Information Technology Services (ITS) occasionally needs to set rates for services offered to students, faculty, staff, or campus departments. The Policies section of the Vice President for Information Technology Web site now includes a detailed explanation of the ITS rate-setting and approval process.

ITS wants to ensure that the university community is aware of the process used to determine these rates and submit them for approval by both the Office of Accounting and the University Budget Council. ITS does not and cannot set rates arbitrarily, inflate rates for profit, or allow automatic rate increases.

“All our rates are based on a cost recovery model,” explained LB Brady, ITS Associate Vice President for Business Services.

ITS works closely with the Office of Accounting and the University Budget Council to set product and service rates. For more information about the university-wide process of setting and changing rates, refer to the Service Center Request Forms on the Office of Accounting’s Forms page.

On Wednesday, October 15, 2008, Brian Roberts, CIO and Vice President for Information Technology, hosted an Information Technology Services (ITS) Faculty Summit for a group of close to 30 invited faculty members and representatives from ITS. Roberts welcomed the group, briefly reviewed the scope and focus of previous gatherings, and then invited open conversation about instructional technologies. He encouraged faculty to share both successes and “pain points” as discussion ranged from Blackboard to iTunes U, from the need to manage digital distractions in the classroom to the use of e-textbooks. A common thread in the conversation was a desire for faculty to have a centralized source of information about the ways colleagues are using technology in their work, and the technology tools they find most beneficial.

Themes and Concerns

Anecdotes, experiences, suggestions and frustrations stressed the following themes:

• Use of e-textbooks Summary & Questions: The potential and advantages of using e-textbooks are still untried. Though 16,000 e-textbooks were available this fall at the University Co-op, only 55 were purchased. One faculty member observed that students using only e-books did not perform as well as students using traditional textbooks. Though less expensive, licensing models are in flux and still a deterrent for students.
• Course management tools Summary & Questions: Blackboard is robust and working well, but some faculty question whether it is the best value for our campus. Faculty are also using open source alternatives that provide a one-stop system and allow collaboration with colleagues in other countries where Blackboard may not be available or affordable.
• Classroom etiquette Summary & Questions: Many faculty feel technology in the classroom can be disruptive. While students are encouraged to use their laptops and the Internet, the indiscriminate use of technology tools can be distracting to other students and the lesson in progress. Is there a technology solution or is this a classroom management issue?
• Classroom and Collegial Collaboration Summary & Questions: Faculty expressed ongoing and increasing interest in new and better ways to collaborate both within the classroom and with professional colleagues. What open-standard, collaborative platforms are available and useful? Are there ways to learn what colleagues are doing, or for faculty to share their expertise with colleagues both on and off campus?
• Technology in the classroom Summary & Questions: Many of the older buildings on campus are not set up to handle the power requirements of new technologies. Students bring expectations with them to campus that are difficult to meet given time and budgetary constraints.  Faculty prepare for classes with certain expectations of what technology will be available in their classrooms; it is difficult to constantly adjust and adapt.

For a more detailed summary of the discussion, download the full report.

These biannual Faculty Summits were launched during the summer of 2007. Each summit,  hosted and moderated by Roberts, includes a mix of faculty from across campus as well as ITS staff. Faculty are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas with Roberts, or submit topics for future Summits through the online form at www.utexas.edu/vp/it/feedback.

Brian Roberts, CIO and Vice President for Information Technology announced Tamara Closs, M.A. has accepted the position of Associate Vice President for Operations, Information Technology Services (ITS). She starts in her new position on September 1, 2008.

“I am very pleased that Tamara will be joining us at The University of Texas at Austin. I am certain her knowledge, expertise and leadership in the field of higher education information technology management will help ITS achieve its goals of operational and organizational excellence.” She will be responsible for the major technical functions of ITS including networking, applications, infrastructure, and systems.

Tamara joins ITS after serving as Assistant Vice President, Communications & Systems Infrastructure in the Office of Information Technology at Duke University. In that position she was responsible for mission critical IT infrastructure resources and services. As a key member of the IT leadership team, she developed programs, goals, objectives, policies and agendas for all operations, programs, services and events. She was frequently called on to serve as a consultant on critical IT issues for the university’s Senior Leadership Team.

A graduate of The University of Maryland with a Master of General Administration, Financial Management, Tamara has worked in higher education information technology most of her career. She joins LB Brady, AVP, Business Services and Terry Tatum, AVP Customer Services to complete the senior leadership team for ITS.

Terry Tatum, Associate Vice-President, Customer Services for Information Technology Services (ITS), recently announced Barbara Opyt has accepted the position of Director, Education and Development. She begins her new responsibilities on Monday, August 4, 2008.

“I am pleased to welcome Barbara to ITS. I know her passion for lifelong learning and extensive experience in delivering technical education programs will benefit the entire campus community,” Tatum said in making the announcement.

A graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a Masters of Education, Curriculum and Instruction: Adult and Organizational Learning, Barbara will be responsible for overseeing all IT training offered by ITS. This includes the Information Analyst training program, campus-wide security training, and new initiatives to expand IT-related training offered on campus.

Barbara returns to the university from Troux Technologies.  She worked there for five years managing the development of training and certification programs for a suite of enterprise architecture and strategic IT planning tools. Her experience also includes development of simulation-based interactive tutorials, teaching as a faculty member in higher education, and developing combined online/classroom training programs for Fortune 1000 and government customers.

The priorities of the Office of the Vice President for Information Technology have been updated. The campus community is encouraged to learn more about a new focus on faculty, progress in IT governance and transparency, data center developments, information security initiatives and the establishment of a new funding model for ITS.

The second Information Technology Services (ITS) Faculty Summit was hosted by Brian Roberts, CIO and Vice President for Information Technology, on Wednesday, February 13, 2008. Twenty faculty members from across campus joined Roberts in an open discussion about faculty research here at the university. Topics ranged from wireless access for visiting colleagues to options for video conferencing for collaboration, to graduate student recruitment. Roberts encouraged the assembled group to raise issues important to them as faculty members, whether the subject was technology-related or not.

Topics in Brief

A sampling of topics and the questions they raised includes:

• Timelines to submit grant applicants are being compressed. How can ITS improve the turnaround on its contracts for services and products to keep pace?
• Data security and privacy issues and requirements are constantly changing. What needs to be in place to help faculty do their research?
• Software licensing issues present roadblocks to collaboration, productivity and recruitment. Can a central site be created so faculty can coordinate licensing and capitalize on the economic advantages of large scale licensing purchases.
• The competition for outstanding graduate students is fierce. How can the university improve graduate student recruitment?
• Collaboration through video conferencing is vital, but the current setup is too cumbersome. Can we explore new video conferencing and collaboration software?

For a more detailed summary of the discussion, download the full report.

The ITS Faculty Summits were launched during the summer of 2007. These occasional meetings between Roberts and a changing group of representative faculty from across campus are an ongoing commitment to identify and, when possible, address issues, ideas and concerns identified by faculty as being important to them. Faculty are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas with Roberts or submit topics for future Summits.

Terry Tatum, Associate Vice-President, Customer Services for Information Technology Services, announced that Kristen Robinson has accepted the position of Director, User Services. She begins her new responsibilities on Monday, March 10, 2008.

In announcing her acceptance, Tatum stated, “I am pleased to welcome Kristen to The University of Texas at Austin. Her years of experience implementing and improving user support organizations in university environments will help ITS take its customer care and customer support to a new level. Her knowledge and commitment will help ITS enhance and improve customer service for our campus.”

Kristen will be responsible for a number of key, customer-focused ITS groups including the ITS computer labs and information desk, the ID center, On-site Support, Server Technical Support, Lab Support and the ITS Help Desk.

Kristen comes to the university after more than a decade as Director, User Services for SunGard Higher Education Management Services. Prior to her work with SunGard, she served as a Help Desk coordinator and project manager for the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR).

Brian Roberts, CIO and Vice President for Information Technology, is hosting the second Information Technology Services (ITS) Faculty Summit luncheon on Wednesday, February 13, 2008. The focus of the gathering will be on the challenges and opportunities faculty face in pursuing their research.

The summit will provide an informal venue for faculty to share their experiences about acquiring necessary research funds, collaborating with colleagues at other institutions and managing technical issues such as the safety and security of their research data. Roberts is clearly committed to hearing specifics, frustrations, successes and suggestions from faculty members and to frankly considering what can be done to support and improve this key area of professional development for faculty at the university.

Launched during the summer of 2007, the ITS Faculty Summits are occasional meetings of representative faculty from across campus interested in sharing their experiences and ideas directly with Roberts. The initial summit began the conversation about technology issues here at the university. This led directly to the launch of the Faculty Help Line at the ITS Help Desk, and the publication of the first ITS Faculty Newsletter.

To request an invitation to the February 13th summit, or to submit specific topics related to grant development and research funding, please use the online Express Your Interest form.

A nationwide survey of college and university students about information technology reveals steady trends in increasing computer and technology use. The undergraduates surveyed, however, clearly stressed that they felt technology cannot wholly substitute for face-to-face interaction with instructors.

The 2007 Students and Information Technology survey was created and compiled by ECAR (EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research). ECAR evaluated 27,864 undergraduates from 103 colleges, universities, and community colleges in a survey and in focus groups. The survey asked how students use different types of technology, and the effect that technology has on their academic experience. ECAR has been surveying students on IT issues annually since 2004, when the group evaluated 4,374 students at 13 institutions of higher education.

