University of Central Arkansas
Virtual Case Study 2008
Daniel Sheets (Team Leader)
Holly Rehner
Thomas Bruick
Crystal Henry
Greetings from Conway, Arkansas,
We are a small consultant committee of student affairs professionals
from the University of Central Arkansas (UCA).
We have recently been employed by McApple College, located in
Boston, Massachusetts, and we are responding to the agenda set
forth by MC’s Vice President of Student Affairs.
We believe we have prepared a program that effectively identifies and
describes five main issues, programs or services within the student
services realm where technology has radically changed how we, as
student affairs professionals, deliver programs and services to our
students.
We will explore in depth the following
five areas:
Communication Technology
Information Technology Systems
Student Health Services
Assisted Technology
Professional Development
Within the presentation, you will find each
area divided into three sections:
Introduction- provides an overview of basic knowledge
needed in each area.
Innovation- examines technology’s contributions to each
area.
Impact- displays how these technological developments
affect student affairs professionals and our abilities to
meet the needs of our students.
Communication Technology
Introduction
Telephone technology involves the increased use in:
Voicemail
Student
affairsProfessionals
administrators
are
quite
aware
and students
are able
to connect
with each
other even if they
never speak to each
other directly.
that communications
technology
is having
a
profound influence on the way we live and
work.
These
changesStudents,
can be
seen in the
Direct Long
Distance
staff, and faculty can call
following three areas:overseas–
telephone
as long technology,
as they remember what
personal computers and
the
Internet.
time it is
in the
other country.
Fax Machine
Enables constant communication between offices,
speeding the transmission of paperwork, from office
to office within the same building or among other
offices on campus.
Cellular Phones
Offers flexibility and accessibility as professionals
are allowed to remain in constant communication
with students and each other.
Introduction
Student affairs administrators are quite aware
that communications technology is having a
profound influence on the way we live and
work. These changes can be seen in the
following three areas: telephone technology,
personal computers and the Internet.
Introduction
Personal
Computers
The
Internet
“Eighty-six
of college
students
“Students percent
today weren’t
necessarily
raised have
on paper
59% p.4)
of the
gonecommunications”
on-line compared
with2005,
(Moneta,
general population” (Jones, 2002, p.1)
In a survey completed in 2004 by the Higher Education
Research
of college students
report
85.7%
Students
areInstitute,
now able
to complete
research,
using a personal computer on a frequent basis
communicate
e-mail and Instant
compared tothrough
27.3% in 1985.
Messenger service with friends, family,
classmates and professors.
Innovations
“Students
becoming
harder
to get a hold
Text
Messaging
Baldwin-Wallace
College in Ohio uses text
So
how
doarewe
reach
the
students?
of. Fewer are checking—or
activating
messages to reach even
prospective
students.
their campus e-mail or voicemail accounts
Pod
CastsAffairs,
Fitchburg 2006,
State College
used pod casts featuring the
(Student
p. 6).”
FSC President announcing the good news of
students’ acceptance.
Interactive Websites and
Virtual Tours Self-paced online campus tours with interactive maps
are becoming more popular.
Impact
On Professionals:
Departments:
“The
quality
of our services to students and others is
On
Students:
Frequent functional users must have a level of
directly associated with the efficiency and
“We
serve
a
student
body
that
is
used
to
technical
skill
which
requires
continuous
New
Personnel
programmatic
costs
increase
philosophy
as
frequent
on
reaching
Studentsofpresently
demonstrate
an(Montea,
effectiveness
our
business
transactions
around-the-clock
tocell
services
students
functional
“where
usersdependency
must
theyaccess
live”
possess
requires
a level
ofand
training.
overwhelming
on
phones,
2005,
p.
10).”
students
are
remarkably
awake
departments
technical
skillwho
to
that
invest
requires
in laptops,
continuous
PDAs, and
cell
entertainment
devices
and
transactional
electronically
active
throughout
the night
technologies,
including
credit
cards.
phones
training.
and other
devices.
Staff
is
expected
to
possess
technological
Some
institutions
arep.5).”
finding it necessary to
(Montea,
2005,
competency
expertise. toStaff
musttechnical
continuously
create a newor
department
handle
attend
training sessions to stay abreast of FERPA,
advances.
