WVU’s Information Technology
Strategic Plan
E
CONTENTS
Introduction ______________________ 1
Framework for an
Information Technology
Superstructure ___________________ 2
Context
Present Structure _____________________
Influencing Factors __________________
4
5
Strategic Directions _______________ 6
Action Plans
Engage the Students _________________ 7
Empower the Faculty ________________ 8
Infuse the Curriculum ________________ 9
Enhance Research Capabilities _____ 10
Fulfill Our Duty To Serve ______________ 11
Assessment _____________________ 13
Quantitative Measurements _________ 14
I.T. Advisory Groups ______________ 15
Acknowledgment _______________ 17
Appendix
Tactical Reference Information ______ 18
Environmental Scan _________________ 19
mpowering the University community
through information technology (IT) enables
students, faculty, and staff to open gateways to
a vast array of information and knowledge. This is
accomplished by providing each individual a
definitive tool-set of resources including hardware, software, training, and support. Use of this
tool-set allows the self-directed acquisition of the
necessary skills and abilities to be successful.
This empowerment of the University community
will not take place without a roadmap that tells
us where we need to go and what we need to
achieve. A key component is the evaluation,
formation, and advancement of a strategic plan
for technology. The following plan describes a
high-level comprehensive technology strategy
that enhances the educational environment and
business operations of West Virginia University. It is
at its most basic level a description of the tool-set
mentioned above. It is, by design, succinct and
readable. The tactical plans and other information that supplies the detail surrounding these
strategic directions is referenced.
Since technology changes on a regular basis,
so must this roadmap. Hence, per force, this is a
“living” document that will be updated on a
periodic basis. This plan is a blueprint for tomorrow that sets forth WVU’s information technology
vision, strategic directions, and action plans for
achieving the empowerment of the University
community through information technology.
Framework for an Information
Technology Superstructure
West Virginia University of 1867, Today, and Tomorrow
W
hen West Virginia University was founded in
1867,and for many years thereafter, the institution
conducted its teaching, research, and service
activities primarily on campus and in close proximity
to Morgantown. Today, WVU provides greater
access to and choice of affordable, just-in-time,
anywhere education and training opportunities for
all West Virginians. These opportunities are provided
through an integrated, statewide, University-wide
system of schools, colleges, campuses, research
facilities, Extension offices, and distance learning
sites linked by an integrated telecommunications
and information network. The WVU of today also
has approximately 60 international linkage agreements with China and Japan, and many countries
in Southern Africa, Europe, and the Pacific Rim.
“The vision for Information Technology at West
Virginia University is to empower the University
community through information technology,
to enrich the academic experience for students,
and to strengthen the ability of faculty and staff to
teach, conduct research, and provide public
service throughout West Virginia and beyond.”
Strategic Imperatives
A strengthened technology infrastructure
WVU will provide a solid infrastructure to ensure
the performance and reliability of its technological
services and facilities.
This web-based infrastructure will be built around
wide and local area networks designed specifically
to run web-based applications with access to a
Web browser. Students, faculty, and staff will be
able to access many Internet-based services and
tools. Many services will be accessed in “anytime,
anywhere” fashion. Students will register, pay fees,
and access the libraries via the Web. Numerous
administrative services to faculty and staff also will
be converted, eliminating many paper processes
and allowing accessibility through the WVU Intranet.
To support this Web-centric architecture, the
University will upgrade the networks of the campuses as needed to maintain a high level of speed,
accuracy, and reliability. The design of this physical
infrastructure will be based on “local control,
University support.” This concept takes advantage
2
of economies of scale whereby larger, more costeffective servers, routers, and switches serve multiple
academic and administrative units. The hardware
will be supported by the central information technology organization, but each unit will be able to
control its segment of that hardware.
In addition, technical support to the physical
architecture is critical. It is imperative for West
Virginia University to recruit and retain qualified, upto-date technical staff. The University will continue to
dedicate resources to train and develop the technical staff to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s
technology.
A change in the relationship between the University
and its clients: Engagement
As we enter the 21st century, West Virginia University also is defined by its statewide, national, and
international programs and multistate
collaboratives. All three charter missions teaching,
research, and public service are being accomplished through a wide variety of mutually beneficial
partnerships. Widespread access to and mastery of,
information technology in all its forms is essential to
support this fundamental change. Serving lifelong
learners in the context of the engaged university
requires just-in-time learning options supported by
synchronous and asynchronous technologies available anywhere, anytime, at a reasonable cost.
“An engaged university is an institution that has
live, two-way, mutually respectful, ongoing exchanges with individuals and with other institutions
and enterprises. Engagement today emphasizes
partnerships mutually beneficial collaborations of
business, industry, school systems, the health and
social service sectors, and government.
“In 1999 we live in a society in which knowledge
surpasses all other economic resources. As never
before, an informed citizenry and an educated
workforce are decisive factors in our competitive
economy. It is our duty to provide our citizens with
the knowledge each of WVU’s campuses possesses.
What a profound duty! What a profound opportunity!” - President David C. Hardesty, Jr., State of the
University Address, February 8, 1999.
Information Technology Master Plan
Expanded, integrated library systems with
worldwide links
Libraries of the future will include expanded integrated library systems with worldwide links to information. The WVU Libraries will play a critical role in
fostering this type of access for users. Students,
faculty, staff, and citizens will be supplied with information when and where they need it via a dynamic
home page gateway, which will provide single-point
access to local and remote information.
The libraries will implement a new integrated
information management system in January 2000,
which will make its holdings more accessible to
remote users and will provide access to the resources
of a networked world. Users of the WVU libraries also
will be able to access reference services, documents,
and instruction electronically. The libraries will continue to expand access to electronic databases
including full text. High-demand CD-ROM databases
owned/leased by the Libraries will be available via a
CD-ROM Wide Area Network. Network access will be
provided for digital publications including theses,
dissertations, and course reserve materials. The
libraries also will digitize specialized collections.
