INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY AT SUNY CORTLAND
INTRODUCTION
As part of their educational experience, SUNY Cortland students are introduced to new media, electronic library resources, and instructional technologies. They learn to use them and graduate with the ability to identify, access, and critically evaluate information.
For students to develop information and technology fluency, they must have the opportunity to use instructional technologies throughout the curriculum. Faculty and students must have easy access to networked resources throughout campus. Technical support must be responsive and readily available. Classroom instruction must enrich the learning experience with new technologies. The Library must have adequate and up-to-date traditional and electronic resources.
The availability of instructional technologies creates opportunities for innovative teaching and learning. Instruction has the potential to be delivered to remote sites anywhere. New technologies provide easy access to information that must be evaluated and effectively used.
At SUNY Cortland Information Resources takes a holistic view of the information environment. The Library Learning Commons and other teaching and learning spaces are designed, developed, and maintained to facilitate interaction and promote collaborative learning. Information and technology services are developed with a user-centered approach. The web presence of the College is a resource-rich communication tool, and a gateway to the world of information for the campus community. Responsiveness and high quality service are an integral part of these resources and services.
The following priorities have been identified to fully integrate information and technology into the curriculum, provide students with the opportunity to use new technologies, position the College to deliver and support instruction in a variety of electronic formats, and effectively use technology to administer the College.
CAMPUS-WIDE NETWORK
The networking infrastructure is available to access a wealth of electronic resources for use throughout the curriculum.
Current Status: The campus data communications network, completely upgraded in 2002, has full multimedia capability including data and cable access in all classrooms. Classroom buildings, residence hall rooms and various other campus locations have wireless access. The network has video streaming capabilities, and multimedia programs and videoconferences can be originated in any of the classrooms. Students and faculty must be challenged to seek teaching and learning opportunities through the use of networked resources and mobile technologies should be used in coursework.
Future Plans: Resources must be available for the network to evolve and keep pace with emerging technologies and provide the potential for enhanced teaching and learning opportunities.
TECHNOLOGY CLASSROOMS
Electronic media provides the opportunity to use a variety of on-line resources that actively involve students in learning and enrich the classroom experience.
Current Status: Fall 2007 marks the re-opening of the Sperry Building with nine state-of-the-art classrooms. There are 60 technology classrooms, 13 video classrooms, and four specialized studio classrooms on campus. Portable media is available for use in other classrooms. Classroom Media Services has developed standards for equipping technology classrooms.
Future Plans: To meet the growing instructional demands of online classroom resources SUNY Cortland must continue to build additional technology classroom and maintain and upgrades existing ones. This will require additional resources, including adequate staff for technical support. Faculty should continue to incorporate media-rich resources and new technologies into their teaching, and fully exploit the available classroom technology infrastructure.
ONLINE EDUCATION
The use of new technologies allows SUNY Cortland to reach out to students who are not physically present on campus. Through the use of interactive video technology, the SUNY Learning Network, and e-Learning resources (Blackboard's WebCT), SUNY Cortland has the ability to offer online and interactive video classes to students on campus and in remote locations. Online learners must have access to new technologies and library materials must be made available.
Current Status: Technologists are available to provide training and technical support to students and faculty using interactive video facilities. Information Specialists assist faculty in developing online courses and incorporating a variety of electronic media. The resources of the SUNY Learning Network are also available. Many summer and winter session courses are offered online. The School of Professional Studies currently offers several graduate hybrid programs which are cohort-based and offered in the summer.
Future Plans: Continuing support must be available for faculty and students and a robust and integrated course management platform must be maintained and upgraded to meet campus needs.
COMPUTER EQUIPMENT FOR FACULTY
In order to effectively use instructional technology, faculty and staff must have immediate and dedicated access to computers. Their specific needs and requirements will determine the type of technology available to them.
Current Status: With computer purchases in recent years, most faculty have technology appropriate to their needs. SUNY Cortland has identified funds to replace faculty computers as needed.
Future Plans: Additional funds will be needed to maintain and support this greatly expanded computer inventory. Additional resources are required to meet the more specialized and highly technical needs of faculty who are incorporating technology into their classes.
STUDENT INSTRUCTION IN INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Faculty in many disciplines are incorporating new technologies into their classes. In order for students to have hands-on experiences with a variety of technologies, equipment must be available for their use and they must have access to up-to-date and easily accessible research materials.