HIPAA, and other institutional, state, and federal
regulations and policies.
Information Technology Systems
Introduction
Information Technology Systems are the electronic
database systems a university uses to collect and
maintain student information. Many universities
referred to these as Student Information Systems
or SIS.
But a new option was on the horizon…
Universities would create their own systems,
which are known as legacy systems.
Many departments within a university would often
have their own system that was not compatible or
connected to other departments.
Innovation
Enterprise
Resource Planning (ERP) systems, which
Why ERP?
are Information Technology Systems originally
“Multiple
in scope,
tracking corporations,
a range of activities
created for
large business
began including
to be
HR,
and financial systems…
usedstudent,
by universities.
Integrated, meaning that when data is added in one
area, information also changes in all areas and related
functions…
ERP systems also resolved Y2K problems that
made legacy administrative systems difficult, if not
impossible, to modify” (King 2002).
Impact
Student
Services
as a of
whole
is abletoto
run more
In
Toaillustrate
recent
study,
the impact
88%
ofuniversities
switching
that
ERP,
the
efficiently
because
departments
across
campus
recently
followingimplemented
slides
compare
ERPthe
systems
daily
activities
would
buy
of a
are
connected.
ERP
University
systems
of Central
again versus
Arkansas
7% that
(UCA)
would
Bear student
choose
under UCA’s
to build
oldtheir
legacy
ownsystem
system,versus
and 5%
UCA’s
expressed
Banner (ERP)
no opinion
system,(King,
which2002).
was implemented in
2006.
A Day with UCA Legacy
9:00
am Leave
Residence
Hall Hall
Change
Address
at
To Do List
Return
to Residence
11:45
am
Registrar
•
Change Address
And
•
Appointment with Advisor
Financial
•
Request private room
Setup
Appointment
Purchase Symphony
AidAdvisor
Office
•
Price Textbooks
With
Academic
Price
Textbooks
$$$
Tickets at
•
Purchase Symphony Tickets
Performance Hall
Box Office
Request Private Room and Change
Address at Housing Office
A Day With UCA Banner (ERP)
Select “My UCA” Tab
Select “Resources” Tab
Log into student account 9:00 am
Change
Select SelfService address
Tab
across
entire
campus
Logout at 9:30 am
Price Textbooks $$$
Schedule
appointment
with
Academic
Advisor
Purchase
Request
Symphony
Private
Tickets
Room
Health Services
Introduction
Sax (1997), reports four pressing health issues for
Student
Health Services is far more than treating the
college students:
sore
throat at
an on-campus clinic.
Substance
Abuse
Alcohol, drugs, tobacco.
Mission of Student
Health
Services
is….
In 2005,
30% of college
students used
tobacco
at least once
a month. performance,
Promote optimal student
academic
Mental Health Depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and many
“An estimated
80% to 90%
of all underage
personal development,
and life-long
healthy
other
issues
inhibit college
today.
college
students
drink alcohol,
and
estimates of
behaviors by providing
students
with students
essential
the college rate for alcohol abuse have been as
healthcare and thehigh
knowledge
and Fried,
skillsand
needed
to2007,
as 40%” (Fisher,
Anushko,
Physical Health
p. 1)
of physical activity, poor diet, and poor
sustain a healthyLack
lifestyle.
Sexual Health
sleeping habits are leaving a lasting effect on
the health of today’s college students.
AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy,
and rape are all areas today’s students need to
be educated on.
Innovation
Communication with Students via Internet:
WebMed
Ask
Alice 24/7:
Is
a web-based
triage
system
implemented
by
Health
promotion
website
launched
by
“A
survey
of 89 student
health
centers
University
of
Central
Florida
early
2004.
Columbia University.
found
that
64% process
used some
form of
Triage
is
an
organized
to
separate
Students are able to ask questions and receive
electronic
communication
with
patients”
individuals
who
need
immediate
care
from
feedback on a wide-range of health issues.those
with
less threatening
(Sole,
Stuart, andsituations.