The libraries will foster access to technology in new
and renovated facilities. New appropriate wiring will
maximize access to technology. The libraries will also
employ a wireless system in their new facilities.
In the next century, the WVU libraries will use
advanced technology as a tool to provide both
sharply expanded information access and an innovative structure of library services. The libraries will
enrich the learning environment of West Virginia
University with a vast array of Internet and electronic
resources in state-of-the-art facilities.
Integrated administrative systems
WVU will focus its efforts on ensuring Year 2000
compliance by implementing comprehensive,
integrated financial and human resources administrative systems. A major goal of this effort is to incorporate the WVU main campus, the Health Sciences
Center, and the three regional campuses
into a single administrative system. These
systems will include but are not limited to
financial accounting, grants management,
fixed assets, purchasing, and human resource administration. On-line use of the
system will be decentralized; college and
division expert business offices will input data
at its source, will access information and
management reports, and will use the Web
for such on-line functions as procurement
requisition and benefits administration. The
University’s new Administrative Information
Management System will ensure that all information required by state government offices, such as
the Auditor’s Office and the Department of Administration Budget Office, will be provided in the format
and level of detail requested.
Five Strategic Directions:
Compared with the West Virginia University of 1867
that was focused largely on teaching first-time students of working people at one site for a fixed period
of time, today the University is fulfilling its chartermandated missions of teaching, research, and
service through face-to-face and technology-enhanced approaches throughout the learners’
lifespan.
Information technology of the new WVU must be
able to support state, multi-state, national, and
international relationships with clients across all of its
three missions. The information technology vision as
stated on page 3 supports West Virginia University
and helps the institution fulfill its mission.
“West Virginia University is a student-centered,
learning community meeting the changing needs of
the people of West Virginia and the nation through
teaching, research, service, and technology.”
West Virginia University sets forth the following five
strategic directions for its Framework for an Information Technology Superstructure:
● Engage students
● Empower the faculty
● Infuse the curriculum
● Enhance research capabilities, and
● Fulfill our duty to serve.
Within these pages you will find detailed explanations of these strategic directions as well as descriptive action plans.
Information Technology Master Plan
3
Context
Present Structure
I
n 1995, newly appointed WVU President David C.
Hardesty, Jr. commissioned an Administrative Organization Task Force “to examine issues related to the
functioning of central administration...” The task force
report, completed in 1996, recommended creation of
the Office of the Chief Information Officer (Associate
Provost for Information Technology) and stated “WVU
has major weaknesses and lags significantly behind in
technology and information service and needs to
place high-level attention on these deficiencies.” This
report advised the new CIO position be tasked with
the implementation and coordination of a comprehensive technology strategy. Subsequently, a new
cabinet level officer of the president and provost
(University Chief Information Officer [CIO]) was appointed and took the helm of the central computing,
telecommunications, and networking unit, forming
the Office of Information Technology (OIT) in 1997.
The unit centrally coordinates IT efforts across the
various academic and administrative units.
Oracle academic initiative- An educational program that enables WVU students, faculty, and staff
to become technically proficient IT or business
professionals.
http:/www.wvu.edu~exlearn/oai.html
Since 1997, West Virginia University has been
successful in the provision of:
Cisco academy training Center- A career development program that trains and certifies students to
design, build, and maintain Cisco networks.
http://www.wvu.edu/~catc/
High performance connections program- A very high
speed Backbone Network Service (vBNS), supporting
network and computing research. http://
www.wvu.edu/~research/vbns.html
Internet-2 (I2) implementation- An initiative among
top research universities to create a new high speed
network dedicated to scientific research.
http://www.wvu.edu/~research/techbriefs/
vbnstechbrief.html
Electronic thesis and dissertations- WVU became the
second university in the world to implement mandatory Electronic Thesis and Dissertations (ETD), allowing
for multimedia documents and new forms of scholarship. http://www.wvu.edu/~thesis/
Oracle financials/HR software implementation
project- To provide advanced database software for
central financial and human resource systems.
http://intranet.wvu.edu:80/finance/abs overview.htm
Creation of new WVU data center “Deep Blue and
Gold”- An IBM SP2-S/6000 supercomputer to perform
a variety of processing functions for the University
including applications that support the financial
management, human resources, and student
systems.
http://www.wvu.edu/~isn data/data.html
4
Assistive technology lab- Increases the access of
information technology for students with disabilities.
http://www.access.wvu.edu/labs/
OIT internship program- A career development
program open to students interested in pursuing
technical jobs and professions in IT. http://
www.wvu.edu/~cir/flyer.html
Cisco systems partnership- WVU formulated a
partnership with Cisco Systems for an ATM network
design plan and purchased new ATM backbone
network equipment.
http://www.wvu.edu/~netserv/
West Virginia University has evolved toward a
decentralized IT structure summarized as “central
coordination local control.” Disparate technology
efforts across the campuses are centrally coordinated, but units maintain local control. To help
accomplish this paradox, input is gathered from all
constituencies on and off (regional) campuses
through representation on the Information Technology Advisory Council (ITAC).
In 1998, the CIO created the Information Technology Advisory Council (ITAC). This high-level body
reviews IT policies and standards, and makes recommendations on IT project approvals, priorities, and
funding/budget authorizations for centrally supported projects, as well as other projects affecting
multiple University departments (the organizational
structure and membership list of the ITAC is described on page 21.) The council’s first major task is
to assist in the development of this university-wide
information technology strategic plan.
Information Technology Master Plan
Context
Influencing Factors
T
hree of the state-wide and/or campus-wide
factors that influence strategic planning at West
Virginia University include:
1. Senate bill 547- Specifically requires the University
to fulfill four essential IT initiatives:
● Increased student access to computers Network
infrastructure Faculty development for technologybased courses Information Technology skills development for faculty
Due to this legislation and the resulting initiatives,
OIT received an additional base budget increase of
$250,000 per year for four years, to ensure success.
