Annual Progress Report 2005

How do we measure up?

Institutions of higher education can compare themselves against others using the information compiled by several national organizations. Using the results of their surveys, USP can compare how our technology stacks up against that of other campuses. This way, we can evaluate our strengths and weaknesses in terms of service to students, faculty, and staff, and to measure our competitiveness. Some of the major factors used in determining the “top” campuses include these:

• Is there a campus-wide network?
• Is there a wireless network?
• Is streaming audio and video used in online courses?
• What percentage of students own computers?

Following is a look at how we do on the actual rating factors of one national organization:

Campus Network - Does the school have a campuswide data network?

• All resident hall rooms, all classrooms, and all faculty and staff offices are equipped with high-speed Internet access and telephone.
• All faculty and staff are equipped with current technology desktop computers networked internally and externally.

Wireless Network - Is there a wireless network on some portion of the campus?

• Approximately 50% of the campus has wireless connectivity available.
• The entire Library
• The McNeil Science & Technology Center
• Areas in Griffith, 4500, Wilson, Whitecar, 4100 Chester, and D’Angelo Mall.

Remote Access - Can students access their email when they are away from campus?

• Web access email for students is a standard feature of USP’s email.

Online Courses - Does the school offer for credit courses delivered online?

• 253 courses per semester are available and offered online using Blackboard.

Registration - Can students register for classes online?

• All upper class students register online; the capability for first and second year students is there and scheduled for full operation Spring 2007.

Online Administrative Functions – Are administrative functions other than registration, such as tuition payments, adding or dropping courses, available online?

• Students can add and drop courses, check their grades, review their grade point average by term, unofficial transcript, personal profile, and class schedule online.
• Faculty can view their advisees, class rosters, and review a student’s profile.
• Staff and faculty with budget responsibilities have the ability to access their department’s budget.
• Advancement officers have the ability to access constituent and corporate profiles online.
• Alumni can make an online gift.

Computer Purchase - Does the school have a special pricing, discount or resale agreement with hardware vendors?

• Yes, through Dell Computer Corporation.

Handheld Computing - Does the school have special programs or course work available specifically for handheld devices, or specifically offers information technology support for these devices?

• Support is provided to faculty and staff.

Streaming Courses – Does the school stream audio or video of any of its courses online?

• The University has streaming video and audio equipment available
• Currently being utilized by a limited number of faculty as a pilot program
• Streamed courses can be seamlessly integrated onto our Blackboard system

Resident Hall Access – Is network access available in resident hall rooms?

• Yes, resident halls have a high speed connection per student.

Lounge Access – Is Network access available in resident hall lounges?

• Yes

Ethics – Is a computer ethics policy in place for the school?

• Yes, student, faculty, and staff must agree to policy before email account is issued.

Computers Provided – Does the school’s tuition include a computer for each student?

• No, this is debated annually at the IT Strategic Planning and Steering Committee.

Multimedia Equipment – Does the school provide multimedia equipment like digital cameras, digital video cameras, scanners or professional-quality printers?

• Digital networked B/W printers are available in the Library
• Color Laser and Color Inkjet are available in the Library
• Currently: ( Spring 2006) fully equipped multimedia classrooms/labs/conference room
  • 18 of the University’s 32 general teaching spaces
  • 4 computer labs/teaching labs
  • 2 conference rooms
  • 1 video teleconference center
  • 6 fully equipped portable multimedia carts, and 8 mini-multimedia carts
  • The University has:
  • Video and still digital cameras
  • VHS camcorders
  • Portable data projectors/loaner laptop computers for borrowing from the Library
  • Networked B/W printers and Color Inkjet printers are available in the computer labs.

Emerging Curricula – Does the school offer courses in computer security, videogaming or robotics?

• Since 2000 the College of Arts and Sciences’ Bioinformatics Program offers students the opportunity to work with and perform research on a number of different computer hardware environments and advanced software platforms used in molecular modeling, micro array analysis and genomics.

Digital Streaming – Does the school do any Webcasting or digital audio or video streaming of campus radio or TV stations?

• Yes, currently used internally only. (currently not Webcasting; no campus radio or TV station; we can send out student or staff video productions on our one in-house cable channel if requested)

Student owned Computers – What is the percentage of undergraduates who own computers?

• 90% from survey done in 2001. Anecdotal information suggests a higher percentage. Another survey is scheduled this FY.

The above data, and other empirical and anecdotal data, suggests that we’re really not far from the pack. There is always room for improvement, but overall the services provided to the students, faculty, and staff have kept pace with the expectations and needs. USP will continue to make technology decisions based on mission needs. We have not been tempted by the latest technological advances unless there was a clear need. We’re guided by the IT Strategic plan and IT Strategic Planning and Steering Committee.