Deichen, 2006, p. 289).
www.goaskalice.columbia.edu
Students complete triage on 24/7 WebMed and
are then assessed into 6 levels of urgency:
1. Call 911
2. Seek immediate care
3. Seek care within 12-24 hours
4. Seek care within 2-3 days
5. Seek care within 1-2 weeks
6. Self-care recommended
Innovation
Promoting healthy behavior using
technology:
Obermayer,
Riley,by
Asif,
and Jean-Mary
(2004)
Study
performed
Thombs,
Olds, Osborn,
developed
stop smoking
prototype
program,
Casseday, a
Glavin,
and Berkowitz
(2007)
in twowhich
utilized
web
andas
cell
phonepublic
technologies
residence
halls
a large
university in Ohio
using
a social
intervention
to deter
use.
Students
in thenorms
program
fill out their
typicalalcohol
schedule
on
a website,
which sends
text messages
about
“The
use of computer
technology
was a central
smoking
the participants
aspect ofduring
this project”
(p. 327). anticipated most “atrisk” or stressful times.
Impact
Health Service professionals are able to meet the
needs
students
when and where
they arisetowith
Health of
Service
professionals
use technology
the
use
of technology.
bring
health
information24/7
to students
in new effective
WebMed
“He,
who
has
health,
has
hope;
and
he
methods.
who has hope has
The everything.”
web-based triage system was
by students
1,290
As aArabian
whole, vitalProverb
healthused
information
and on
programs
occasions in
theeffective
first 4 months
of
are more accessible, applicable,
and
in
operation.
promoting health in today’s
students.
After the triage process, 143
students requested an appointment
by e-mail as recommended by the
system.
Assistive Technology
Introduction
Acts and Titles
•Rehabilitation Act of 1973
No otherwise qualified person due
to disability may be denied the
in, be denied
benefits
Before 1973, only the 14th participation
amendment
protected
of or be subjected to
the rights
of peopleAct
with
•American
With Disabilities
of disabilities.
1990under any program
discrimination
or activity receiving federal
•Title II Prohibits public entitiesfunding
assistance.
from denying
qualified persons with disabilities the
•Title III Prohibits
entities that
right to participate
in operate
or benefit from
places
of public
accommodation
the services,
programs,
or activities
from
discriminating
against
that they
provide, and
frompersons
subjecting
with
them full
suchdisabilities
individualsbytodenying
discrimination
if
and
enjoyment
of the goods,
the equal
exclusion
or discrimination
is due
services,
facilities,
privileges,
to the person
having
a disability.
advantages, or accommodations
they provide.
Introduction
Assistive Technology (AT) Defined in the TechnologyRelated Assistance of Individuals with Disabilities Act of
1988 as:
“Any item, piece of equipment, or product system,
whether acquired commercially or off the shelf, modified,
or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or
improve functional capabilities of individuals with
disabilities.”
Innovations
An estimated 11% of American college students
have disabilities.
Imagine you are a college student carrying a full course
load. Each of your classes require you to keep up with
considerable
of weekly
reading
The
number amounts
of college
students
withassignments,
disabilities
problem sets, labs, quizzes, and tests. Now imagine
has
grown
fivefold
from
three
decades
ago,
when
that you have a significant visual impairment, you have a
ithard
wastime
estimated
. even hold a textbook.
2.3%
hearing, at
or you
can’t
(Berkeley, D., Kressin, L., & Oberlander, C., 2007, p11).
This number increased greatly due to the
advancements of Assistive Technology.
Innovations
Helping with Coursework
•Device
Keyboards
• keys,
The or
PHANToM
that allows students
Can who
space
are
out the
reduce the
blind
to “feel” computer number
icons byof keys •so the
student
presses
• Keyguards
Word
predictions
Keyguards
are
designed
to
stabilize
Prompts
computer
to predict
putting their
finger into
aa thimble-like
few words
keys to produce characters. and
position
the user's
hand directly over the
•that
Mouses
• mouthsticks
Abbreviations
a student
is typing
thus
object
and creates
moving
itCan
across
a plane.
Computer
words
be
based
controlled
on
by
or by
computer
keyboard,
and
to
promote
improving
typing
speed
of students
•abbreviated
Trackballs
versions
the
typed
movements
by a device
a•that
student’s
head.
Electronic
accuracy
in of
keypressing
for
single
Standard
replaces
the magnification
conventional
with
limited
mobility.
Magnifies
text
to
aide
students
student.
finger, headstick,
or mouthstick
typists.
mouse.