WVU has been particularly successful in using this
increase, which contributed to the success of many
projects and/or initiatives.
http://www.state.wv.us/itac/wfready.html
puses and other University units to operate as one
institution with a common set of values, standards
of effectiveness and quality, support systems, and a
common institutional culture.
http://www.wvu.edu ~acadaff/int2000c.htm
3. WVSUN (West Virginia Statewide Unified Network)To consolidate the many state-wide multiple networks into one common network, an ATM backbone is needed to supply higher bandwidth with
capabilities for multimedia, voice, video, and data
throughout the state. Over time, the network will
provide fast computer connections, high quality
video for distance learning, video conferring, and
high performance telemedical applications. When
fully implemented, data connections will go directly
from the source computer to the destination
allowing much improved performance.
http://www.state.wv.us/got/itplan/plan/default.htm
2. Integration 2000- The objective of the Integration
2000 project is to achieve a closer coordination of
WVU’s teaching, research, and service programs
and full integration of critical support systems at the
Morgantown campus, the regional statewide
campuses, and special mission units by July 1, 2000.
This distinctive, geographically distributed,
bsynchronized network will enable the WVU cam-
Information Technology Master Plan
5
Strategic Directions
E
mpowering the University through information
technology entails supporting the academic
experience for students, strengthening the mission
of faculty and staff, and expanding the University’s
ability to serve the community. This vision is
achieved through the following five strategic
directions:
Engage the students
Empower the student through access to curricular
materials, software, electronic communication,
computer labs, library resources, media collections,
andpresentation technologies to maximize the
benefit of students’ educational experience and
prepare them for the workplace.
Empower the faculty
Empower the faculty by providing access to information, tools, training, and facilities to achieve the
benefits of IT throughout the University particularly
for enhancing the curriculum, increasing productivity, and in non-traditional delivery methods.
different modes of instructional delivery such as
telecommunications technologies and on-line
instruction. Augment student-faculty interaction
with electronic communication.
Enhance research capabilities
Propagate and maintain resources and tools
necessary for successful research projects including,
bandwidth, supercomputers, and other hardware.
Participate in regional and Internet research infrastructure initiatives, such as Internet2, vBNS, and
Southern Crossroads.
Fulfill our duty to serve
Provide WVU’s technological capabilities and
knowledge bases to serve workforce and economic development of West Virginia through
collaborative arrangements with business, government, and labor. Use technology to expand our
service through Extension Service and rural health
initiatives.
Infuse the curriculum
Support curricular activities by providing electronic
resources, tools, and facilities that can be used to
enhance and enrich the teaching and research
components of the instructional program. Enable
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Information Technology Master Plan
Action Plans
Engage the Students
I
nternet, web, e-mail (anytime, anywhere)
access- WVU will continue to expand high-speed
external network connections, authentication
systems, Web servers, file servers, electronic messaging systems, on-line databases, on-line curricular
information, on-line courses, intranet applications,
and help desk services to meet the needs of WVU
students.
http://www.wvu.edu/~compsvc/Helpdesk/
cirhelp.htm
Computing labs- WVU will maximize student
access to information technology resources
through the enhancement, support, and operations
of computer labs and other facilities. Work is currently underway for the creation of a new computer lab on the downtown campus of WVU. This
new lab will be equipped with 80-100 multimedia,
high-end computers, an assistive technology
service area for students with disabilities, and
computer-equipped classrooms for computerbased instruction.
http://www.access.wvu.edu/labs/
Computing facilities- wireless access, plugins WVU
will continue and expand wireless networking.
Computers equipped with wireless network links
give students full access to the campus network,
the Internet, and printing without the need for
physical cables, connections, and related equipment.
http://www.wvu.edu/~colbe/student/tech/lab/
serv.htm
Computing resources- WVU will continue to
provide centralized computing resources needed
to support a wide range of instructional, research,
and administrative applications. These resources will
include an IBM SP supercomputer and a cluster of
Dell file servers running both Novell and NT. These
resources will be housed in the new WVU Data
Center. A guiding principle to the new Data Center
is “Local Control University Supported.”
http://www.wvu.edu/~compsvc/aisweb/ais.html
presentation technologies designed to enhance
the delivery of lectures and other forms of classroom instruction. Additional classrooms will be
developed that distribute this multimedia technology to various classrooms throughout campus.
http://www.access.wvu.edu/320/
Technology training- WVU will enhance efforts to
provide workshops and training for students to gain
knowledge and skills on how to use information
technology, including new software, scanners, and
digital equipment.
http:/www.access.wvu.edu/training/training.htm
PC ServiceCenter- WVU will partner with a vendor
to provide computer sales and service to students.
High quality computers will meet defined WVU
student functional needs at competitive prices;
repairs and upgrades will be provided in a timely
manner. Consistent configurations will reduce
WVU’s share of the total cost of student computing.
http://www.wvu.edu/~compsvc/Helpdesk/
which.html
Student systems- WVU will focus its efforts on the
on-line delivery of new student services including
Web-based registration, access to financial aid and
billing information, and on-line information about
courses. This includes computer accounts for the life
of the student to support applications such as email, discussion groups, and Web access. (With
enhanced student systems student recruitment
efforts will be improved.) We can bolster student
retention by enabling faculty members to quickly
process and provide grades and use up-to-theminute data to effectively counsel students. Deans
and department heads will gain instant access to
degree and registration facts. They will be able to
review work load and contract information or
conduct “what if” analyses.
http://www.arc.wvu.edu:80/star/
Multimedia classrooms- The direct access to
computer technology by students is an important
part of the educational process at WVU. Computer
and related multimedia technology is playing an
increasingly important role in classroom instruction
as well. These classrooms include a computer with
network and Internet connectivity, and a variety of
Information Technology Master Plan
7
Action Plans
Empower the Faculty
F
aculty access- WVU will provide faculty access to
information, tools, training, and facilities to maximize the
benefits of information technology for instruction, research, and learning through many on-campus programs, initiatives, facilities, and services.
http://www.access.wvu.edu/itrc/index.html
Faculty training- WVU will augment current efforts to
offer a wide range of workshops designed to train faculty
in the development and use of instructional technology
both for the delivery of traditional and non-traditional
instruction, as well as providing service and conducting
research. The catalog of available workshops are periodically adjusted to reflect the current technology and the
instructional needs and interests of the faculty.
http://www.access2.wvu.edu/workshop
courses.cfm#Instructional Technology
Electronic classrooms- WVU has state-of-the-art electronic classrooms available at convenient locations on
the downtown and Evansdale campuses. In addition,
each regional campus has its own electronic classroom
that is connected via T1 to the main campus compressed
video network. WVUIT and the main campus also have
ISDN connectivity as well. The Distance Education Origination Site Guidelines and a complete description of
WVU Distance Education Options are available on-line
through the WVU Extended Learning Web site at
www.wvu.edu/~exlearn.
