment Methods: Determine whether the plan meets campus needs by sharing it with interested USC parties.  
         
   5. Improve Information Technology Organization, Planning, and Communications
      • Objective: Integrate Distance Education and Instructional Support (DEIS) and Computer Services (CS) into a single organization.
        Assessment Strategies: Execute organizational mergers and staff relocations where appropriate. Choose a new name.
        Assessment Criteria: Is the merger effected?
        Assessment Methods: Monitor service improvements and budget efficiencies in the affected areas.
      • Objective: Establish formal planning and communications functions in the Office of Information Technology.
        Assessment Strategies: Work with public relations staff of CS to expand focus to broader campus issues.
        Assessment Criteria: Are we keeping students, staff, and faculty informed of new initiative and services?
        Assessment Methods: Survey user population.
      • Objective: Re-charter the University Information Technology Council (UITC) and reevaluate membership and unit representation.
        Assessment Strategies: Ask UITC for assistance in improving the information exchange and participatory functions of the Council.
        Assessment Criteria: Is UITC dialogue improved?
        Assessment Methods: Surevey the members.
      • Objective: Improve coordination of centralized and decentralized (unit controlled) IT activities.
        Assessment Strategies: Schedule a campus-wide meeting of all IT personnel. Seek feedback on how to improve coordination and communication.
        Assessment Criteria: Are there communications and coordination criteria that emerge from the meeting?
        Assessment Methods: Schedule followup meetings with IT personnel to seek additional recommendations for refinement.
      • Objective: Improve coordination and accuracy of Web-based information about IT activities, capabilities, and services.
        Assessment Strategies: Assign Office of IT staff to monitor and refresh the web site on a regular basis.
        Assessment Criteria: Is the information more comprehensive and timely?
        Assessment Methods: Seek user feedback.
      • Objective: Develop a transparent, highly visible, and easily understood method for establishing and periodically reviewing priorities for IT resource allocation.
        Assessment Strategies: Ensure that the CS project database is widely visible. Clarify the processes associated with additions to the database.
        Assessment Criteria: Is there more engagement on the part of USC users?
        Assessment Methods: Monitor DB utilization and genesis of projects added.
         
   6. Engage USC's 4-year and Regional Campuses
      • Objective: Meet with 4-year campus CIOs and Regional Campus IT representative at least four times yearly.
        Assessment Strategies: Schedule quarterly meetings.
        Assessment Criteria: Did the meetings occur?
        Assessment Methods: Are the participants more informed about each other's activities?
      • Objective: Complete the Palmetto College IT infrastructure and support the launch of that initiative.
        Assessment Strategies: Coordinate activities with the Office of the Vice Provost for Regional Campuses and Continuing Education as he leads the rollout of Palmetto College.
        Assessment Criteria: Are the technical resources in place to ensure Palmetto College's success in that regard?
        Assessment Methods: Iterative conversations with Dr. Plyler, Deans of the Regional Campuses.
      • Objective: Meet with each Chancellor and Regional Campus Dean at least once per semester to ensure alignment with campus objectives.
        Assessment Strategies: Schedule the meetings.
        Assessment Criteria: Did the meetings occur?
        Assessment Methods: Iterative conversations with Dr. Plyler, Regional Campus Deans.
      • Objective: Ensure engagement of 4-year and Regional Campuses in review of enterprise options such as ERP and course management systems.
        Assessment Strategies: Communicate with Dr. Plyler and Deans of Regional Campuses about opportunities for participation in reviews.
        Assessment Criteria: Do Regional Campuses have a voice at the table for discussions of important IT initiatives?
        Assessment Methods: Iterative meetings with Dr. Plyler, Deans.
         
   7. Engage in Outreach
      • Objective: Continue to work closely with the City of Columbia and local business interests to extend broadband communications access to all citizens in the Columbia metropolitan area.
        Assessment Strategies: Determine whether this objective is legally, politically, and financially feasible.
        Assessment Criteria: Is it possible to move forward on this objective?
        Assessment Methods: Meetings with city, regional, and state leaders to determine feasibility.
      • Objective: Enhance USC's regional and national IT profile through active and high-visibility participation in organizations such as EDUCAUSE.
        Assessment Strategies: Attend meetings, communicate with other IT leaders, volunteer for participation on relevant task forces and committees.
        Assessment Criteria: Does the level of USC engagements with regional and national bodies increase?
        Assessment Methods: Compare before and after.
      • Objective: Continue to act as an information resource for the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches of state government.
        Assessment Strategies: Maintain positive relationships with the Governor's Office, legislative offices, Office of the State CIO as appropriate.
        Assessment Criteria: Are relationships maintained?
        Assessment Methods: Monitor meeting and communications patterns with these entities.
      • Objective: Serve as a point of coordination on IT issues that affect South Carolina higher education.
        Assessment Strategies: Develop relationships with IT colleagues at other institutions of higher education in the state.
        Assessment Criteria: Are these relationships developed?
        Assessment Methods: To be determined.
      • Objective: Improve means of communication and ease of access to USC's eLearning environment for students at a distance.
        Assessment Strategies: Work with faculty and deans to ensure responsiveness to curricular needs. Improve web presence for distance education.
        Assessment Criteria: Is the dialogue more frequent and focused?
        Assessment Methods: Iterative meetings with Deans, faculty.
        
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4. RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS
   The Division of Information Technology will require the following resources to accomplish its objectives in FY 2004-05:
   1. Time does not permit an exact map between objectives and resource requirements. In general, resources are adequate to meet objectives.