Its advantages
are a stationary
• Switches
with visual impairments
•
Refreshable
Braille/
printers
Paddle,
wobble,
lever,
light
beam,
and
puff
and
sip
Allows Braille to change
as
position with no cords and easy dragging.
designs
to operate
a computer.
•information
Pointing
and
typing
aids
changes
through
athat allow
• students
Talking
word
processors
Used to activate keyboards or
Student
does notEach
haveline
to look
keypad device.
is at
switches.
Used with head,
mouth,
•the
Eye
Tracking
devices
• Tracks
Voice
recognition
technology
screenas
because
keystrokes
refreshed
the student
pressesare
a
eye movement to activate
Recognizes
student’s
voice
and
confirmed
by
an
echo
from
the
switch.
enters
the corresponding keystrokes.
computer.
Student needs a clear and consistent
voice to operate this device.
chin, hand, foot, or any other site
computers
and other
devices.
with adequate
motor
control. Student
must have enough head control and
ability to gaze directly at a camera.
Innovations
Helping around the Residence Halls
• Fire alarms
• Bed shakers
Now with flashers to alert students who are
deaf or hard of hearing that there is a fire.
Vibrating beds to wake residents up, let them
know when someone is at their door, notify them
when there is an emergency, and more.
• Remote devices
Allows students to open doors and
operate devices from afar which gives
them independence from requiring
aides at all times.
Impact
• Our roles as Student Affairs professionals is to be familiar
with the new technology available for students with
disabilities.
• Find the right fit for the student and there will be more
retention success and lower technology abandonment rates.
• Good communication between IT departments and Disability
services.
Too often IT does not have access and
• Always meet
the special
needs
ofneeds
your of
students by asking if
knowledge
about the
specific
there is anything
you
canwhile
do Disability
to enhance their college
the student
body,
experience.
Services are well aware of needs, but
• Ask if theyhave
have
aids that
need
help and access.
difficulty
keeping
up with
technology.
• Make sureemerging
all students
with disabilities are aware of
emergency procedures and discuss their needs during those
times.
Professional Development
Introduction
Professional Development…what is it?
Maintaining and updating career skills.
Offers continuing education and personal development.
Enables lifelong learning.
And for our purposes, we’ll focus on…
Keeping professionals up to date with evolving
technological world.
“Managing and using IT in student affairs has
become difficult since there is no tradition of
practices and policies, nor of staffing and
technology.
Student affairs professionals on many
campuses are addressing policy issues,
and others are focusing their energies on
staffing, while front line student affairs
practitioners are using IT in new and
challenging ways (Barratt, 2000, para. 1).”
IT in student affairs can be seen as composed of four
elements:
Policy
Policy
Staffing
Technology
Staffing
Technology
Practice
...
is the
accomplished.
...for
IT iswork
a new
endeavor in student affairs.
Practice
At
this
point
inhave
the
development
of
ITtypes
in
student
affairs
there
is use
often
ato
marked
disparity
...
On
New
...is
is
most
yesterday's,
the
staff
collection
campuses,
will
today's
of
to
formal
be
and
identified
statements
tomorrow's
plans
as
IT
seldom
about
developers
hardware
all
articulate
aspects
and
and
software.
student
designers
of
information
development
who
have
technology.
as
and
their
Practices
involve:
New
applications
software,
and
new
of software
are
arriving
on
the
market
at a
Some
staff
engage
intechnology
developing
new
IT
uses,
and
some
staff
IT
increase
Both
ourand
interactions
withhave
students
withpace
ourselves.
in
practices
between
offices.
Within
learning
main
assignment
the
goals,
division,
addressing
this
policies
consists
student
of:
notand
kept
services
needs
with practices.
using IT. New
Policies
staffing
are enacted
partnerships
often
fast
pace.
efficiency
of
current
practices.
Web
page designs.
Codes
ofways
student
conduct.
as remediation;
are
Some
being
important
formed
solving
aspects
distance
current
are the
education
problem,
appropriate
staffs
and
uses
are
become
not
of: often
seen
as
in the
preventative,
student
service
nor as
The
inas
which
student
organizations
use technology
to engaged
provide
forums
or gain
membership.