Distance education options- WVU is increasing its
distance education offerings through diversified means of
delivery. Instruction is available through satellite, compressed video, videotapes, email, and World Wide Web
technologies. New energies are being focused on freestanding Web based courses as well as multi-media
enhanced course design and development. WVU is also
a participant in the Southern Regional Electronic Campus
sponsored by the Southern Regional Educational Board.
To learn more about WVU distance education offerings
contact WVU Extended Learning at 1-800-2LEARN2 or visit
the Extended Learning web page at www.wvu.edu/
~exlearn. To learn about Instructional Technology classes
or resources, visit the Academic Computing web page at
http://www.access.wvu.edu/320/.
Instructional technology resource center (ITRC)- WVU
will continue to assist faculty in the development of
technology-based instructional software and materials
that can be used in WVU courses. Through this facility,
faculty may plan and develop computer-based instructional presentations, interactive software, and demonstrations that will contribute to solving instructional problems.
8
In addition to state-of-the-art multimedia computers, the
ITRC is outfitted with an array of software tools. Faculty
may chose from several authoring packages that simplify
the development of instructional software and allow
faculty to focus on instructional delivery and associated
content materials.
http://www.access.wvu.edu/itrc/index.html
Multimedia facilities- Additional multimedia classrooms
will be developed that distribute multimedia technology
to various classrooms throughout campus. The design is
simple: A single room located in Colson Hall houses a
variety of equipment ranging from VCRs to computers.
This room, better known as the “headend,” is then
connected to classrooms throughout campus. From
these classrooms, instructors can remotely control equipment of the headend providing instructors the option of
using up to six different forms of media during each
scheduled event.
http://www.access.wvu.edu/320/
Faculty workstations- WVU will continue to provide
technical support for faculty utilizing workstations for their
instructional and research activities. An effort to gain
efficiencies in workstation support of faculty will occur
whenever possible.
Academic support- WVU is committed to providing
technical support of computer systems and networks so
faculty can provide state-of-the-art facilities for effective
learning environments and cutting edge research.
Faculty grants- WVU will continue to provide faculty
development grants, start-up packages, and computer
grants, so that faculty can remain at the cutting edge in
use of technology in the learning and research environment and to foster and support the development of
instructional technology related skills among the University
faculty.
http://www.wvu.edu/~osp internal.html
College support of faculty- It’s imperative that individual colleges continue to support the faculty, such as:
● The College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
(CEMR) Will continue to empower the faculty by enhancing the Learning Center for Information Technology. This
college has also upgraded the computer classrooms and
labs to “state-of-the-art” technology.
● The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences will continue
strong support of faculty training, enhanced computer
labs, and advanced web applications.
Information Technology Master Plan
Action Plans
Infuse the Curriculum
C
omputing resources- WVU will continue to support both centralized and college-based computing
resources for instruction, including systems providing
electronic communications, compilers, databases,
and discipline-specific applications.
http://www.wvu.edu/~compsvc/aisweb/ais.html
Curricular web services- WVU will augment current
efforts to provide a managed approach to the creation and delivery of web-based courses. It also has a
number of tools to facilitate the instructional process
and TopClass is being used for course development.
http://www.access.wvu.edu/class/
Distance education- WVU is increasing its distance
education offerings through diversified delivery methods. Instruction is available through satellite, compressed video, videotapes, e-mail and World Wide
Web technologies. New energies are being focused
on free-standing web-based courses as well as multimedia enhanced course design and development.
WVU is also a participant in the Southern Regional
Electronic Campus sponsored by the Southern Regional Educational Board. To learn more about WVU
distance education offerings please contact WVU
Extended Learning at 1-800-2LEARN2 or visit the Extended Learning Web page at www.wvu.edu/
~exlearn. To learn about Instructional Technology
classes or resources, visit the Academic Computing
Web page at http://www.access.wvu.edu/320/.
Electronic information resources- The West Virginia
University libraries will: implement a new integrated
information management system making its holdings
more accessible to remote users and providing access
to the resources of a networked world; provide
electronic reference service; deliver documents
electronically; provide electronic instruction for
distant library users; provide networked access to
digital publications including theses, dissertations,
and course reserve materials; digitize specialized
library collections; provide regular trials of new
products and electronic databases continue expansion of electronic database acquisitions including full
text; work toward the ideal of single point access by
providing a dynamic home page gateway to local
and remote information; and complete installation
of a CD-ROM Wide Area Network (WAN) to provide
campus-wide and remote access to high-demand
CD-ROM databases owned/leased by the libraries.
http://www.libraries.wvu.edu/
Internet resources- WVU will expand the internal
and external network and communications infrastructure required to support full use of resources
available via the Internet, including “traditional”
resources, Internet telephony, desktop
videoconferencing, and multicasting applications.
http://www.wvu.edu/~netserv/network.html
Video Resources- WVU will implement
videoconferencing sites at various locations across
campuses, including the regional campuses, special
mission campuses like the WVU-Jackson’s Mill State 4H Conference Center to meet the increasing needs
of video conferencing both internal and external to
the University. http://www.wvu.edu/~telecom/video/
main.html
Information Technology Master Plan
9
Action Plans
Enhance Research Capabilities
I
nformation technology focus- WVU will continue
to expand its research in the information technology focus area through multi-disciplinary initiatives,
building upon strengths in software engineering,
geographical information systems, and
telemedicine, as well as creating new opportunities
in areas such as forensic identification. Research in
information technology directly impacts the high
technology industrial sector which the state of West
Virginia has targeted for economic development.