Significant growth occurred in mobile technology use, such as laptops and smart phones (cell phones with PDA capability). Nearly all respondents owned a computer, and nearly three-quarters owned laptops. Twelve percent owned smart phones. However, the number of students who owned non-phone PDAs has been decreasing slowly since 2005.
In addition, although students were using popular technologies like instant messaging (84.1 percent) and social networking (81.6 percent), they preferred to use those tools for personal activities, and said they did not like to use the tools in a learning environment. More than 85 percent of the surveyed students preferred e-mail for official college and university communication. Eighty-two percent of respondents wanted a university e-mail account, not a commercial one, to use for communicating at their institution.

Wireless connectivity for respondents increased from 12.4 percent in 2005 to 24 percent in 2007, and nearly a quarter of the students used wireless internet as their first point of connection. Students said they spent an average of 18 hours a week online performing activities for work, school, or recreation. According to the UTnet annual status report (PDF), UT has 2,300 public wireless access points. At UT, 74 percent of undergraduates use the campus wired and wireless networks.

Engineering and business majors used the Internet more than other students, as was true in the 2005 and 2006 studies. Students in these majors also liked IT in courses more than other students. The Public Network Access Usage report (PDF) from Spring 2007 shows that on the UT campus, the colleges with the heaviest student Internet use were Liberal Arts, Natural Sciences, Business, and Engineering.

Many respondents felt that IT in courses improved their learning experience. More than half also agreed with statements that IT in courses improved their learning, led faster feedback from instructors, and helped them research more efficiently. However, a large minority did not feel that IT has a positive role in learning.

Open-ended survey questions demonstrated that students identified IT as an enabler of learning most frequently when faculty used it well in courses. The students were sensitive to the ways and the extent in which technology was used in their courses, including underuse, overuse, misuse, and overdependence on technology.

One of the most significant changes since the original survey in 2004 has been student use of course management systems (CMS). Eighty-two percent of the respondents had used a CMS at least once, up from 69.7 percent in 2005. Most students reported a positive or very positive experience with CMS use, and said they liked the ability provided by CMS to keep track of assignments and grades, and to gain access to sample exams and quizzes.

For more information about the survey and a complete report of the results, visit the ECAR 2007 Web site.

On Monday, September 24, 2007, Brian Roberts, CIO and Vice President for Information Technology, held a briefing for campus IT staff. The intent was to outline activities surrounding strategic planning for IT at the university, to encourage a two-way conversation about issues and concerns related to technology here on campus, and to provide updates on various IT projects.

Overview

Roberts focused his general remarks in the following areas:

• Alignment - In his State of the University Address on September 19, 2007, President Powers outlined his vision and priorities for the university. Because the university’s financial resources are impacted with each legislative session, the president is considering new ways to better align the university’s budget and decision-making with its mission and goals. Roberts stressed that it is important for the IT community as a whole to be aware of the president’s priorities and consider how technology products, services, projects and plans reflect his new direction.
• Projects - IT projects reach across campus and require coordination, collaboration and transparency to meet the needs of customers and be successful, said Roberts. He encouraged the technical community to allow him to speak for IT on campus by addressing concerns about reinventing the wheel, efficient allocation of resources and keeping the decision making process for IT projects on campus transparent.
• Value Proposition - Roberts stressed that with the president’s focus on budgetary concerns, deans and colleges will be thinking about finances. IT will be part of those considerations, making it extremely important to clearly articulate how IT projects bring value to the campus community.
Governance -  Administrative computing on campus is an example of the type of collective decision-making that must become a hallmark for the university’s IT community. Clearer definition of IT governance will lead to strategic decision-making for IT across campus and increase IT alignment with the vision and priorities outlined by President Powers.

In addition to his remarks about IT on campus, Roberts shared news about the initial work of the ITS Projects Office to identify and document existing and possible ITS projects and begin implementing a clear process for selecting and managing them. He also outlined the direction and goals of the ITS strategic planning initiative launching in October. Roberts intends for this effort on the part of ITS senior management to result in a clear articulation of ITS roles, responsibilities and first principles resulting in better alignment of information technology efforts on campus with the priorities outlined by President Powers.

Updates

Roberts also provided updates on a variety of projects and initiatives of interest to the campus IT community including:

• Establishing a new Data Center in Austin.
• Investigating new options for student e-mail.
• The first ITS Faculty Summit held on July 12, 2007.
• Additions to UTS 165, UT Systems Information Resources Use and Security Policy.
• The Encore Initiative which is focusing on academic computing.

Archived Webcast

To listen to the CIO Briefing in its entirety go to: e-rtsp://146.6.74.12:7070/cio_briefing.mp4

• You will need the plug-in found at the bottom of this page in order to view the file: http://webcast_plugin.theacesbuilding.com/
• Intel based Mac users should use this plug-in: http://cns.utexas.edu/lectures/downloads.asp