Kent State University Networking and Information Systems Study BENEFITS In the previous section, the recommendations were presented. Implementing these recommendations has the potential of providing the University with numerous benefits. The team reviewed the recommendations and developed the following benefits based on interview comments, questionnaire comments, and individual opinions. The benefits are described in this section. BENEFITS FOR THE STUDENTS The student recruitment process will be enhanced because of better systems support for prospecting, identifying, and contacting potential students. Furthermore, students will receive more timely feedback on information requests. Faculty and staff will have ready access to more comprehensive and integrated information to respond to student advising needs in a more timely manner. The availability of network access in laboratories, dormitories, through dial-in, telephone touch-tone, and possibly kiosk systems will improve the quality of service to students. Students will be able to access their own financial aid, academic record, current class schedule, and billing information as well as other general information such a. directories, etc. This will significantly reduce the time that students currently wait in line to get general information and free up staff to work with students who have more complex issues. Student support office staff will be able to access student information with speed and accuracy, thus improving student satisfaction with the quality service. More instructional computing resources will be accessible over the network and have faster response times. Easy access to library information and services directly from their work or study environment will allow student research and study activities to be conducted in a more efficient manner. Continuing education opportunities will be enhanced with distance learning capabilities because professional audiences could be reached at many sites simultaneously. This will permit the offering of a wider range of courses which would otherwise not be cost effective due to low enrollment at individual sites. Electronic interaction and collaboration of students, faculty, administrators, and staff across the Kent Campus and seven Regional Campuses will be supported. Student exposure to modern technology will be increased, thus leading to improved employment options. A modern technological environment will be more attractive to students because a large percentage expect such an environment when they get to college. Current versions of popular software will be utilized on a University wide basis without concern for equipment capacity functionality. Incompatible software and hardware (from laboratory to laboratory) will be minimized. BENEFITS FOR THE FACULTY Faculty access to an integrated student information system will provide better information for advising, planning, and course scheduling. Faculty will have the capability to more fully utilize technology in instruction, classroom management, etc. Faculty recruitment and retention will be enhanced. Faculty will have improved access to expertise through the use of electronic bulletin boards, electronic mail, electronic list services, data bases, etc. The ability of the network to support interdisciplinary collaborations and sharing of resources will lead to improved competitiveness in developing and submitting proposals for funded research. The network also will allow proposals to be developed and submitted electronically. Increased network and remote access by faculty will improve research and teaching productivity. The network infrastructure will provide faculty with the possibility of developing mediated classrooms which will enhance the University's image with students, as well as, prospective faculty, employers, and funding agencies. Faculty will be able to save valuable time through the use of distance learning capabilities. A more effective training program on computing and information technology will provide faculty with the skills to better use computing in class management, instruction, and research. Easy access to library information and services directly from their work or study environment will allow faculty to conduct research and study activities in a more efficient manner. Faculty representation on the Technology Policy Advisory Committee will provide them with a forum to share their technology related ideas, concerns, and priorities. BENEFITS FOR THE STAFF Information systems data will be available when needed, and database updating will occur in a timely fashion enabling offices to increase their operating efficiency and eliminate duplicate record keeping. Staff productivity and morale will improve because of easy access to information and services directly from their work environment. Productivity of staff and accuracy of information will increase by minimizing the time and cost of re-keying data. Staff recruitment and retention will be enhanced. An integrated information systems data base coupled with more user friendly and powerful data base and information retrieval tools will enhance the ability of staff to respond to decision support and planning needs in a timely manner. The ability for nontechnical staff to design and produce ad hoc reports for their departments will be promoted. This will allow ad hoc reports to be produced quicker, with less resources and be more responsive to departmental needs. The ability of staff to respond to local, state, and federal reporting needs will be enhanced using an integrated student information system. Departmental users of data will become more self-sufficient and knowledgeable. Operational dependence on technical staff will be reduced. More staff would be able to remotely access the extensive available resources, such as distributed systems, as they become available on the network. A more effective training program on computing and information technology and application systems should provide staff with the tools and knowledge to be more productive. BENEFITS FOR THE INSTITUTION A statement that articulates the role that computing and information technology should play in supporting the achievement of the University mission will help provide consistency and direction. Identifying institutions that the University considers peers or competitors will allow Kent to identify the level of services that it must maintain to remain competitive in the recruitment and retention of students, faculty, and staff. The Technology Policy Advisory Committee will help ensure broad-based University participation in computing and information technology plans, priorities, and standards. The acceptance of the network as a utility presumes reliability, consistency across campus, interoperability, uniform quality, and easy accessibility. University computer equipment will be able to be connected to an integrated University network. The network will provide University wide access to various services such as E-Mail, mainframe database. and services, library databases and services, and others. Integrated electronic mail/fax capabilities will save paper resources and time currently expended in printing and faxing electronic documents. The electronic mail directory will allow anyone, with access to the network, to easily obtain an E-Mail address for a Kent student, faculty, or staff member. The University will be capable of developing and distributing distance learning instructional programs. Implementation of a central telephone switch will allow voice mail to be provided on a University wide basis. A policy of centrally coordinating the procurement of software as well as officially supporting specifically approved software will help prevent the acquisition of incompatible software and ensure that the same version of software is in use University wide. There would be a significantly improved environment for supporting administrative services, student support services, instruction, and research. Where possible, site licensing of software will save money through volume discounts. All members of the University community will be able to more fully utilize computer hardware and software if it is universally available with minimum functionality standards. The recruiting process will improve because of better capabilities for identifying, contacting and responding to potential student requests with timely and accurate information, thus enhancing the yield rate and maximizing enrollment. The integration of information systems will provide data which is both easily and widely accessible. Similar reports containing conflicting information will be reduced. Flexibility will be enhanced, as well as the ability to expand to meet future needs. An integrated and common name, address, and demographic data base will result in more accurate information on students, alumni, and University employees. Better relationships with these cohorts will result in higher satisfaction and possibly greater donations to the University. The institution will have information systems which will be better able to respond to the increasing and changing demands from governmental bodies and accrediting agencies. The development of a University wide disaster recovery plan will reduce the risk of extended disruptions in computer and network operations if a disaster occurs in the University. A more effective training program will help ensure that existing hardware/software capacity is better utilized by staff. Training should increase staff productivity, computing skills, and job satisfaction. Training and support programs for local area networks and the planned University wide network will help develop personnel resources necessary to support the communication requirements for a University wide integrated information system. Many current faculty and staff have developed expertise which should benefit a University wide training program. Networking of these skilled individuals will increase cooperation and expertise within the University community. A coordinated orientation program will ensure that new faculty and staff have a clearer understanding of existing University information technology resources and services. A self-paced approach for selected training programs will make more efficient use of limited staff trainers and will provide an opportunity for trainee review of key applications. An expanded central help desk facility, with appropriate referral to other University experts, will provide better coordination and dissemination of available resources and services. Standards for vendor support and service and application development standards will increase the quality and consistency of the University's investment in Computing and Information Technology. Up-to-date hardware and software will be available to support efficient and productive operations. [ Table of Contents | Next page | Previous page ]