Guidelines
forforstudent
E-mail
use.students.
distance
education
Technology
IT
staff
inServices
student
affairs
will
need
toand
do more
than
fix
machines
and
installwho
software.
Typically
the
offices
with
more
advanced
practices
have
identified
people
are
developmental.
business.
Proactive
approaches
to
identifying
using
new
and
appropriate
technology
needs to
Web
based
undergraduate
and
graduate
applications.
Restrictions
ongrowth
the
uses of and
college
owned computers
and
networks.
Planned
They
will
need
to:
capable
of
merging
practice
technology.
The
idea
of
best
practices
cannot
be
used
Alumni
e-mail
accounts
are some
oftothe
practices
found
on
campuses.
be utilized,
and
staff
members
need
be
working
to
discover
what
might
help
students.
Guidelines
and
standards
for web
pages.
Investigations
ofyet
emerging
technologies
Support
and
help
develop
our
practices.
yet, since
there
are
not
any
benchmarks.
Managing
IT within
student
affairs,
and
managing the new partnerships will require new
LegalIntegrating
issues
and
constraints.
student
affairs
systems
into the campus
technology
infrastructure
Help us withwho
policy
development.
Office
management
practices,
word
processing,
record policy
keeping,
communication,
typesMission
of
managers
can
join
the
staffing,
technical,
and
practice
elements.
and
goal
statements
that
connect
student
development
and
student
learning
to
IT.
Aid
in
connecting
practices
to
missions
and
goals.
conferencing
and
calendaring
are
integral
parts
of
IT
practice
and
affect
how
we
work
IT practices in student affairs should be grounded in values, theory and research.
together. Assist with staff development as the IT demands on current staff change.
(Barratt, 2000)
Innovations
Compilation of tools/resources for Student Affairs (SA) professionals.
Online commons for SA professionals.
Online
workshops
and
for professional skill
Onlinecourses,
Journal/article
access.
Conference
dates,
times
andcompetitions
other information.
Blogs, podcasts and forums.
development.
Databases for professional organizations and hiring others.
List-serves for updated SA information.
Impact
The impact of technology has dramatically changed
professional development. As a result of these
innovations, SA professionals have been able to:
Centralize a multitude of internal information.
Spur competition among each other.
Create more specific SA jobs while eliminating more
general SA positions.
Provide an outlet for SA professionals’ creativity and
curiosity.
Ultimately, cultivate and develop all areas of SA
professional development, with the exception of
interpersonal communication skills.
Insight
The acceptance
of information
technology
Technological
advances
may have decreased
human
contact,abut
student affairs
professionals
has become
necessity
for colleges
and
must
steadily create
innovative
ways
to maintain
universities.
Students
demand
access
to
student-staff contact.
these technologies in order to gain the
knowledge needed to compete in the job
world. As student affairs professionals,we
have the responsibility to meet this need.
A closing thought from: Larry Montea, VP
of Student Affairs, Duke University
“The pressure to succumb to the latest and
greatest technology can be overwhelming—
But bear
in mind…
and expensive!
It is ever
more critical that
student affairs staff focus on the outcomes
intended by our various services and let
technology follow—not lead.”
Works Cited
Assistive Technology Products. Abledata: Your Source for Assistive
Technology Information. Retrieved Frebruary 14, 2008, from
http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=19337
Barratt, W. (2000). Four elements of information technology in student affairs.
Student Affairs On-line, 1.Retrieved Feburary 8, 2008, from
http://www.studentaffairs.com/ejournal
Berkeley, D., Kressin, L., & Oberlander, C., (2007). Deploying assistive
technology across campus: a collaborative approach. ACM
Conference, Orlando, Florida, 11-15.
Beyond e-mail: new ways to stay in touch with students. (2006). Student Affairs
Leader, 34, 5-6.
Brown, J. (2006, November 27). College students with disabilities on the rise.
Learninghouse. Retrieved February 12, 2008, from
http://www.learninghouse.com/resource-center/news/collegestudents-with-disabilities-on-the-rise
Brodwin, M. G., Cardoso, E., Star, T., (2004). Computer assistive technology
for people who have disabilities: computer adaptations and
modifications. Journal of Rehabilitation, 70(3). 28-33.
Cone, C. (2008). Charlotte cone’s page. Retrieved February 13, 2008, from