Based on the recommendations of the Presidential Commission on Information Technology Report from May 2005, we have taken measurable steps to re-invest in IT at the College. What follows is a brief summary of what has transpired to date and what we are working on.
1. We have invested nearly $1M in one-time capital dollars in the past 18 months to shore up aged systems, thereby setting the foundation for sustained improvements in the ways the campus community utilizes Information Technology. The bulk of these dollars have been spent to re-build our network infrastructure:
- new fiber optics to provide redundancy and new capacity for video (both public safety CCTV and for instructional purposes)
- next generation core electronics to control data traffic and eliminate unwanted viruses and hacker attacks
- provide enhanced wireless connectivity (this won't be complete until late spring 2008)
- improve central server robustness and begin to establish an off-site data center for "mission-critical" data recovery
2. Based on our initial progress, we have agreed to extend the current IT Re-Investment Plan (add $100,000 to the Operating Budget and $250,000 to the Capital Budget annually) through FY14 in order to fully implement the recommendations of the Presidential Commission on IT (May 2005). This provides a measured approach to accomplish the goal of providing enabling IT services that can be absorbed in the overall college budget without compromising other critical initiatives.
3. Specific new services in the past six months include:
- Emergency Alert System (text messages to cell phones and email messages) now has 2,600 people signed up (1,500 text, 1,100 email) and tested twice since December
- New Telephone Switch that allows for the campus to migrate to VoIP (voice over the internet) digital phone services
- Enhanced cell phone reception in all residence halls
- Increased number of classrooms outfitted with technology (6 more were installed over winter break bringing the total number of rooms improved since 2006 to 45, 19 of which are in the new Life Sciences and Philosophy building)
- Retired the Language Lab and created the eLearning Lab (a digital interactive teaching space for faculty and students)
4. Areas where intensive planning and/or behind the scenes implementation is underway include:
- improved wireless connectivity across campus for better guest access, integration of hand-held devices and speed in general
- enhancements to the web-site (beginning with the admission site and new navigation on the home page) although a complete overhaul is at least 9-12 months away
- a new program that integrates individual and group calendars with email for all users on campus (faculty, staff, students)
I welcome your questions and comments.
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Jon
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Jonathan Enos, Ed.D.
Associate Provost and Chief Information Officer
Franklin & Marshall College Lancaster, PA 17604 - 3003
Jon.Enos@fandm.edu 717.291.3982 http://www.fandm.edu