WVU produces the people and technologies
required for the state to make a major impact in
computing and information technology.
Internetworking initiatives- WVU will build upon
the capabilities it has recently implemented
through winning an National Science Foundation
High Performance Connections Award (vBNS) and
joining Internet2. As a member of the Southeastern
Universities Research Association (SURA), WVU is
involved in regional internetworking initiatives such
as Southern Crossroads (SoX). Having the high
bandwidth internetworking represented by vBNS
and related initiatives is crucial to the future
of WVU s research programs.
College support of faculty- It’s imperative that
individual colleges continue to support the faculty,
such as:
● The College of Engineering and Mineral Resources (CEMR) is a prime participant in the Collaborative Medical Informatics Laboratory (CMIL)
research project dealing with high-speed collaborative use, transmission, display, and visualization of
medical informatics data. Two Computer Science
and Electrical Engineering (CSEE) labs have been
upgraded for CMIL use, and CEMR has created the
Virtual Reality (VR) laboratory that includes EPSCOR,
newly purchased, immersadesk. This new equipment give WVU a state-of-the-art virtual reality
capability.
● The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences will
develop and support enhanced research capabilities in a number of departments, including the GIS
lab, computational chemistry (with Health Sciences), and literary computing.
High performance computing- WVU faculty
researchers will remain involved with state-ofthe-art high performance computing (HPC)
projects such as the SEPSCoR project and
other computational efforts in materials and
chemistry. WVU, in collaboration with the
state EPSCoR committee, will invest in HPC
resources such as the present CM5
supercomputer and the new IBM SP2
supercomputer.
Visualization- WVU will expand its research
efforts in visualization, utilizing the
immersadesk resource in CEMR and the cave
at NIOSH. Collaborations, both local and
international, are important to building this
research area which spans multiple colleges
at WVU.
Software engineering- WVU will continue its
involvement with the Institute for Software
Research (ISR), which is working with WVU s
research program in software engineering, as
well as WVUs research effort in the WVU/NASA
Software Engineering Laboratory which is
focused on the needs of the NASA Independent Verification and Validation Center in
Fairmont.
10
Information Technology Master Plan
Action Plans
Fulfill Our Duty to Serve
W
est Virginia University will provide a defined
minimum level of technology access for all its
faculty and staff wherever they are located in the
state. This will include a common standard of
computers and software, high speed connectivity
to the Internet, and the availability of the Internet to
access voice, video, and data at every desktop. In
addition, to maximize individual productivity, WVU
will provide employees with access to technology
from home and when working away from their
offices.
Information technology is an essential tool in
achieving the land-grant mission of West Virginia
University. Societal members have the right to
access learning opportunities available through
their public flagship University. WVU has a charter
commitment as a land-grant University to engage
individuals, families, and communities in learning
activities to meet their needs as lifelong learners
where and when they require our services.
Information technology will enable us to better fulfill
our public service duty.
Extension service activities- The West Virginia
University Extension Service is a purposeful mix of
general extension (safety and health, fire service,
labor education) and the national Cooperative
Extension System. The Extension Service program foci,
in partnership with local communities, are: Agricultural and Natural Resources; Youth, Family, and Adult
Development, and Community, Economic, and
Workforce Development. In partnership with West
Virginia residents, communities, employees, and
other public and private agencies, WVU Extension
will: provide information resources through its web
site; offer opportunities for interactive and consultative services through data, audio, and video connections directly from homes and businesses, and at
WVU’s regional, special mission and county extension
facilities.
To make it happen WVU Extension will: fully integrate its information technology capabilities with the
WVU information technology system; significantly
advance information technology literacy, mastery,
and skills of its faculty and staff including county
employees, Extension volunteers, and clients; at its
525-acre off-campus special-mission facility, (WVU
Information Technology Master Plan
11
Jackson’s Mill), establish and fully integrate information technology in its offices, classrooms, and
special facilities to support the lifelong learning
needs of its employees and youth and adult learners who use the facility.
http://www.wvu.edu/~exten/
Health Sciences/Healthcare Activities
● WVU HealthLine WVU HealthLine is a toll-free
telephone service designed to provide easy access
to the services at the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center. HealthLine can provide information
to callers who are choosing a health care provider.
We also can schedule an appointment with a WVU
physician or dentist. HealthLine also responds to
requests for health information.
http://www.wvhealth.wvu.edu/whoarewe.htm
● Consult an evolving statewide health information
network. Its mission is to provide West Virginia’s
primary health care professionals and students,
especially those practicing in rural environments,
improved access to timely biomedical information.
http://consult.hsc.wvu.edu/
Mountaineer doctor television (MDTV) a two-way
video and audio communications network that
enables specialist physicians at major medical
centers to see and talk with patients at distant
locations around the state.
http://www.wvmd.wvu.edu/mdtv/mdtv.htm
Workforce Development Activities- WVU will
continue to operate distance learning sites across
the state that will be used to conduct workforce
development activities through such venues as
executive development seminars and master’s
degree programs. These sites will be enhanced with
wireless computer connections to WVNET allowing
both training in the use of technology as well as
12
technology to conduct the training. WVU will
continue to support with appropriate hardware and
software, such as Oracle, degree programs such as
Management Information Systems that prepare
individuals to participate in a technologicallybased work environment. Electronic commerce
centers are being designed to further prepare the
workforce through degree programs for future
employment in the state. http://www.be.wvu.edu/
serve/index.htm
Economic Development Activities- A strong
economy is essential for the future development of
West Virginia and requires the focused energies of
West Virginia’s institutions of commerce, government, and human services. West Virginia University
will strengthen and focus its commitment to economic development through its three primary
missions of teaching, research, and public service
to help ensure the state’s economic future. There
are many ways that a complex, comprehensive,
multi-campus land-grant University contributes to
economic development. Significant information
technology support is required in most of these
efforts. The initiatives are:
● WVU remains committed to continually focusing
and strengthening its research enterprise. Technology transfer will be a key link between the research
enterprise of the University and the private sector
for the commercialization of research-based knowledge and technologies.