Current Status: Memorial Library faculty offer Computer Applications Minor (CAP) courses, Composition Library Instruction Program (CLIP) classes, course-related research instruction, and student technology workshops. The Center for the Advancement of Technology in Education (CATE) facilitates the integration of technology into the curriculum. The Learning Commons and Circulation desk at Memorial Library provide equipment for student use and instruction in its use. SCAP funding and the Technology Fee provide resources to develop and maintain computer labs. There are currently 14 general purpose and 39 specialized labs on campus. Memorial Library's Webpage provides access to a variety of electronic resources including approximately 100 electronic databases.
Future Plans: SCAP funding and the Technology Fee are the principal sources of revenue to equip labs with hardware and software. Additional S&E funding is needed for upgrades, maintenance, and support of these labs. Internal grant opportunities must continue to be made available to faculty. Memorial Library's electronic resources must continue to grow. Faculty in all disciplines should integrate appropriate technologies into the curriculum.
FACULTY TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION NEEDS
As the availability of instructional technologies continue to increase and the potential for classroom use continues to grow, there is more need for technology training and instruction for faculty.
Current Status: A Technology Trainer, Instructional Materials Designer, Electronic Imaging Specialist, Academic Web Developer, and several librarians in Memorial Library are available to assist faculty to develop electronic classroom materials. The Technology Training Center has recently been redesigned to better meet campus needs.
Future Plans: Training programs should continue to be available to faculty and students using instructional technologies. Information Resources professionals require ongoing, technical training so that they can be effective resources to faculty. Opportunities for developing such skills are critical, and funding is necessary for technical skills training for IR staff.
INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AND FACULTY
Library faculty provide students and faculty with individual instruction in the use of databases, Internet resources, and other technology-based information services. Academic Computing, Administrative Computing, and Classroom Media Services support the ongoing technological needs of students and faculty created by the steady growth of new technologies. The increasing complexity of these newly evolving technologies requires a centralized point for quick response, often to sophisticated questions. Academic Computing Services administers a Technology Help Center that provides centralized technical assistance to faculty, staff, and students. Memorial Library offers a full complement of information and technology services through the Learning Commons.
Current Status: Information Resources staff provide a significant amount of ongoing technical support throughout the campus. The current level of staffing cannot always accommodate the increased numbers and sophistication of support that is being required.
Future Plans: Departments in Information Resources will require additional staff resources to meet the growing expectations for technical support to the campus community. Staff will require ongoing education and training to keep up-to-date with new technologies.
CAMPUS TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
Information Resources technologists support the information and technology infrastructure throughout campus. This includes a wide variety of services including but not limited to planning, procurement and implementation.
Current Status: Presently most campus technological needs are being met. However, there has been rapid growth and complexity of the campus enterprise network, dramatic increases in the installed equipment base including instructional spaces and faculty/staff offices, and significantly increased sophistication in the use of technology in the classroom. The escalation in spyware/adware/malware and virus attacks will continue to require an inordinate amount of time spent providing security for the infrastructure and installed equipment base.
Future Plans: Current staff must be deployed most effectively and additional resources will be necessary to maintain the expected high levels of service.
INSTITUTIONAL DATABASES
SUNY Cortland maintains databases required to manage the flow and control of data for student records, financial management, human resources management, and alumni tracking. It also manages the data necessary to meet state and federal reporting mandates.
Current Status: Administrative Computing Services has implemented Banner, an ORACLE-based Student Information System, and has developed department-specific databases. Students and faculty use BannerWeb to conduct their transactions. OnBase is being rolled out as a document management system.
The Human Resources System maintains online connections to the SUNY human resources system. Several times each week, data is received electronically from SUNY Central and loaded into the Student Information System.
The Alumni System, Raiser's Edge, tracks college alumni. Features of this system include the ability to record donations to the College by various individuals and corporations, record pledges, perform billings, handle fund drives, and deal with prospective donors.
Future Plans: Resources are required for future enhancements, hardware and software upgrades, and ongoing technical training. Resources are also required to support and enhance the ability to provide more remote Web-based financial transactions for students and their parents. Technologists must continue to provide a secure open technology infrastructure that will protect the integrity and confidentiality of information while maintaining its accessibility.
September 2007