We’ve made great strides during this past year. Much of the online functionality was a direct result of additional funding provided for software and staff. Additionally, increased funding for outsourcing has allowed us to become more nimble in response to quickly developing advances in technology that we choose to adopt. Specific accomplishments in 2005 are:

• 2 new IT personnel.
• Degree Audit, a new Datatel module allows faculty to audit student progress in a degree program.
• Scholarly Activities, an application used to manage faculty data.
• PharmTracker, a series of reports to track students in the Pharmacy Program.
• Online Transfer Course Guide allows faculty and staff to easily find transfer course equivalences.
• Blackboard Upgrade, improves functionality of the course management system.
• Voyager (Library Server) upgrade, improves functionality.
• Web Services for Advancement Officers.
• Corporate and Constituent Profiles.
• Informer, a utility to provide point and click administrative reports via the web.
• FRX, a comprehensive financial reporting solutions.
• Distributed Purchase Orders, allows departments to enter there own Purchase Orders and have them approved electronically.
• ActiveApply, online application for Graduate and Undergraduate admissions.
• Electronic imports of SAT, Private Colleges and University data, and online application data.
• Custom Prospect Entry, a more efficient method of entering prospects.
• Single username and password for Windows Network, EZ-proxy, and Informer.
• Upgraded EZProxy hardware and software and integrated it to our LDAP.
• Comment System for Student Affairs.
• Created additional functionality to Advance Concepts CE Database.
• RAMS, system used to manage pre-award grants.
• GUI Interface for the Datatel system.
• Web based access to the Datatel system.
• ODBC capability is now available.
• Datatel operating system, database, and license upgrades provides new ways to access and manage its data.
• Developed and implemented a Student IT Help Desk.
• Cisco security system implemented to guard against student viruses and worms.
• Anti-virus software provided to resident students free of charge.
• Increased Internet pipeline to over 30Mbps.
• Implemented increased Spam detection; upgraded Spam appliance.
• Increased the number of wireless laptops available for checkout in Library.
• Upgraded print server hardware/software serving public access PC’s.
• Installed new PC’s in (5) classrooms.
• Implemented Turning Point Audience Response system.
• Coordinated with LRC to upgrade A/V capabilities in GR-A/C.
• Upgraded several campus buildings to Gigabit connections to the core network.
• Improved Help Desk software to better track calls.
• Upgraded main file server doubling available space.

Looking forward to 2006

Service Organization

The Information Technology Department (IT) provides a spectrum of technologies and expertise to support the learning, research, and administrative goals of the University. Each member of the organization’s four distinct units – Administration and Help-Desk Management, Computing and Network Services, Database Management, and Telecommunications – plays a unique role in ensuring that students, faculty, and staff have the tools and infrastructure they need to excel in both work and scholarship at USP.

Our Mission

• Provide the technology needed for effective teaching and learning.
• Support student life and learning with a robust network, telecommunications and
  computer resources.
• Create and sustain a technical environment that enables leading –edge research.
• Improve inter-department collaboration to enhance use of technology to increase productivity opportunities for the University Community.
• Establish the information technology infrastructure necessary to maintain USP’s day-to-day operational needs.

Plans for 2006

• Bringing the newly constructed Science and Technology Center (STC) online.
• Upgrade the Library’s wireless system.
• Upgrade Exchange to 2003.
  • Improves remote access.
  • Availability to support windows mobile PC for handheld devices.
  • Enhance management functions.
• Upgrade remaining buildings to Gigabit.
  • Integrate Managed switches into each building.
    Improves troubleshooting capability reducing network downtime.
• Web based advising process that gives students and advisors the ability to create “what-if” analyses, together or separately, to explore alternative degree options and determine if appropriate progress is being made toward degree/program completion through educational planning.
• Web based registration for 1st and 2nd year students.
• Upgrade Scholarly Activities database to SEDONA.
• Migrate the College of Graduate studies from third party databases to the Colleague Student Information System.
• Implement an enhanced course management system.
• Implement auto packaging, return of title IV funds, and loan module in the Financial Aid office.
• Upgrade to Web Advisor version 3.0.
• Human Resource position control report.
• Synchronize Windows Network username and passwords with Web Advisor to further propagate single username and password.
• Security audit of the Colleague Datatel system to streamline the login creation process.
• Update the Datatel backup and recovery process.
• Migrate Colleague and Benefactor software to new hardware platform.
• Prepare the system for the upgrade to Colleague Release 18.
• Update matching gift data for the Alumni office.
• Create a custom Telephone Pledge entry program.
  • Rollout Ad Astra scheduling software.
    Software for campus wide scheduling.
• Content Management System.
• Expand and upgrade the telephone system PBX.
• Upgrade voicemail to new, feature-rich system.
  
  
  The following charts provide additional insight into our technological health. These comparisons are developed through participation in national surveys of like institutions.

How Do We Compare
Data From Cost of Supporting Technology Services (COSTS)
COSTS is developed from 58 participating colleges & universities

*we anticipate a higher percentage following this years student survey.

A Closer Look at the Numbers

*based on 24 hour clock