● In close cooperation with the West Virginia
Human Resource Investment Council and its five (instate) regions, and working with local and state
Economic Development Councils, local and state
governments, WVU will become engaged in a
variety of collaborative endeavors wherein information technology is a strategic element.
● An example of such an endeavor is the West
Virginia Clearinghouse for Workforce Education. It is
a web-based statewide integrated service that will
provide Internet resources to update information on
training and development available to employees
and employers across West Virginia. It was
created and is operated by WVU, WVUInstitute of Technology, and two other
partner institutions.
http://www.wvu.edu/~exten/depts/
ced/ced.htm
Information Technology Master Plan
Assessment
B
ecause the needs of academic programs,
student services, administrative support systems,
and statewide lifelong learning, services are continually changing, campus IT services will be dynamic and flexible, and evaluation of their effectiveness will be a continuous process. The scope of
the evaluation process will range from articles in the
student newspaper to comprehensive consultant
and peer reviews.
Although the means and methods of evaluation
will change with the issues and the urgency for
feedback, some of the mechanisms employed for
assessing the effectiveness of campus information
services and programs may include:
● Benchmarking studies
● Associate Provost’s Office audits and
questionnaires
● Council and committee meetings including: the
Dean’s Council, Budget Committee,
● Information Technology Advisory committees,
and the Information Technology
Advisory Council
● Departmental and OIT management meetings
and recommendations
● Faculty questionnaires and focus groups
● Lifelong learner focus groups
● Informal recommendations from students, faculty,
staff, and administrators
● Peer reviews
● Student focus groups
● Monitoring usage (networks, labs, etc.)
Information Technology Master Plan
13
Assessment
Quantitative Measurements
Q
uantitative measurements are only one of
several techniques used to assess the effectiveness
of campus IT efforts, and they can present interpretive challenges. For instance, quantity does not
always represent quality, and the value of a particular measurement may be ambiguous. For
example, does a high number of help desk calls
represent a technologically astute user community
and a responsive help desk, or a failure to provide
adequate training and documentation? Nevertheless, quantitative measurements can be an effective assessment tool and will be part of WVU’s IT
assessment strategy. Examples of components
which can be measured include the number of:
● OIT workshops offered
● Classes supported by the curricular web server
● Classes using videoconferencing
● Classrooms enhanced by electronic technology
● Conferences, fairs, seminars,and special
programs offered by OIT
● Courses produced and distributed through
electronic means
● Dial-in modems and usage
● E-mail messages per day
● Facilities/equipment for faculty multimedia
production
● Faculty and staff attending OIT workshops
● Faculty, staff, and students impacted by OIT
funded projects
● Help desk service requests and office visits
● On-line databases offered through the library
● Proposal/grants requesting technology services
● Students accessing on-line databases
● Students using the public computer labs
● Telephone moves, adds, and changes
● Television programs, segments, and edits
produced
14
Information Technology Master Plan
Information Technology
Advisory Groups
T
he University’s success in implementing a flexible
and robust IT infrastructure is largely the result of
particularly effective IT planning and ad hoc committees. These role of these committees are illustrated on the organization chart on page 19 and
include:
Information Technology Advisory Council (ITAC)
Members of the Information Technology Advisory
Council participate in planning and decision-making
at the state, University, and departmental or college
level. All members participate in professional organizations and system-wide committees within their
areas of expertise. On campus, they meet with the
Vice President’s group (8:15 group), the President’s
Cabinet, Dean’s Council, the University Budget
Committee, and individual students, faculty, and
administrators with recommendations and concerns
about campus and statewide IT services.
ITAC members bring together their professional
expertise and a comprehensive understanding of
institutional directives to cooperatively determine
the direction and means by which IT can best serve
the campus. In consultation with campus administrators and advisory groups, the ITAC recommends
allocations of IT funds and generally provides oversight and strategic direction for all campus-wide IT
services. The membership includes:
Ken Orgill, Chair Associate Provost and CIO
Edna Bruehl, Vice President and CIO, W.V. United
Health Systems
Jay Coats, Professor, College of Business and
Economics
Larry Cote, Associate Provost for Extension and
Public Service
Sue Day-Perroots, Director, Extended Learning
Programs
Sydney Stern, Dean, College of Business and
Economics
James Hackett, Associate Vice President, Finance,
Health Sciences
Myra Lowe, Interim Dean, University Libraries
Eldon Miller, President, WVU at Parkersburg
M. Duane Nellis, Dean, Eberly College of Arts and
Sciences
Terry Ondreyka, Associate Vice President, Finance
Chris Southard, Student Representative
George Trapp, Chair, Computer Science and
Electrical Engineering
John Weete, Associate Provost, Research
Wes Williams, Assistant Vice President,
Enrollment Management/Services
Ricki Dulin, ITAC Secretary and Assistant to the CIO
Academic Computing Advisory Committee
This committee provides advice and recommendations to the ITAC pertaining to instruction, research, extension, and public service computing
activities and is composed of faculty members
currently involved in appropriate computing activities. The units/colleges represented include the
following membership:
Don McLaughlin, Chair, Director of Academic
Computing
Marie Abate, School of Pharmacy
Virgil Boerio, Networking Services
Julie Booth, College of Creative Arts
Stanley Cohen, College of Arts and Sciences
Mary Davis, School of Pharmacy
Russell Dean, Provost’s Office
Jerald Fletcher, College of Agriculture Sciences and
Forrestry
Carol Henry, College of Business and Economics
Deborah Lewis, School of Nursing
Jack Littleton, College of Arts and Sciences
Lew McDaniel, Customer Services
Marjorie McDiarmid, College of Law
Tom Moran, College of Arts and Sciences
Anne Nardi, College of Human Resources and
Education
Dennis Newborn, University Libraries
Afzel Noore, College of Engineering and Mineral
Resources
Ken Orgill, CIO, Information Technology
Rebecca Osborne, Extension Service
Norton Smith, School of Dentistry
Tim Williams, Telecommunications and Network
Services
Information Technology Master Plan
15
Administrative Systems Advisory Committee
This committee provides advice and recommendations to the ITAC pertaining to administrative
computing activities and is composed of administrators as well as key technical management. The
units represented include the following membership:
Don McLaughlin, Academic Computing
Kathy Myers, Housing and Residence Life
Dennis Newborn, Library Services
Ken Orgill, CIO, Information Technology
Merle Peterson, Facilities Planning
Laura Roth, Health Sciences Center
Keith Walton, College of Law
Kate Hazen, Chair, Interim Director of Information
Systems
Kathy Bissonnette, Institutional Analysis and Planning
Myrtho Blanchard, Department of Human
Resources
Cheng Khoo, Admissions and Records
Robert Cremer, Physical Plant
Dan Durbin, Health Sciences Center
Lorena Ayala, Administrative Systems (Technical)
Denise Kerby, WVUIT
Donna Hylton, Student Systems and Enrollment
Services
Tina Levelle, College of Arts and Sciences
Jess Mancini, Controller’s Office
Deanna McMillian, Administrative Systems
Functional
Amir Mohammadi, Office of Student Affairs
Jessie Momen, Extension Service
Bill Quigley, Internal Auditing
Sandy Swisher, WVU Parkersburg
Brenda Thompson, Student Financial Aid
Royce Watts, College of Engineering and Mineral
Resources
Narvel Weese, Budget Planning
Web (WWW) Executive Advisory Committee
This committee was formed to articulate an
overall communications strategy for the University’s
web presence, set general guidelines that include
recommendations for graphically enhancing WVU’s
image on the Web, produce guidelines for a WVU
Intranet, review legal and policy issues and focus
on technical planning and development needs.
The committee is composed of a cross-section of
faculty, staff, and administrators and is co-chaired
by the Executive Officer for Communications and
the Associate Provost for Information Technology.
The units represented include the following membership:
Telecommunications Advisory Committee
This committee provides advice and recommendations to the ITAC pertaining to campus voice,
data, and video services. The units represented
include the following membership:
All of these supporting committees recommend
policies, procedures, priorities, resource allocations,
and in some cases specified projects for consideration and approval by the ITAC.
Carolyn Curry, Co-Chair, President’s Office
Ken Orgill, Co-Chair, CIO, Information Technology
Rob Cleveland, Institutional Advancement
Tony Cook, University Editor
Ricki Dulin, Information Technology
Cliff Harvey, College of Creative Arts
Becky Lofstead, News Service
Rusty Russell, Health Sciences Center
Tim Terman, News Service
Tim Williams, Chair, Director Telecommunications
and Network Services
Virgil Boerio, Networking Services
Tim Bostonia, Administrative Business Services
Walt Chmiel, Admissions and Records
Kim Clayton, Health Sciences Center
Sue Day-Perroots, Extended Learning
John DuWall, Television Productions
Jim Harner, College of Arts and Sciences
Robert Knight, Extension Service
John Mathews, College of Engineering and Mineral
Resources
16
Information Technology Master Plan
Acknowledgments
WVU Academic Deans
Allen C. Cogley, Dean, College of Engineering and
Mineral Resources
Dana Brooks, Dean, School of Physical Education
Frances O’Brien, Dean, University Libraries
Phillip Faini, Dean, College of Creative Arts
M. Duane Nellis, Dean, Eberly College of Arts and
Sciences
Jane Martin, Dean, School of Nursing
John Fisher, Dean, College of Law
Robert D’Alessandri, Dean, School of Medicine
Rosemary Haggett, Dean, College of Agriculture
and Forestry
Robert Hornbrook, Dean, School of Dentistry
Sydney Stern, Dean, College of Business and
Economics
William Slater, Dean, Perley Isaac Reed School of
Journalism
George Spratto, Dean, School of Pharmacy
William Deaton, Dean, College of Human Resources
and Education
WVU President’s Cabinet
David C. Hardesty, President
David Satterfield, Chief of Staff and Vice President
Institutional Advancement
Gerald Lang, Vice President Academic Affairs and
Research
Scott Kelley, Vice President, Administration and
Finance
Ken Gray, Vice President for Student Affairs
Robert D’Alessandri, Vice President and Dean,
Health Sciences
Carolyn Curry, Executive Officer to the President for
Communications
Jon Reed, Executive Officer and General Counsel
Jennifer McIntosh, Interim Executive Officer for
Social Justice
Nancy Lohmann, Sr. Associate Provost for
Academic Affairs
Ken Orgill, Associate Provost, Information
Technology
Lawrence Cote, Associate Provost
for Extension and Public Service
John Weete, Associate Provost, Research
Herman Moses, Dean of Student Life
Fred Butcher, Sr. Associate Vice President Health
Sciences
Nancy Wood, Executive Assistant to the President
Russell Dean, Associate Provost for Curriculum and
Instruction
C.B. Wilson, Associate Provost for Faculty
Development
Steve Douglas, Executive Vice President Alumni
Association
Terry Ondreyka, Associate Vice President, Finance
Virginia Petersen, Special Assistant to the President
and Provost
Hilda Heady, Associate Vice President for Rural
Health
Jim Hackett, Associate Vice President Health
Sciences Finance
Robert Biddington, Associate Vice President Health
Sciences
Bruce McClymonds, President WVU Hospitals
Michael J. Lewis, Associate Vice President Health
Sciences, Charleston Division
Jamie Shumway, Faculty Senate Chair
Duke Perry, President, WVU Foundation
George Spratto, Dean’s Representative
Doug Skaff, Student Body President
Hayward Helmick, Staff Council President
Information Technology Advisory Council
Ken Orgill, Chair, Associate Provost and CIO
Edna Bruehl, Vice President and CIO, W.V. United
Health Systems
Jay Coats, Professor, College of Business and
Economics
Larry Cote, Associate Provost for Extension and
Public Service
Sue Day-Perroots, Director, Extended Learning
Programs
James Hackett, Associate Vice President, Finance,
Health Sciences
Frances O’Brien, Dean, University Libraries
Eldon Miller, President, WVU at Parkersburg
M. Duane Nellis, Dean, Eberly College of Arts and
Sciences
Terry Ondreyka, Associate Vice President, Finance
Chris Southard, Student Representative
George Trapp, Chair, Computer Science and
Electrical Engineering
John Weete, Associate Provost, Research
Wes Williams, Assistant Vice President, Enrollment
Management/Services
Ricki Dulin, ITAC Secretary, Assistant to the CIO
WVU University Administration
David Hardesty, President
David Satterfield, Chief of Staff and Vice President
Institutional Advancement
Gerald Lang, Vice President for Academic
Affairs and Research
Scott Kelley, Vice President forAdministration and
Finance
Ken Gray, Vice President for Student Affairs
Robert D’Alessandri, Vice President and Dean for
Health Sciences Sciences
Information Technology Master Plan
17
Appendix
Tactical Reference Information
1. WVU College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences and West Virginia Agriculture and
Forestry Station Strategic Plan 998-2002.
http://www.caf.wvu.edu/
2. State of West Virginia, Information Technology
Plan and Annual Report; “Meeting IT Challenges
and Goals...For Success in 2000.”
http://www.state.wv.us/got/itplan/report/
default.htm
3. Re-engineering the Libraries: The Future of Information Access at West Virginia University.
http://www.libraries.wvu.edu/future.htm
4. 1998-99 Extension Service Information Technology
Strategic Plan.
http://www.wvu.edu/~exten/about/finapg3.htm
18
Information Technology Master Plan
Appendix
Environmental Scan
C
ampus IT planning monitors and responds to not
only trends in technology, but also to the social,
political, and economic environment shaping higher
education nationally and in the state of West Virginia.
The following are representative of trends and
sources that influence our planning on an on-going
basis.
“Fueled by more than four decades of aspirations
and a dozen years of sustained (if often ad hoc)
experimentation, information technology has finally
emerged as a permanent, respected, and increasingly essential component of the college experience .
. .” The Coming Ubiquity of Information Technology by
Kenneth C. Green, Change, March/April 1996.
“Instructional integration and user support emerge
as the two most important information technology
issues confronting American colleges and universities
over the next two-three years.”
“Almost one-third (29.6 %) of the institutional respondents to the 1997 Campus Computing Survey identify
assisting faculty to integrate technology into instruction as the single most important information technology issue . . . Another fourth (25 %) report that providing adequate user support is the top technology
challenge confronting their campus.” Campus
Computing Survey 1996, Kenneth C. Green
“15% of the U. S. population now uses e-mail, up
from 2% in 1992, and predictions are that within five
years, that number will rise to about 50%.” Forrester
Researcher in Investor’s Business Daily, January 15,
1997
“More than two-thirds of high-school seniors have
computers at home that are capable of browsing the
World Wide Web; 72% report having some form of
access to the Internet; and nearly 40% of the students
rate themselves as being proficient with computers.”
Chronicle of Higher Education, April 25, 1997 January
15, 1997
“Today’s students are members of the ‘digital
generation.’ They have spent their early lives surrounded by robust, visual, electronic media, MTV,
home computers, video games, cyberspace networks, and virtual reality. They approach learning as a
‘plug-and-play’ experience; they are unaccustomed
and unwilling to learn sequentially to read the
manual and instead are inclined to plunge in and
learn through participation and experimentation.”
Dancing with the Devil, EDUCAUSE, December 1998.
“Many students have been socialized in media-rich
environments which have led to high expectations
about the use of information technology in the classroom and out.” CAUSE/EFFECT Volume 20, Number 1,
Spring 1997.
“All students, regardless of their majors, will benefit
from technology at West Virginia University and WVU
must be aware of the technology skills West Virginia
high school graduates are bringing with them. Technology at West Virginia University must be ahead of that
available in public schools.” WVU Student Affairs Task
Force Report, January, 1996.
“Four years ago, the Peterson’s college guide listed
93 “cyberschools;” the 1997 Distance Learning guide
includes 762. Robert Tucker, head of the Arizona-based
higher education research firm InterEd estimates that
55% of the U.S. 2,215 four-year colleges and universities
have courses available off-site, and over 1 million
students are interacting with virtual college classrooms,
compared to 13 million attending campus programs.
The number of cyberstudents will more than triple by
the turn of the century.” Forbes June 16, 1997.
“Students have become customers, expecting long
hours, no lines, and helpful and efficient staff.” 1997
Survey of 270 student affairs administrators by Arthur
Levine, President of Teachers College, Columbia
University.
“This year’s survey reveals that almost one-third (32.8
%) of all college courses use e-mail-.-.-.one-fourth (24.8
%) of all classes draw on resources available on the
Internet-.-.-. And more than an eighth (13.4 %)-.-.-. use
some form of multimedia resources-.-.-. This year twofifths (40.3 %) of the campuses participating in the
annual Campus Computing Survey report having some
type of computer instruction or information technology
competency requirement for all undergraduates-.-.-.”
Campus Computing Survey 1997, Kenneth C. Green
January 15, 1997.
“Wiring the schools and populating them with computers is necessary but not enough. In order to ensure
equal opportunity to share in the digital revolution,
students must be provided with appropriate software
and services. They need motivation to learn. They need
the education system redesigned and teachers who
have been retrained and reoriented. Innovative
technologies cannot make up for educational professionals who lack innovative methods and merely
replicate learning models that don’t work.” Growing
Up Digital, Don Tapscott.
Information Technology Master Plan
19